Reasons For Bolshevik Success Flashcards
What were the geographical advantages for the reds
Control of Petrograd and moscow
Moved capital to Moscow hub of railway net work
How many were in Trotskyist army
3 million men
Where did grisly direct the war from
A special train
How many miles did the train cover
65000 miles
How many officers did trotsky recruit
50,000 tsarist army officers
What were tsarist army officers used for
For their experience and to train recruits
How did Trotsky make the the red army a professional force
Reintroduced traditional ranks and practices and introduced conscription in some areas
What were some key things trotsky did
Skilful organiser and propagandist
Inspired and boosted the morale of troops
How did trotsky ensure the loyalty of generals
Attached political commissars to army units
What were the main white weaknesses
White armies fought as separate detachments with no United aim
Too widely scattered geographically to communicate
Too reliant on supplies from abroad
What were some red strengths
Remained in control of central western Russia- maintained their inner communications lines
Had Petrograd and Moscow, railway networks and industrial centres
Why was it important that reds had control of industrial centres
They had a supply of munitions and resources
Why was the whites reliance on foreign relations positive for reds
They used it for propaganda purposes
What was geographically important about Moscow for the reds
Main industry and armaments factories Heavily populated (more than white areas) Used weapons and supplies of tsarist army
What were the geographical disadvantages for the whites
Scattered around edges of Moscow and separated
Based in makeshift capitals (omsk and archangel)
Couldn’t coordinate military actions
Limited industry and transport links
Thinly populated
