Civil War Victory Flashcards
What were the overarching reasons for the victory of the Reds in the Russian Civil War?
- Divisions between the whites
- Lack of appeal of the whites
- Strengths of Red Army
- Use of Force and Terror
- Bolshevik Leadership
- Weak foreign involvement
Why did Komuch and Omsk have to link up?
The Reds took Samara in October 1918 which forced the SRs to flee from there and join the Omsk government
How did division between Komuch and Omsk unfold?
- The officers of Omsk organised a coup and arrested SR ministers. Placed Kolchak as “supreme ruler”
- Kolchak executed many SR activists, including 10 members of the former CA
- SRs retaliated by staging revolts against Kolchak throughout his campaign
Where were the various armies located? (not united)
Kolchak - north-east
Denikin- south
Yudenich- west
Who was Petlyura hostile to? (Petlyura was an SR who headed the force with the Galicians against the Bolsheviks in Ukraine)
Denikin - who retook Ukraine in August 1919
Who did the Galicians prefer out of Petlyura and Denikin?
Denikin
Why did many members of the Czech legion want to return home?
Because Czech independence was granted in November 1918 and hence the Czechs had less reason to keep fighting
Why did Denikin lose support from the Don Cossacks despite their initial cooperation?
Since with operations such as the Moscow Offensive, he was getting the Cossacks to fight outside of their own region which mattered less to them. They had already secured autonomy in the southern region.
Why were the Kadets less supported by the Ukrainians and Caucus regions?
Since they still believed in the Russian empire and hence their politics went against the national determination which these areas strived for
What white policy was not favoured by many peasants? What proportion of them deserted Kolchak over the course of his campaign?
Conscription
80%
Which faction within Denikin’s army carried out pillaging, raping, stealing and Jewish pogroms which forced non-Cossack peasants to turn to the Reds?
The Cossacks
What other policy by Denikin turned peasants against the Whites (especially after the Decree on Land by the Bolsheviks)?
He returned land he overtook to the landowners
What did the Generals in the White army remind many of?
Those from the tsarist army which they had wanted to get rid of
Complete the quote by Denikin regarding indiscipline. “I can do nothing with my army…”
“I can do nothing with my army. I am glad when it carries out my combat orders”
What were some examples of indiscipline noted in the army at Omsk?
- Weapons were sold on the black market, including those provided by foreign powers
- Officers were often to be found drunk and doing drugs in brothels
For which move was Denikin disliked by Wrangel?
Denkin tried to take Moscow (July 1919 launched) whilst still expanding the territorial base in the Don region which made his troops more thinly spread. It also didn’t fit in with the aims of the Don Cossacks which were fighting with the Southern volunteer army
What move ultimately ended the threat of the Whites in the civil war?
The evacuation of them all during 1920, specifically from Crimea
How many soldiers died from typhoid and typhus in 1920?
1m
When was the Red army of Workers and Peasants set up?
January 1918
How did Trotsky overcome the lack of experienced officers in the Red Army?
50,000 Former high-ranking officers from the time of the Tsar and leading party members were appointed to lead the army
What was assigned to each regiment to ensure commanders carried out duties in line with Bolshevik expectations?
A loyal military commissar
How large was the Bolshevik army by Spring 1918 (although all weren’t combat ready)?
300,000 men
How large was the Red army by 1920? What proportion of these had volunteered? Were party members?
5m men. 1/6 had volunteered. 300,000 were party members.
