Civil War Flashcards
Who were the Bolsheviks main opponents?
SRs, Mensheviks, Kadets, loyalists to the Tsars
Who were the Whites?
Loyalists to the Tsar = colour associated with the monarchy
How were foreign powers such as Britain, France and the USA involved?
Sent troops and supplies to the Whites
Why did foreign powers get involved?
- Former allies
- Bolsheviks had confiscated allied property e.g. business and refused to pay back loans provided to the Tsarist regime
- Worried about the welfare of the Tsar
How did neighbouring states take advantage of the internal conflict?
e.g. Germany occupied Poland, Lithuania and Latvia
Why were the whites not a serious threat?
Were too disunited - represented a diversity of groups with different agendas
How were the Bolsheviks plagued by problems?
Such as food supplies and conscripts
How much territory did the Whites control at one stage?
75%
How were the Red Army better trained and ideologically motivated?
- Had inspiring leaders with good skills
- Used railway systems effectively
- Message was more appealing to workers and peasants
- Controlled the 2 most important cities
- Could call upon nationalism
What was the main impact of the war?
The regime was secure
What policies did the war lead to?
- War Communism
- All businesses nationalised in 1920
- Working conditions worsen - longer hours + less pay
- Private trade banned
- Food rationing
- Red Terror (also attributed to assassinations attempts)
What did the war demonstrate?
- Proved the Bolsheviks could prosecute a war successfully
= highlighted their competence whereas previous wars showed incompetence of the Tsars - Demonstrated ideological appeal of the Tsars
