Foreign intervention 1918-1926 Flashcards
When did Tsardom collpase
1917
What did Russia’s pulling out of WW1 allow Germany to do, how did the allies aim to prevent this (what was the reaction to this from PG and then Bols.
Germany were free to divert huge military resources from the Eastern to the Western front. To prevent this allies offered Russia large amounts of capital to keep it in war, an offer which the PG had accepted to sustain itself, however hope of keeping Russia in the war ended with the treaty of BL on 3rd March 1918.
3 examples of allies for Russia in WW1
Britain
France
USA
How did the allies view Germany and Russia’s seperate peace agreement
Saw it as the Bolsheviks betraying the Allied cause
What was the result of Germany and Russia’s seperate peace agreement
There was a fierce determination amongst the allies to prevent the vital-war supplies, previously loaned to Russia and still stockpiled there, from falling into German hands.
Which countries intervened after the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Germany
Britain
France
USA
Which ports were occupied by British, French and US troops after the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Occupied the ports of Murmansk in the Artic and Archangel in the White Sea.
How can the 2 year period after the Treaty of Brest Litovsk be described
A 2 year period during which armed forces from a large number of countries occupied key areas of central, European and far-Eastern Russia
When did WW1 end
November 1918
Where did the attention of the major powers turn after the end of WW1, was it fullfilled
The possibility of a major offensive against the Bolsheviks, however this never happend.
What was the Comintern
International Communist body, set up to oragnise worldwide revolution.
Where and when was the Comintern set up
Set up in March 1919 in Moscow.
What alarmed the British and the French
The creation of the Comintern and by the spread of revolution in Germany and central Europe.
What did the Bolshevik’s do as one of their first acts in power. How did France see this
Announced that they would not pay back any foreign debts incurred by its predecessors (tsarist regime). Seen by France as international theft.
What did the Bols do with regards to foreign assets
Bols froze all foreign assets.
Which foreign invasion occured in 1918
British land forces entered southern Russia and British wardships entered Russian baltic waters and the Balck Sea, where they were joined by French naval vessels.
Where did the French establish a major land base
French established a major land base around the Black Sea port of Odessa.
Which invasion occured in April 1918
Japanese occupied Russia’s far-eastern port of Vladivostok. 4 months later, they were joined by units from France, Britain, the USA and Italy.
Which forces crossed into Russia after the Bols refused to pay debts
Czech,Finnish,Lithuanian and Polish forces crossed into Russia
What happend in 1919
Troops from Japan and USA occupied parts of Siberia.
What was the relationship between the interventionists and their attacks
They were not co-ordinated attacks and there was little co-operation between the interventionists.
What was the declared motive of the USA, Britain, France, Italy and Japan
The legitimate protection of their individual interests (in Russia)
Which nations aimed to gain independence from Russia
Czechoslovakia,Finland,Lithuania,Poland and Romania
What was the 1 exception from the failure of foreign intervention (the 1 success)
National forces backed by British wardships and troops crushed a BOlshevik invasion and forced Lenin’s gov to recognise the independence of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
What happend in the Baltic States by 1922
By 1919 French troops had withdrawn from the Baltic states and US troops had been recalled.
By the end of 1920 all other Western forces had left, leaving only Japanese troops, who remained in Russia for the duration of the civil war, not finally leaving until 1922.
How was foreign intervention used as a Propoganda success bt the Bolsheviks
Portrayed withdrawls in Baltic states as military victories (they weren’t).
Depicted Lenin’s gov as saviour of the nation against foreign conquests.
How did the Bols propoganda victory help to improve their situation after 1922
Their apparent success over Russia’s enemies helped the Bolshevik regime to recover the esteem it had lost over its 1918 capitulation to Germany.
When did Russia go to war agiants Poland
1920
What caused/encouraged the 1920 war vs Poland
Failure of foreign interventions encouraged Bols to undertake what proved to be a disastrous attempt to expand their authority outside of Russia.
Events of 1920 war against Poland
In 1920 the Red Army marched into neighbouring Poland, expecting the Polish workers to rise in rebellion against their own government. However the Poles saw the invasion as traditional Russian aggression and drove the Red Army back across the border. Soviet morale was seriously damaged, forcing Lenin and the Bols to rethink the whole question of international revolution.
What did the Red Amry expect to happen when they marched into Poland in 1920
Expected the Polish workers to rise in rebellion against their own government
How did the Poles see view the Red Army’s invasion in 1520
Poles saw the invasion as traditional Russian aggression
What did the Poles do to the Red Army during war vs Poland in 1520
The Poles drove the Red Army back across the border
What was the outcome of the war vs Poland in 1520 with regard to the Bols and the Soviet
Soviet morale was seriously damaged, forcing Lenin and the Bols to rethink the whole question of international revolution.
Which 4 events/situations showed Lenin that time was not right for world revolution and what did this cause Lenin to do
The foreign interventions in Russia
The failure of Communist revolutions in Germany and Hungary
The Polish reverse (failure)
The Capitalist nations were still too strong.
Caused Lenin to adjust his foreign policy to meet the new situation
How can Lenin’s approach to foreign policy be described after foreign interventions
Realistic, pragmatic approach
What was the Bolsheviks long term ambition
Worldwide revolution
How did the Cominterm’s aims differ from those of Soviet Russia after
The Comintern continued to call for world revolution, whilst Soviet Russia softened its international attitude
What were Lenin’s concerns in the tradition of and what were these fears
The tradition of Russian foreign policy.
Western enroachment in Russia was a conatant fear of the Tsars, this long-standing worry was increased by the hostility of European governments to the October Revolution and by their support of the Whites in the Civil War.
How was Soviet foreign policy handled under Lenin
Activated not by thoughts of expansion but by the desire to avoid conflict
When was the Treaty of Rapallo agreed
April 1922
Who was the agreement of the Treaty of Rapallo agreed between
Russia (USSR) and Germany.
What drew Russia and Germany together
Germany under terms of 1919 Treaty of Versailles had heavy reparations imposed on them and had been denied the right to rearm.
Soviet Russia, as a revolutionary nation, had earned the hostility of the capitalist countries by renouncing all of Russia’s debts and calling on the peoples in Capitalist countries to overthrow their government.
Where did Russia and Germany attend a conference leading to their agreement in April 1922
Genoa
Why did the Bols refuse to pay international debts
Claimed the debt was caused by their predecesors (Tsarist regime) and they refused to pay back other nations for any debt from before the October 1917 Revolution.
What were the 2 main terms of the Treaty of Rapallo
- Russia would provide German forces with military training grounds and resources.
- In return, Russia would be granted special trading rights in Germany.
Which treat was signed 4 years after the Treaty of Rapallo
1926 Treaty of Berlin
Which promise was made by both Russia and Germany in the Treaty of Rapallo
‘To co-operate in a spirit of mutual goodwill in meeting the economic needs of both countries’
What type of treaty was the Treaty of Berlin and what did it do
It was a non-agression pact, which confirmed the main terms of the Treaty of Rapallo
When was the Zinoviev letter published and by which newspaper
Published on 25th October 1924 by the Daily mail newspaper, 4 days before a general election was due to be held in Britain
What happend before the Zinoviev letter scandle in 1924
Negotiation of a trade and diplomatic agreement between Russia and England and an Anglo-Soviet was drawn up.
What were the 2 main terms of the Anglo-Soviet trade and diplomatic treaty in 1924
- Britain agreed to advance a £30 million loan to the Soviet Union.
- In return, the Soviet Union would pay compensation for the British financial assets the Bolsheviks had siezed after the October Revolution in 1917.
What was the headline of the Daily mail including the Zinoviev letter
‘Soviet plot:Red Propoganda in Britain:Revolution urged in Britain.’ Letter printed beneath the title
What was Grigor Zinoviev’s role in the Comintern
Chief of the Comintern
Who was Zinoviev’s letter adressed to and what did it urge
Adressed to the British Communist Party, urging its members to infiltrate the British Labour party, under the cover of the Anglo-Soviet treaty, and use it to bring down the British state in an armed insurrection.
Who did Zinoviev (and Historians) claim forged the letter
Zinoviev denied writing the letter, claiming it to be forged by White Russian emigres, an interpretation hustorians now accept
What did Zinoviev’s letter contibute to
The Labour Party’s election defeat
What effect did Zinoviev’s letter have in England
Provided ammunition for those in Britain who believed that relations between the Labour gov and revolutionary Russia were too close for Britain’s good.
What was the outcome of the Zinoviev letter
Labour party now out of office.
The Anglo-Soviet treaty was never ratified due to the succeeding Conservative governments unwillingness to continue negotiations.
