Bolshevik takeover and consolidation Flashcards
Why was Trotsky a key figure in the Bolshevik takeover?
Organised the Red Guard
He used his position in the Military Committee - move troops loyal to the PG out of Petrograd + move troops that supported the Bolsheviks into Petrograd
He organised seizure of power - cut telephone wires, post office, railway stations and other key buildings were taken over
What were the reasons for the Bolshevik success?
PG were very unpopular so few rallied to support Kerensky and there were no demonstrations calling for him back
Lenin spent years campaigning and gaining support. E.g army, sailors at naval bases (Kronstadt)
The planning and organisations of Trotsky
How did Lenin try to win popular support for the Bolsheviks?
Peace Decree - war with Germany was over. This satisfied the soldiers
Land Decree - peasants could seize land from landowners’ estates
The Decree of Workers Control - workers could no longer be exploited by employers
He carried out promises of the April Thesis
Why did the Decrees cause more trouble?
Peace Decree - German soldiers did not revolt against their commanders
Land Decree - chaos because the peasants tried to take as much land as possible. Law and order broke down over the countryside
Decree of the Workers - production fell as committees were set up to run factories
Why did Lenin want to pull out of the war with Germany?
He knew that the Bolsheviks could not face a Civil War if the were to continue fighting the Germans
He believed the war with Germany would not last long so he would be able to reclaim land lost
What did the Treaty of Brest Litovsk involve?
Russia lost vast amounts of territory - Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Ukraine and Georgia
Russia lost 62 million people, 27% of farmland, 26% of railways and 74% of iron ore and coal
They had to pay 300 million roubles in reparations
Who were the Bolsheviks opposition?
Czech legion - seized sections of the vital Trans-Siberian railway
Admiral Kolchak - set up White Government in Siberia an was marching on Moscow
General Denikin - advancing with his army from southern Russia
Northern Russia, led by General Yudenich, was opposing the Bolsheviks
Risings in Ukraine and Turkestan
Foreign powers supplied the Whites with arms and weapons then later landed troops to help the Whites
What were the strengths of the Bolsheviks?
They had large and well organised armies under Trotsky and good communications
They used propaganda to show that the Whites were in league with foreigners and wanted the Tsar back
They kept ruthless control over the Bolshevik territories with the Cheka
The Red Army was supplied by a policy of ‘War Communism’
They controlled major towns with factories and industries
What were the failings of the Whites?
They had no aim to which they all agreed
Their forces were spread across a huge area and so they could not coordinate their attacks
Their harsh treatments of people in the lands they captured led people to support the Bolsheviks
Why did Civil War break out in Russia?
Closed the Constituent Assembly. They denied the democratic desires of the people of Russia
Press had been censored
Cheka had been used to suppress opposition
Treaty of Brest Litovsk was a massive humiliation. The Bolsheviks appeared unpatriotic
What was the policy of ‘War Communism’?
Land and industry were nationalised - taken over by the state
There was severe discipline in factories . E.g strikers could be shot
Peasants were forced to hand over their surplus produce to the Government and if they refused they were hunted down by the Cheka
Opposition was rooted out and destroyed by the Cheka
Why was ‘War Communism’ introduced?
Production fell - workers did what they wanted and worked when they wanted
Food distribution became a problem - Reds lost access to grain supplies in Ukraine
Harvest was down 13% - peasants were not producing enough food
What were the effects of ‘War Communism’?
The production of all goods declined
The populations of Petrograd and Moscow halved as they went searching for food
The value of money collapsed due to inflation
It alienated the peasantry
What was the significance of the Kronstadt Mutiny?
Kronstadt base had been the centre of support for the Bolsheviks and played a key role in the 1917 Revolution
Their demands were a real threat to the party
It showed the effects of War Communism as it made even the most loyal turn against them
Why was the New Economic Policy introduced?
In response to War communism
To rebuild economy
