Bolshevik consolidation - Unit 2 - 1918-21 The civil war

Question 1

Why was there a civil war in Russia?

Answer 1

Absolute rule and policies of the Bolsheviks

Lenin wanted a short conflict to end opposition

People wanted or wanted to stop independence of nationalities

The Allies influence - they wanted to keep the war going on the Eastern Front

Question 2

Who occupied the territory in the North and Central Russia?

Answer 2

Reds

Question 3

Who occupied the territory in the Far north, East and South?

Answer 3

The Whites

Question 4

Who occupied the territory in the Ukraine?

Answer 4

The Greens

Question 5

Who had access to most troops with 70 million in their areas?

Answer 5

The Reds

Question 6

Why did the Reds win?

Answer 6

They were a disciplined force

They introduced conscription (70 million available)

Trotsky’s leadership

They shared an ideology

They controlled the main cities and communication networks

Question 7

What was the red army used for?

Answer 7

Red Terror, attacks, defence and Military discipline

Question 8

Did the Civil War cause more or less centralisation?

Answer 8

More

Question 9

When were the Royal family executed?

Answer 9

17/07/1918

Question 10

Why were the Royal family executed?

Answer 10

Some feared they would be a focus for rebellion

Question 11

In March 1918, the Bolsheviks renamed themselves as the All Union Communist Party. From then on they became known as the what?

Answer 11

Communists

Question 12

What were the Whites weaknesses?

Answer 12

Support from the allies - used in propaganda against them

Divided aims, leaders, ideology, by geography

Communication was difficult and had to be held in Paris

20 million fewer workers and soldiers

Little access to factories

Diverse regions

Question 13

Who were the Greens?

Answer 13

Small area in Ukraine

Limited population and resources

Surrounded by whites

Question 14

How did Lenin control Russia?

Answer 14

Cheka and Red terror

The Red Army defence of Communism

Red army attacks for more land

Cheka enforced military discipline

Lenin centralisation of industry and government

Use of war communism

Question 15

What was war communism?

Answer 15

Part of state capitalism - a way to control the country

1) Grain requisitioning
2) Rationing (largest rations to soldiers and workers, smallest to the bourgeoisie)
3) Abolition of money - hyper inflation so paid via rations
4) Abolition of trade - private trade became illegal
5) Nationalisation of industry - all businesses taken over by the state
6) Conscription - fight or work

Question 16

Why was war communism introduced?

Answer 16

May 1918 - economy collapsed - food prices soared, industrial production shrank, value of the rouble collapsed.

He hoped Nationalism would lead to grater efficiency , get experts to run the economy - Vesehka ( a state group that would set targets and organise the economy)

STATE CAPITALISM
Re-establish worker discipline - pay more to the most productive

Proper management of factories by paid specialists

Co-ordinate economic production to meet need.

Question 17

Why was war communism necessary?

Answer 17

Ensure high levels of production to met war goals

To ensure the efficient allocation of workers

Food production to feed soldiers, workers and civilians

Question 18

What was red terror?

Answer 18

30th August an attempted assassination of Lenin led to:

• Repression using the cheka to get rid of all opposition - estimated 500,000 dead.

Question 19

What was the Tambov revolt?

Answer 19

Peasants led by Antonov - rebellion against grain seizure and cheka brutality - they were largely unbeaten. Around 50,000.

Question 20

What was the Kronstadt rising?

Answer 20

A rebellion by the naval officers in the Petrograd naval base

Previously loyal sailors they were complaining about the repression and rule of the Bolsheviks and wanted democratic socialism

A wake up call for Lenin but it was still put down brutally

Question 21

What was NEP?

Answer 21

• The end to grain requisitioning - a tax in kind instead
• Private trade permitted
• Small factories opened under private control
• Heavy industry, railway etc still under Government control
• Money re-introduced

Question 22

What was the Comintern?

Answer 22

Established in March 1919 to promote world wide revolution

Lenin wanted to create communist parties abroad that would be loyal to Moscow

The aim was to overthrow foreign governments

Question 23

What was the Russo-Polish War?

Answer 23

A bid to export revolution in 1920 and they invaded Poland

Expected the Polish working class to support

It failed as the Polish resisted what they saw as traditional Russian expansionism

Question 24

What was the Rapello Treaty?

Answer 24

An agreement with Germany

Both nations promised to co-operate in meeting their economic needs

re-establishment of diplomatic relations

Russia provided Germany’s military training ground and resources

Russia allowed special trading rights to Germany

Question 25

What was the Zinoviev letter?

Answer 25

Soviet regime enjoyed an imporved relationship with Britain Anglo-Soviet trade agreement 1921

Communist party in Britain 1920-21

25th October 1924 - Daily mail fake letter - saying the comintern had encouraged a revolution in Britain via the Labour party

The letter reenforced the idea that the labour party was too close to Communism - the conservatives won the election.

They were hostile to soviet relations

Question 26

What was Lenin’s rule like by 1924?

Answer 26

Lenin died in 1924

Promised peace, bread and land - led Russia into a brutal civil war and policies created a famine in 1921

Soviet democracy usurped the party

NEP unpopular

BUT he had succeeded in making Russia Communist, he had seized power and retained it.

He hoped in time the party would lead Russia and the world to Communism.

Question 27

Why did NEP have to go?

Answer 27

• Famine in 1921
• Growing opposition
• Need to get the economy going.