Russian Civil War Flashcards
When was the Russian civil war?
Following the revolution in 1917,
began in the middle of 1918 and
ended in early 1921.
What were the causes of the Russian civil war?
- The Bolsheviks political opponents
were not prepared to accept their
absolute rule. - Lenin believed that a conflict would
destroy his opponents, so he was
much in support of it. He thought it
would strengthen the communist
state further. - Some fought to achieve
independence from the empire, but
others fought to prevent it. - The Bolsheviks had a large number
of enemies given their ideologies
where quite extreme.
Who were the Reds in the Russian civil war?
The bolsheviks an their supporters.
What did the reds have control of during the Russian civil war?
- Controlled most of the northern end
and central Russia.
Gave advantages: - In control of most densely
populated areas. This allowed for
recruitment and workers. - It was also the most industrialised
areas of Russia. - Because it was more industrialised
they were able to use the railroads.
Who were the whites in the Russian civil war?
The bolsheviks opponents including monarchist looking for a tsarist restoration and those parties who had been outlawed or suppressed by the new regime.
What did the Whites have control of in the Russian civil war?
- When it comes to White areas ,they
were unlucky in their geographical
control. - There were few people in the white
areas (Russia densely populated in
cities). - It was less industrialised therefore
fewer factories and less ability to
produce munitions. - The white regions were also divided
and so were difficult to co-ordinate.
Who were the greens in Russian civil war and what did they control?
- Groups from national minorities
struggling for independence from
central Russian control. - The green forces controlled small
areas mainly Ukraine, their
resources were limited and they
were also surrounded by the whites.
What did the nationalists have control of in the Russian civil war?
- Controlled areas such as Georgia
Armenia and Azerbaijan. - Again like the greens they were
small compared to red and white
(this is why narrative Russian Civil
War is focused on red + white)
Describe the murder of the Romanov’s?
- Tsar unable to get safe passage to
Britain as hoped. - Moved to many different locations
by Soviets to prevent an attempted
rescue. - However there was a problem as to
what to do with them. - Trotsky and others wanted trial,
Lenin wanted to eradication. - 17th July 1918 Nicholas II and family
executed in basement of safehouse.
What were the weakness of the whites that contributed towards Bolsheviks victory?
- The various white armies fought as
separate detachments. - Apart from that obvious aim to
overthrow the bolsheviks, they were
not bound together by a single aim. - The whites were unwilling to
sacrifice for their individual interests
in order to form a United anti-
Bolshevik front. This allowed the
Reds to pick off the White Armies
separately. - In the Rare cases in which the
whites did consider combining they
where too widely scattered
geographically to be able to bring
sufficient pressure to bear on the
enemy. - Too reliant on supplies from abroad
which rarely arrives in sufficient
quantities in the right place at the
right time. - Lacked leaders of quality of Trotsky.
What was Trotsky’s simple and direct strategy in the Russian Civil War?
The basis of the strategy was to control Russia’s railways, transporting troops quickly and in large numbers to critical areas of defence or attack.
- To defend internal lines of
communication. - To deny Whites the opportunity to
concentrate large forces in any one
location. - To prevent the whites maintaining
regular supplies.
What were the strengths of the reds in the Russian Civil war, helping them to victory?
- Remained in control of a
concentrated central area of
Western Russia, able to defend
these by maintaining their inner
communication and supply lines. - Two major cities, Moscow +
Petrograd, the administrative
centres of Russia remained in their
hands as did most of railway. - Had industrialised areas = access to
munitions and resources whites
lacked. - Brilliantly led by Trotsky. Simple +
direct strategy.
What was the effect of the civil war on the Bolsheviks toughness?
- Many members and leaders of party
had fought in the red army. This had
created a tradition of military
obedience and loyalty. - Bolsheviks of this generation were
hard men, forged in the fires of war.
What was the effect of the civil war on the Bolshevik authoritarianism?
Civil war shaped character of communist rule in Soviet Russia and helped enforce administrative fiat (strict command from above) and centralised administration. Allowed Bolsheviks regime’s to survive in period 1917-1921
What was the effect of the Russian civil war on centralisation in Russia under the Bolsheviks?
- Move towards centralism increased
as war dragged on. - Emergencies of war required
immediate day to day decisions to
be made. - Led to effective power moving away
from the central committee of the
communist party = too slow and
complicated, into the hands of two
new sub-committees the politburo
and urgburo that could act fast. - The authority of sovnarkom (official
Russ gov) became indistinguishable
from the rule of these party
committees, which were served by
the secretariat ( a form of civil
service that administered policies).
What was the Politburo?
The political bureau (gov agency), responsible for major policy decisions.
What was the Orgburo?
Organisation bureau, which turned the policies into practise.
What were the Bolsheviks economic problems 1918 -21?
- Decentralised economic system
from October 1917. - Decree on the land had put
peasants in control of agriculture. - Decrees had put factories under
control of committees of workers.
