Chapter 6 - Civil War Flashcards
Name 3 reasons for the Civil war.
- Opposition to Russia’s withdrawal from the war against Germany
- Opposition on the right claimed the Bolsheviks had no right to rule Russia, the left said they needed to submit to elections, the left said they ignored the soviet which helped them gain power
- Bolshevik ideology alienated groups like the aristocrats and bourgeoisie but also the Mensheviks
When did it start?
In the summer of 1918. After peace was made between Russia and Germany but before the war had ended on the Western Front.
Who formed the Bolshevik opposition?
The Bolshevik opposition organised themselves into a force of ‘Whites’, armies or armed groups resembling an organised force. They consisted of everyone who was angered, alienated or harmed by the Bolsheviks e.g. members of other political parties like the Mesheviks and SRs, some national minorities, some peasants etc.
Who were the leaders of the White Army?
Their leadership was taken over by former Tsarist officers. The chiefs were General Denikin in the South, Admiral Kolchak in Siberia, General Yudenich in Estonia and Baron Wrangel who replaced Denikin in Siberia.
Which area was held by the Bolsheviks?
The central area of European Russia, including Petrograd and Moscow but Yudenich’s forces threatened Petrograd in October 1919.
When did the Civil war end?
1922
How did the civil war end?
The Red Army swept east, finally wiping out the remaining White forces.
What were Trotsky’s main contributions to the Civil War?
- He molded the Red army into an effective force of over 3 million men through skilful organisation and propaganda.
- Fed and armed them, inspired and boosted morale
- Directed the war from a special train which covered over 65,000 miles, visiting various commanders and troops.
- Recruited 50,000 former Tsarist officials and used them and their experience to train new recruits
- Appointed political commissars to instill ideological principles into troops
- Made red army a professional force, reintroduced traditional ranks and practices
What were the main reasons for Bolshevik success in the Civil War?
- Red army commanded the hub of communications, armaments factories and most densely populated regions of central Russia
- United in their aim to survive, more ideologically committed and organised than whites
- Well-disciplined fighting force under Tortsky’s leadership, Whites had less competent leadership and more ill-discipline and corruption
- Red land policies more popular with peasants than Whites’ association with traditional Tsarist Policies
- Whites’ slogan ‘Russia one an indivisible’ →suspicious national minorities
What is the link between the Civil War and increased centralisation of power?
During the Civil War Moscow replaced Petrograd as Russia’s capital (partially because Petrograd was closer to the western frontier and more vulnerable). Centralised power and symbolised distance from western world with the new regime. A military style government then formed.
What was the Politburo and when was it formed?
A sub-committee of the Bolshevik Party Central committee. It became the real centre of Party policy. Made up of elected members (e.g. Lenin, Trotsky, Stalin) who were key government officials→took over increasing control of state affairs from Sovnarkom. Formed in 1919.
When was the USSR created?
There were disagreements amongst Bolsheviks about what should happen to territories/countries conquered by the Red army.
Stalin wanted them directly controlled by Moscow but Lenin (who won) wanted a federation of soviet republics. The Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was formally established at the end of 1922.
