Civil War Flashcards
White’s Strengths
> Well trianed and experienced - lots of equipment
Military support from the Great Powers (Britain, France, Japan, USA etc)
Controlled large areas of Russia
General Yudenich in the north, General Denikin through Ukraine, Admiral Kolchak in the south
General Yudenich got his men into suberbs of Petrograd, so close Lenin almost fled
Support from businessmen, landowners and those who lost out from Bolshevik control
Millions of peasants in Russia and majority hated the Bolsheviks
White’s Weaknesses
> Generals didn’t work as a group
General Kornilov & Alexeev in the south communicated via a messenger despite offices being next to eachother
Forced villagers out to fight at gun point to provide volunteers and burned villages to the ground
Did nothing to win over the peasants therefore never had the support
Red’s Strengths
> Bolsheviks recruited and trained men to fight
Trotsky understood the fighting needed and inspired the Reds to fight
Persuaded Lenin to stay when he was preparing to run away
Why the Red’s won?
> The Cheka - used to terrorise Russians into subservience
Decree on Nationalism - Control of factories and industry increased their power
Centralisation - Power shifted from party into sub-comittees (Politburo & Orgburo), act with speed
Failure of foreign interventions
Causes on the left
> Lenin had forced the Kadets and the right-wing SR’s out of his government
Lenin had closed the Consistuent Assembly after the SR’s won the most seats
The Bolsheviks were sidelining the soviets and imposing a one party dictatorship
Causes on the right
> Aristocrats and the bourgeoisie were alienated by Bolsheviks ideology. Russians with land, money or businesses stood to lose everything from Bolshevik economic and social policies
> Some still yearned for the old tsarists regime, although they did not necessarily want Nicholas II himself back on the throne. This group included army officers, some of whom objected to the peace treaty with Germany
> Food shortages hit the bourgeoisie the hardest as the rationing system meant that they were given the smallest share
Other Causes
> Bolsheviks had seized power by force during October Rev, their opponents claimed theu had no right to rule Russia
Anger at the concessions of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
On going food dhortges and severe rationing
