Civil War

Question 1

What signalled the start of the Russian Civil War, and when?

Answer 1

The rebellion of the Czech Legions - 25th May 1918.

Question 2

What were established during the summer of 1918?

Answer 2

Anti-Communist armies in Siberia, Estonia and in the Ukraine.

Question 3

Who were the different groups fighting in the Civil War?

Answer 3

• The Reds: Communist forces
• The Whites: liberals, Tsarists or those who wanted to establish a military dictatorship
• The ‘Greens’: associated with the Left SRs or anarchist groups. They fought the autonomy of local groups of peasants
• Nationalists also fought to free their homelands from Russian domination

Question 4

What main advantage did the Reds have that helped them win the Civil War?

Answer 4

Geographical.

Question 5

What were the strengths of the Red?

Answer 5

• The most densely populated areas, containing around 70 million people, and were therefore able to recruit workers and soldiers
• Russia’s most industrialised regions, which meant they could produce the weapons and equipment necessary to win victory
• The land containing Russia’s main rail lines, which meant that they were able to transport goods and equipment to support their army throughout the Civil War

Question 6

What were the weaknesses of the opposition to the Reds?

Answer 6

• Fewer people, only around 20 million, and therefore they had fewer workers and soldiers
• Few factories, and therefore they did not have the capacity to produce munitions
• Regions in the far north, east and south. Therefore their forces were divided and difficult to co-ordinate
• General Yudenich was based in Estonia, General Denikin was based in southern Russia, and Admiral Kolchak was based in the north

Question 7

What was the ‘Green position’?

Answer 7

Nestor Makhno’s Green forces controlled a small area of the Ukraine - therefore their resources were limited, both in terms of their population and ability to produce weapons.

Question 8

How, in March 1918, did Lenin reform the Red Army?

Answer 8

• Democratic control was abolished
• Trotsky, the leader of the new army, put Tsarist generals back in charge of the army
• Each battalion was placed under dual commander
• Former Tsarist generals were forced to work with political commissars in order to command to new army
• Political commissars were introduced in order to ensure that the old generals, who were often still loyal to the Tsar, did not sabotage the new army

Question 9

Who within Bolsheviks were outraged by Lenin’s reforms?

Answer 9

• Idealists - accused Lenin and Trotsky of betraying the principles of the revolution

Question 10

Lenin was able to turn to Red Army into a…

Answer 10

disciplined and successful fighting force.

Question 11

What was Trotsky’s role in the Red victory?

Answer 11

• He was loyal to Lenin; the 2 agreed on the fundamental principles of winning the war
• Trotsky was a very effective leader of the Red Army - could be seen when he sent reinforcements to Petrograd and prevented General Yudenich from seizing control of Petrograd
• Trotsky used an armoured train to visit and support areas under threat
• Trotsky deployed skilful tactics - e.g., he formed an alliance with Nestor Makhno’s Green Revolutionary Insurgent Army of the Ukraine in order to beat the Whites forces in the Ukraine
• However, once the Whites were defeated the Reds turned on their former allies