Civil war Flashcards
White leaders
Denikin in south, Kolchak in Siberia, Yudenich in Estonia and Wrangel who replaced Denikin in Crimea.
Attempts to assassinate Lenin
First January 1918, second from SR Fanya Kaplan August 1918, shot at him three times, hit twice.
Trigger to war
March had already moved capital in response to growing threat, in March Czech legion given permission to travel eastwards to continue fight on Western Front, 45 000 soldiers, fighting broke out between them and some Bolshevik officials so they seized the railway line through Western Siberia, joined white forces and changed track to advance on Moscow.
First stages of civil war
Summer 1918 Denikin attack in Don region threatening Tsaritsyn but red resistance, Kolchak then captured Kazan and Samara but halted, 1919 Denikin another offensive dangerously close to Moscow but Trotsky forced him back, Yudenich’s small 15 000 army got close to Petrograd October 1919, by which time Kolchak already retreating, captured and shot (1920), Wrangel replaced Denikin in Crimea but Greens under Makhno fought for reds, British and French evacuated rest of Whites in 1920.
Second stage of civil war
More nationalist struggle against Polish armies, invaded Ukraine but Tukhachevsky drove them back, second rising followed by Treaty of Riga March 1921, Polish self-rule and independence of Estonia and Latvia etc.
Trotsky’s train and tactics
Covered over 65 000 miles, provide food and arms, inspired and boosted morale, recruited 50 000 Tsarist officers to train recruits, Cheka used to shoot deserters, reinstate traditional ranks and conscription in some areas.
When Tsar killed
July 1918
Reasons for Bolshevik success list
Geography
Unity
Leadership
Support
Hostility to foreign intervention and national minorities don’t like whites advocating for a united Russia.
Control of local parties in wartime
In 1919 the Orgburo set up to monitor local party committees and set up the permanent secretariat.
Government consequences of war
Increasing centralisation and tight control, party members trained to obey orders and act with force, half a million fought in war, bureaucracy grew officials outnumbered workers 2 to one.
Democratic centralism
In theory Soviet Union was a democracy where locals elect to soviets who elect higher etc, but in reality government Was the Communist party, Politburo established 1919 as head of party, Sovnarkom met less frequently, new central controls over society and economy.
States allowed to remain a separate and wider Russia
Ukraine, Belorussia and Georgia Stalin disagreed with this but Lenin wanted a federation and won argument, at end of 1922 Union of Soviet Socialist Republics established, no more Russia.
