Foreign Intervention in the Civil War

Question 1

Where were foreign troops mainly stationed in the Civil War? Were they much of a threat?

Answer 1

Between 1918 and 1920 they were stationed at the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea and the Far East. No because little fighting took place.

Question 2

What was the main reason for foreign intervention in 1918?

Answer 2

To keep Russia fighting in the First World War so the Germans on the Eastern front didn’t suddenly all move the Western Front. Selfish foreign powers basically.

Question 3

What economic reason was there for foreign intervention?

Answer 3

Protect the armaments and war supplies that the Allies had sent to Russia.

Question 4

Another ideological reason for foreign intervention in the Civil War?

Answer 4

To support anti-Bolshevik forces.

Question 5

How did the Allies find out about activities in Russia? What was the problem with this?

Answer 5

Spies, but the information was often muddled and outdated.

Question 6

Which important trade negotiations came in November 1920?

Answer 6

British and Soviet trade deal!

Question 7

What was the Comintern? What did it promote?

Answer 7

International Socialist Organisation. Promoted the spreading of Marxism.

Question 8

Who was Chairman of the Comintern?

Answer 8

Zinoviev, but Lenin was the main man.

Question 9

When was the first meeting of the Comintern?

Answer 9

March 1919.

Question 10

Who supported the theory of worldwide revolution at the first Comintern?

Answer 10

Trotsky and Lenin, the boyos.

Question 11

At the first Comintern, who did Lenin think was ripe for revolution?

Answer 11

Germany! But the Spartacist Uprising (Social Uprising) was crushed brutally with the leaders killed. So mebs not.

Question 12

When was the second meeting of the Comintern?

Answer 12

August 1920.

Question 13

What was debated at the Second Comintern?

Answer 13

Debates over Lenin’s 21 Conditions, which outlined the relationship between Communist Parties and ‘Bourgeois-Democratic’ Socialist Parties.
The unexpected Polish victory at Warsaw dashed hopes of a Polish revolution.

Question 14

When was the Third Comintern? What did Lenin decided to switch his focus to after this?

Answer 14

Summer 1921. Switched from a focus on the spreading of worldwide revolution to a focus on internal Russian affairs.

Question 15

What did the Allies focus on doing for Poland after the ending of the First World War?

Answer 15

Establishing Poland as an independent state.

Question 16

What did the New Poland consist of which bothered Russia?

Answer 16

Territories that had previously belonged to the Tsar.

Question 17

Why was it difficult for Russia to defend its own borders?

Answer 17

Didn’t really know them anymore because there were no Russian representatives at the Paris Peace Conferences.

Question 18

Where did Poland want to expand?

Answer 18

Into Belarus and Ukraine. This bothered Russia, triggering Red Army skirmishes.

Question 19

What did Lenin see Poland as?

Answer 19

A bridge to the West. He thought he could spread revolution into Germany and the rest of the West if he got control of Poland.

Question 20

Who did the Polish ally with in April 1920? Why did this cause an issue for Russia?

Answer 20

They allied with the Ukrainian Military. They then mounted an attack on Kiev and had rapid success.

Question 21

When did Poland and Ukraine occupy Kiev?

Answer 21

In May 1920.

Question 22

What did the Red Army do in response to the occupation of Kiev in May 1920?

Answer 22

They launched a counter-attack on Poland and Ukraine and it was very successful. Pushed them all the way back to Warsaw by August 1920.

Question 23

What happened at Warsaw in August 1920?

Answer 23

It looked as though the Red Army were gonna win, but then Poland led an incredible counter-attack and managed to win.

Question 24

What was the outcome of the Russo-Polisn War?

Answer 24

The Treaty of Riga in March 1921.

Question 25

Why were Russia diplomatically isolated in 1921?

Answer 25

They weren’t allowed to join the League of Nations.

Question 26

What happened in 1922 that was a big step for Russia being recognised as a communist state?

Answer 26

They were invited to an international economic conference in Genoa.

Question 27

When was the Treaty of Rapallo?

Answer 27

1922 with Germany

Question 28

Three main terms of the Treaty of Rapallo?

Answer 28

• Waive war compensation claims.
• Good terms with one another diplomatically.
• Mutual goodwill in economic and commercial relations.

Question 29

Secret term of the Treaty of Rapallo?

Answer 29

Well it wouldn’t be a secret if we told you.
Jokes.
German soldiers could train on Russian soil because they’d been prevented from training by the Treaty of Versailles.

Question 30

Who was the mastermind behind the Zinoviev Letter?

Answer 30

Sidney Reilly. A member of the Ace of Spies.

Question 31

Why did Sidney Reilly concoct the Zinoviev letter?

Answer 31

He was right wing. He wanted to make Labour weak for the 1924 General Election. Didn’t matter though coz Labour still won hahaha you stupid Tory.

Question 32

What was interesting about the letter’s contents?

Answer 32

It may have been a forgery, but it was consistent with Zinoviev’s views and contained information that he’d disclosed in public speeches.

Question 33

What was the outcome of the Zinoviev Letter?

Answer 33

Labour Still Won HAHA.

Diplomatic Isolation of the USSR intensified because Britain didn’t trust them anymore.