Chapter 6 - The Civil War 1918-24 Flashcards
Why had the left turned against the Bolsheviks in the early months of 1918?
- Lenin had forced the Kadets and right-wing SRs out of his government
- Lenin had closed the Constituent Assembly after the SRs won the most seats
- The Bolsheviks were sidelining the soviets and imposing a one-party dictatorship
Why had the right turned against the Bolsheviks in the early months of 1918?
- Aristocrats and the bourgeoisie were alienated by Bolshevik ideology
- Some still yearned for the old tsarist regime, although they didn’t necessarily want Nicholas II himself back on the throne
- Food shortages hit the bourgeoisie the hardest as the rationing system meant they were given the smallest share
Who stood to lose everything from Bolshevik economic and social policies?
Russians with land, money or businesses
Who still supported the old tsarist regime?
A group including army officers, some of whom objected to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
What were some other causes for the outbreak of the civil war?
- Those of limited allegiance to any political group viewed the fluid political situation as an opportunity to win old battles and play out local rivalries
- National minorities were fighting for their independence
- There was much discontent caused by the Bolsheviks’ inability to solve Russia’s economic problems
- Many were angered by the concessions of the Treaty of Brest Litovsk
- Bolshevik opponents claimed they had no right to rule Russia
How did national minorities who had been part of the old Russian Empire feel about the Bolsheviks?
They were uncertain that Bolshevik promises to grant self-determination were to be believed
They saw the prevailing chaos and uncertainty of the time before the civil war as an opportunity to fight for independence
What economic problems was Russia facing before the outbreak of the civil war?
Ongoing food shortages and severe rationing of essentials were exacerbated by distribution problems, as well as loss of agricultural land from the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Why did Bolshevik opponents claim they had no right to rule?
They’d seized power by force in Moscow and Petrograd
They hadn’t submitted to popular elections
They’d largely ignored the PS which had helped place them in power
Who were the key players in the civil war?
The Reds
The Whites
The Czech Legion
The Poles
The Greens
The Allies
The Reds
The Bolshevik Red Army, led by Trotsky
The Whites
The various armies and armed groups made up of the Bolsheviks’ opponents and led by former tsarist officers
Attacks rarely coordinated and had little in common with each other except their hatred of the Bolsheviks
The Czech Legion
Formed from Czech nationalists who had arrived in Russia during WWI
Joined forces with the Whites after the Bolsheviks tried to block and arrest some of the Czech soldiers as they travelled along the Trans-Siberian railway
The Allies
Britain, France and the USA all sent troops to help the Whites
The Greens
A largely peasant army fighting for independence from control by anyone, Red or White
Led by Nestor Makhno
Fought a guerilla campaign in the Ukraine
Sided with, and fought against, both the Reds and the Whites at different points in the war
The Poles
Polish armies fought to gain control of western Ukraine
What was the first main stage of the civil war?
1918-20
Mainly fought in the east and south of Russia
The Bolsheviks held the area around Moscow and were attacked on different sides by the Whites
What was the second main stage of the civil war?
1920-21
More of a nationalist conflict against the Polish armies that had invaded western Ukraine
Russian forces, led by General Tukhachevsky, were able to drive the Poles back
Led to the Treaty of Riga in March 1921
What did the Treaty of Riga do?
Granted independence to Poland and a number of other states, including Estonia and Latvia
What happened in April-May 1918?
The Czech Legion seizes part of the Trans-Siberian railway, war begins
Czechs joined the Whites and began advancing towards Moscow when the Bolsheviks tried to arrest them
What happened in August 1918?
Denikin and Kolchak’s White armies make rapid advances
General Denikin’s army attacked from the south-west of Moscow
Admiral Kolchak’s army attacked from the east
What happened in November 1918?
Kolchak declares himself ‘Supreme Ruler’ of Russia
The Whites appeared poised for success but Red counter-attacks prevented Denikin and Kolchak from linking up
What happened in October 1919?
Denikin’s army advances within 200 miles of Moscow
This was the closest Denikin got to victory. Trotsky counter-attacked to force Denikin south towards the Crimea
Yudenich’s army advances to the outskirts of Petrograd
Red troops were able to repel General Yudenich’s small army of 15,000 men