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.
What were the economics problem in Russia by May 1918?
- Factories not being run efficiently by
committees. - Civil war meant situation got worse
as few raw materials reached cities. - Few goods being produced created
massive problems of inflation. - Paper money became worthless and
there weren’t enough goods for
peasants to buy, so they did not
supply food to the cities. - Most productive agricultural regions
were not under red control. - Serious food shortages resulted in
Petrograd bread ration from Feb
1918 + 50g. - City pops plummeted (1.9 M leave
Petrograd)
What was the name of the economic system that existed in Russia from 1918 to 1921?
- War communism
- Introduced by Lenin to combat the
economic problems brought on by
the civil war in Russia.
What were the six principles of War communism?
1) Production should be run by the
state. Private ownership should be
kept to the minimum.
2) State control to be granted over
labour of every citizen. Once a
military army had served its
purpose, it would become a labour
army.
3) State should produce everything
in its own undertakings. The state
tried to control the activities of
millions of peasants.
4) Extreme centralization was
introduced. The economic life of
the area controlled by the
Bolsheviks was put into the hands
of just a few organisations.
5) The state attempted to become the
soul distributor as well as the sole
producer.
6) War communism attempted to
abolish money as a means of
exchange.
What were the Urban workers particularly annoyed about during the civil war and war communism?
- The food shortage.
- The militarized factories - ‘worse
than a tsarist prison camp’. Workers
could be imprisoned or shot if
production targets were not met. - The way the state had hijacked their
unions, making them no more than
instruments to keep the workers
under control.
Why was martial law imposed in Moscow and Petrograd?
There were calls for ‘Soviets’ without communists’ and there was a revival in support for other socialist parties.
What was the Kronstadt rising?
- March 1921
- Sailors at Kronstadt naval bas
mutinied in hope of starting general
revolt against Bolsheviks. They
demanded multi-party democracy
and civil rights. - Shock to regime, nevertheless the
sailors were roundly condemned.
How did the Bolsheviks handle the Kronstadt uprising?
- Marshat Tukhachevsky sent to deal
with them. They fought tooth and
nail to defend base. - Thousands sent to Solovetsky the
first big labour camp, in white sea.
What was the workers opposition group that grew due to the situation in the city and position of the workers?
- Wanted workers to be given more
control over own affairs and
supported complaints workers had
about work environment. - In particular they criticized Trotsky’s
plan to make the trade unions
agencies of the state, even to the
extent that union officials should be
appointed by state. - Caused divide within parties.
What was the impact of the problems the Bolsheviks faced such as the Kronstadt rising on Lenins opinion?
- Realised that concessions to the
peasants and some measure of
economic liberalisation were
essential for the regime to survive. - Popular discontent could no longer
be suppressed.
How did the Bolsheviks consolidate their power, 1917-1924?
Factors:
- Control of the economy
- Cult of Lenin
- Political control
- Repression and terror
- Control of society and nationalists
How did the Bolsheviks consolidate their power through political control, 1917-24?
- The Cheka, aimed to remove all
forms of political opposition…. Red
terror. Historian Robert Service
estimates 500,00 sent to Gulags in
period. - Closed constituent assembly, Jan
1918, refusing to take part in
socialist coalition. Made Russia one
party state. - 1921 + only communist party
allowed to field candidates for
election to the Soviets, democratic
centralism = all decisions made by L
+ Pol must be followed by whole
party. - 1921, banned all other parties.
- Main policy making body of USSR =
Politburo. - Lenin widely respected as founder/
major political thinker.
How did the Bolsheviks consolidate their power through repression and terror, 1917-24?
- Cheka, created 1917, (replaced by
GPU in 1922) = Political police force
using terror e.g. Gulags from 1918 +
to eliminate opposition. - Trotsky’s red army = effective +
strong. Able to put down significant
uprisings or rebellions e.g.
Kronstadt. This limited challenges to
Bolshevik power. - Class warfare used to terrorise
middle classes and all hostile social
groups. Popular with workers +
soldiers, made it difficult for people
to cliticize a new government.
How did the Bolsheviks consolidate their power through control of the economy, 1917-24?
- NEP meant that the bolsheviks
controlled ‘commanding heights of
industry’. - Lenin ended Russia involvement in
WW1 lead to huge territorial +
industrial losses in treaty of Brest-
Litovsk, when war ended Lenin just
ignored treaty. - War communism used to run
industries essential to war effort.
They nationalised industry, banned
strikes, introduced internal
passports, used managers and elite
workers to control workers.
How did the Bolsheviks consolidate their power through Control of society and nationalists, 1917-24?
- Defeated Whites in civil war. Seen as
defending Russia from foreign
imperialists and interventionists. - USSR established 1922, To
overcome ethnic divisions which
may have threatened communism.
Russia, Ukraine, Belorussia, Georgia,
Armenia and Azerbaijan all had own
gov as part of a federal system and
sent representatives to the
Congress of Republics. - Increase use of propaganda
- Trotsky’s red army able to put
down….
How did the Bolsheviks consolidate their power through the cult of Lenin, 1917-24?
- Controlled media, only newspapers
such as Pravda could be published.
Lenin able to make sure through
censorship that Russians heard
what he wanted them to hear. - 1921, Lenin announces ban of
factions within C party = not allowed
to form groups independent of
Lenin’s leadership. - Lenin set up Sovnarkom as new
governing body of USSR. - Democratic centralism
- Use of propoganda , glorifying Lenin
as ‘Father of the nation’
What was the NEP (new economic policy)?
- Introduced March 1921.
- Radical reversion from communist
principles: revert to more capitalist
lines in many areas, liberalising the
economy. - Extremely controversial within
communist party. - Accompanied by a tightening of
political controls. - Major step towards a centralised
state.
What did the NEP to with grain requisitioning?
- Abolished
- Peasants had to give a portion of
their produce to the state - Peasants could sell the surplus on
the open market - Profits taxed
What did the NEP do with private trade and small businesses?
- Ban on private trade revoked and
small businesses re-opened. - Food and goods now legally traded
between town and countryside. - Businesses allowed to trade and
profit. - Money used: rationing abolished.
People have to buy produce from
their own money. New currency
introduced. - New class of Russian ‘Nepman’ who
were private traders.
Within the NEP what was their state control over?
- State control over heavy industry,
transport and banking. - State retains control of key
economic infrastructure. - Industry organised into
inderpendent trusts expected to
operate like businesses (pay
workers, buy materials out of their
own budget).
What were the political consequences of the NEP?
- Ban on factions with communist
party; Lenins way becomes the only
way - Democratic centralism. - Sparked major ideological debate in
communist party.
What were the economic consequences of the NEP?
- land cultivated up 50% 1921-27.
Cereal production up 23% 1920-23. - Factory output up 200% 1920-23.
(from a low base). - Widening gap between agricultural
prices (falling) and industrial prices
(rising).
What were the social consequences of the NEP?
- Return of markets to Russian towns.
Nepman handle 75% Russian trade. - Goods available: food shortages
ended. - 1921 famine ended.
- 1923: 85% firms owned privately.
What was Lenin’s Decree on land?
Decree on Land:
Issued in November 1917.
Transferred land ownership from the aristocracy to the peasants.
The land was redistributed among the peasants, fulfilling the Bolshevik promise of “Land, Peace, and Bread.”
Aimed to gain support from the peasants and solidify the Bolsheviks’ power base.
What was Lenin’s Decree on Peace?
Decree on Peace:
Issued in November 1917.
Proposed an immediate armistice to end Russia’s involvement in World War I.
This decree reflected the Bolsheviks’ desire to fulfill their promise of ending the war, which was deeply unpopular among the Russian population.
What was Lenin’s Decree on Workers’ Control?
Decree on Workers’ Control:
Issued in November 1917.
Gave workers the authority to supervise their factory managers and participate in decision-making processes.
Aimed to empower the working class and establish a socialist economy based on worker control and management.
What was Lenin’s Decree on the Press?
Decree on the Press:
Issued in November 1917.
Guaranteed freedom of the press and abolished censorship.
Allowed for the proliferation of Bolshevik propaganda and the suppression of dissenting voices.
What was Lenin’s Decree on Nationalities?
Decree on Nationalities:
Issued in November 1917.
Recognized the right to self-determination for ethnic minorities within the former Russian Empire.
Appealed to nationalistic sentiments among non-Russian populations and aimed to weaken opposition to Bolshevik rule.
