Russia 1.1 Flashcards
Why did the Sovnarkom have little power at the start of the Revolution?
Trevolution happened in Petrograd so Lenin did not have control of other major cities and vast rural areas. Senior figures from the previous government still had a great deal of power and refused to recognise the Bolshevik government. Late Nov - Dukhonion (Chief of staff of Russian Army) refused a direct order from Lenin to stop fighting and bring about peace negotiations. State Bank and Treasury striked, denying funds to the new government.
What were the three main issues facing the Bolsheviks?
Ownership of land (peasants), the unpopular war and the Bolshevik’s right to govern.
The Decree of Land Oct 1917
Gave peasants the right to to seize land from the nobility and the Church.
The Decree of Peace Oct 1917
Withdrawal from WW1.
Workers’ Decree (Nov 1917)
Established an eight-hour maximum working day and a minimum wage.
What did the Bolsheviks promise?
‘Peace, Land and Bread’
What evidence was there for Bolshevik rule possibly being ‘more democratic than Britain’?
Decrees were popular and the Constitution of 1918 meant that the Sovnarkom was responsible to the Congress of Soviets which contained representatives from many political parties, including the Mensheviks and SRs.
Who did the Bolsheviks face opposition from?
Other left-wing groups denied a share in the power hoped for a coalition government.
Right wing groups feared losing freedoms. Marxism gave power to the proletariat.
Nationalist groups - Ukrainians, Finns - saw a chance to assert their independence as Tsarism ended.
What happened on 4 Nov 1917
Censorship of Menshevik and SR newspapers - also became difficult to publish.
When was the first and only meeting of the Constituent Assembly?
5 January 1918
Why did Lenin dissolve the Constituent Assembly and what did he describe it as?
Bolsheviks, 9 mil - 175 seats and SRs, 21 mil - 410 seats. Assembly as a national parliament would pose a threat to Bolshevik rule - Lenin dissolved it after one meeting (5 Jan) - condemned it as an ‘instrument of the bourgeoisie’ - replaced it with the All Russian Congress.
How did the Bolsheviks strip opposition parties of possible support?
‘Bourgeois’ classes lost the vote (employers, priests, etc.)
How many Mensheviks were arrested in the first three months of 1921?
5000
Who was angry over the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and why?
The Conservatives and those who served in the Tsar’s Army. National humilation.
Why did the Allies send troops and money to the Civil War?
They furious with Reds for making peace and Reds refused to repay loans made by the Allies to the Tsar’s government and as the Reds nationalised all foreign-owned businesses without compensation.
When and what were the signs of military conflict?
General Kornilov organised an anti-Bolshevik army in the Don region. SRs and Liberals set up a rival government in Omsk, Siberia.
What united the Whites and why did they lose?
They were only united by their desire to be rid of Bolsheviks - cooperation was limited and through corruption and inefficiency, funds from the Allies failed to be put to good effect.
By when were all White Strongholds destroyed?
End of 1920
Conscription led to how many soldiers in the Red Army?
5 million by 1921.
When was the Cheka establsihed?
December 1917
What was the 5 September 1918 Decree?
All class enemies (non-peasant/worker) would be isolated in concentration camps and anyone involved in ‘plots and insurrections’ would be shot - not necessary for Cheka to have evidence.
What happened to Church leaders in Kremenchuk?
Impaled on spikes
Who was arrested after Lenin’s assassination attempt in August 1918?
Left-wing groups
Results of the Red Terror?
1917-23 200,000 executed
Cheka grew to 500,000 by 1921
Under Lenin, one-third of the Party were purged through (non-violent) Chistkas.
How did white officers lead to the Whites losing the War?
Many white officers were, at best, poor leaders who did not want to fight and at worst, were corrupt officers who cheated their soldiers out of food and clothes. Planning and cooperation among the Whites was poor. Absence of a single commander and the fact that many White commanders were interested more in the spoils of victory than in joining together to defeat a common enemy decreased the likelihood of victory.
What was sold in the black market in Omsk during the Civil War?
Foreign uniforms and munitions were sold on black markets and officers lived in brothels with cocaine and vodka.
Why was allied support of minimal significance?
Withdrew before the end of the Civil War as they could no longer afford prolonged or costly action in Russia.
How did Trotsky transform the Red Army?
Trotsky took an undisciplined volunteer force and turned it into the Red Army. To ensure a soldier’s loyalty he held their families hostage. In addition, political officers were assigned to all Red Army units to ensure they complied with Trotsky’s orders and remained loyal to the Communists. He also toured every Front in an armoured train checking upon units and delivering political speeches.
How did geographical factors help the Bolsheviks win the war?
Bolsheviks had the central area - capital moved to Moscow, hub of railway network - easier to transport men and munitions. It also contained the main armament factories. Central area heavily population (60 million) - could conscript more men - Red armies often larger than White opponents. Whites were scattered around this large area - separated by large distances. This made communications and the movement of men and weapons very difficult. Had no telephone links - officers on horseback to convey messages.
Why did the Bolshevik state become highly centralised and authoritarian after the Civil War?
The Bolshevik state became highly centralised and authoritarian due to the demands of the Civil War - required quick decision making and direction of resources by the government. Power now in hands of the Politburo. Or it could be argued that centralisation was already inherent in the Communist Party philosophy. Although local party representatives were sent to Party Congress, the more significant process was sending out representatives from the centre to gradually take control of local Party organisations bringing them into line with central leadership (from 1919). The Soviets began as revolutionary mass bodies but quickly became bureaucratic organs of local government under central control.
By the early 1920s, why had real power shifted from the State to the Party?
Because Lenin had to act quickly he tended to rely on the Politburo - preferred it to Sovnarkom as it was smaller (so could reach decisions quicker) and contained his most loyal supporters (Stalin, Trotsky, Zinoviev and Kamenev). Lenin did not abolish the Sovnarkom, it simply ceased to function as the main centre of government. The rise of the Politburo indicated the new government was based on the Communist Party rather than the Soviets.
Why did Senior Communists prefer to work through the Party?
Senior Communists preferred work through the Communist Party, even at a local level - didn’t trust local soviets (still had some SRs and Mensheviks). Members of both the Politburo and Sovnarkom often sent their deputies to the latter.
What changed in the Cheka in 1919?
From 1919 the Cheka was responsible to the Politburo rather than the Sovnarkom.
The Kronstadt Mutiny (1921)
Revolt from sailors previously loyal to the Bolsheviks - against the imposition of orders from the local soviet from the government. Slogan was ‘Soviets without Bolsheviks’ - crushed by the Red Army by the revolt was a shock as sailors were previously loyal. Demanded a series of reforms including: free and fair elections of new Soviets, abolition of the Cheka, end to war communism, release of Mensheviks and SRs.
Tambov Uprising (1920-21)
Sparked by Bolsheviks units requisitioning grain for use in the city (urban poor - huge faction of Bolshevik supporters) and army. Formed the Green Army - controlled large areas. In all major cities there were strikes against Communist policies. In Petrograd the Red Army opened fire on unarmed workers - eventually crushed by 50,000 Bolshevik soldiers and deporting 100,000 to labour camps.
By much did Party membership increase by during the Civil War?
300,000 (1917) to 730,000 (1921)
Why was democratic centralism no longer apparent after the Civil War?
Lenin ruled by decree so Soviets had no power - merely carried out orders
Name some factions in the Party and how did Lenin remove them?
Workers’ Opposition
Democratic Centraliststs
To remove opposition, Lenin banned the formation of factions with the Party - ‘On Party Unity’ - punishment was expulsion.
Did Lenin have a personal dictatorship?
Lenin was a Politburo member and Chairman of the Sovnarkom but preferred a collective leadership and called any suggestion of a personal dictatorship as ‘utter nonsense’.
During which events did Lenin threaten to resign?
He did this over the 1918 Peace Treaty and the NEP (1921).
Examples of debate within the Party and after which event did debate within the Party become stifled?
Kamenev and Zinoviev had opposed Lenin’s decision to launch a revolution in 1917.
Fierce debate in the Party whether to accept the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.
Introduction of NEP led to left and right wing factions in the Party.
After the Tenth Party Congress, ‘On Party Unity’ greatly reduced open debate.
How many Communist Party members by 1924?
1 million
Why did the Party develop the nonmenklatura system?
To ensure a committed Communist Party bureaucracy, the Party developed the nomenklatura system - evidence of commitment to Party was necessary to stay on the list (of job appointment) - to not be loyal was to lose your place on the list and your chance at promotion - an effective tool of centralisation by the General Secretary.
How did the Soviet Constitution 1924 lead to increased centralisation?
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was in theory a federal state but in practice tightened the authority of the Communist Party. In theory each republic had equal rights (including secession - never exercised). Party bodies in various (e.g. Ukraine) were now firmly under control of the Central Party structure
How much of the land, population and party members were in Russia?
90% of land area, 72% of the population and 75% of party members.
