Russian consequences Flashcards
challenges confronting the bolsheviks- problems
Bolsheviks only controlled Petrograd and Moscow
Low industrial production
High inflation
Severe food shortages- had to send some to Germany in reparation
Occupation by Germany
Unequal land distribution
challenges confronting the bolsheviks- economic measures
State capitalism- a compromise measure to achieve the transition to a socialist economy
Decree on land - abolished private property - recognised peasant takeovers
Decree on Workers’ Control - an attempt to assert government authority over factories which had been seized by workers
Vesenkha - body to oversee economic development
political measures to tackle problems in implementing rule
Cheka - special state police to crush counter-revolution and impose Bolshevik rule
Make their power legitimate
Had no political plan- “revolutionaries not politicians”
Sovnarkom
The Congress of soviets formed an executive body called Sovnarkom to lead the government Lead by Lenin Filled with prominent Bolsheviks 15 member cabinet Powerful
state capitalism
Lenin had little plan for a way to deal with the landlords and grasping capitalists he had written about in his thesis
Bolshevik government would use set structures until transition into a socialist system was made
This transition was referred to as state capitalism
‘For the present we shall have to adopt the old bourgeois method and agree to pay higher salaries for the “services” of the biggest bourgeois specialists. All who are familiar with the situation see the necessity of such a measure.’ - Lenin
decree on land November 1917
Lenin saw the future in industrial workers
However saw the importance of the peasants- majority and provided food
Hunger- grain supplies were 13 million tonnes short of the nation’s needs
Food production needed to be assured
Needed to persuade peasants to provide adequate food
the decree on workers control November 1917
Factories were taken over by workers
Workers committees in control often ran factories poorly
Fall in industry
The decree accepted the workers’ takeover but instructed them to “the strictest order and discipline”
Purpose of decree
“This control is to extend over the production, storing, buying and selling of raw materials and finished products as well as over the finances of the enterprise.”
“The workers will exercise this control through their elected organisations, such as factory and shop committees, Soviets of elders, etc.”
“The organs of Workers’ Control have the right to supervise production, fix the minimum of output, and determine the cost of production.”
“Commercial secrets are abolished.”
“All the laws and circulars restricting the work of factory, shop, and other committees or Soviets of workers and employees are hereby annulled.”
Vesenkha
Supreme Council of the National Economy
“take charge of all existing institutions for the regulation of economic life”
Banks and railways were nationalised
Foreign debts were cancelled
The transport system was made less chaotic
election propaganda and results
SRs
SRs aimed at workers and peasants
“only in battle will you obtain your rights!”
“land and freedom!”
“tear off the chains and the entire world will be free”
40% of votes
Bolsheviks
Slow to poster game
With civil war, propaganda increased and took after Soviet propaganda
Okna ROSTA was developed and soon became the Soviet hallmark
dismissal of constituent assembly
PG had organised to have elections to form the Constituent Assembly
Bolsheviks allowed them in Nov 1917 in fear of appearing undemocratic
SRs got most votes
SRs would end private ownership which was popular with peasants
Bolsheviks had urban support
Constituent Assembly met at Tauride Palace in Jan 1918
Approved some Bolshevik decrees on peace, land and forming independent national entities
Tseretelli criticised the way Bolsheviks assumed power
Bolsheviks read a declaration that was voted against
Bolshevik troops forced Assembly to conclude
Lenin’s attitudes to war with Germany and method of peace? Brest-litovsk
“The question of peace us the burning question, the most burning question of the present time.”
Called for peace, no winners and no losers
Trotsky’s attitudes to war with Germany and mentor of peace?
brest
Commissar of foreign affairs at the time
After ceasefire on 15th December, he called for a stalling of peace so that communist agitators could attempt to lead tired German soldiers to mutiny and revolution
why was treat of Brest-litvosk signed?
If they didn’t agree, Lenin would resign
Only won vote by one- Trotsky, Stalin and Zinoviev backed him
Germany grew tired of stalling and bombed Petrograd, forcing government to move to Moscow
Signed in the small border town of Brest-Litovsk
Russia was spared from all payments due to Treaty of Versailles
what did the treaty of brest-litvosk involve?
One third of European Russia (1 million square km and 45 million people)
Control of fertile Ukraine, Russia’s grain region
3 billion roubles of gold as compensation
The Russian army demolished and Russian warships disarmed
Prisoners of war exchanged without negotiation
Lots of their food was taken
consequences of Brest-litovsk
Further conflict between Lenin and left SRs but defeat of Germany by allies in November 1918 seemed to justify his policy
what did Russians lose in Brest litovsk?
89% of iron ore and coal reserves
54% of industrial enterprises
26% of railroads
34% of European Russia’s population (62 million people)
32% of farmland (The Ukraine, Poland and the Baltic regions of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia)
3 billion roubles in reparations
how did the economic conditions of russia worsen with Brest litvsk
Further food shortages
Decreased ability to transport food
Fertile regions taken
Less workers
Private ownership, 6 December 1917
Cannot own large houses
Large houses became property of soviets and several families occupied them
Marriage and divorce laws, 18 December 1917
Only civil marriage (no church) was recognised
Divorce could be obtained by either partner
Full judicial equality
education
Right of state, not parents
Creches and kindergartens allowed for early education and mothers to work
Banks, 27 December 1917
All nationalised and under control of State Bank
All gold in private banks now belonged to the state
Calendar and alphabet, 31 January 1918
Russia’s Julian calendar was abolished and replaced with Western Georgian calendar
Russian alphabet was simplified
Religion, 9 February 1918
State and schools were separated from churches
Freedom of religion
Teaching of religion was banned in all schools
Churches were denied ownership of property
Women
Women’s Bureau or Zhenotdel was formed months after the October Revolution
Led by Alexandra Kollontai and backed by Lenin and Trotsky
Meant to rally the support of women for the new regime
Kollontai held first All Russian Congress of Women 19 November 1918- over 1000 came
Lenin called for an end to female domestic slavery
Lenin’s wife wrote a book, The Worker Woman
Felix Dzerzhinsky
A minor aristocrat of Polish birth who oversaw the Cheka and the OGPU. Catholic.
In 1895, Dzerzhinsky joined a branch of the Lithuanian Social Democrat Party. He quickly became obsessed with Marxist theory and revolution and quit school to become a full-time revolutionary. After producing and distributing socialist propaganda in Kovno, Dzerzhinsky was arrested, detained and sentenced to three years in exile in Siberia. He remained there a little over a year before escaping. He would spend more than half of the next 20 years in prison or compulsory exile.
He was released under the Provisional Government’s general amnesty and immediately joined the Bolshevik movement. By July 1917, Dzerzhinsky was a member of the Bolshevik Central Committee and was contributing to the planning of the October Revolution.
In December 1917, Dzerzhinsky was appointed in the role for which he is best known: the head of the Cheka. Dzerzhinsky was instrumental in its expansion and fanatical in his leadership, often spending every waking hour investigating and crushing counter-revolution.
Alexandra kollontai
Born Alexandra Domontovich in 1872 to a former tsarist general and the the daughter of a minor nobleman.
At 18, married Vladimir Kollontai. She had her first child, a son, the following year.
After touring a textiles factory in 1896, Kollontai left her husband and infant child and devote herself to Marxist politics. After studying abroad, Kollontai joined the SDs in 1898. She sided with the Mensheviks after the party split in 1903.
For women to participate equally in society, Kollontai argued, their second-class standing as workers had to be eliminated.
In June 1915, sided with the Leninists. She returned to Petrograd after the February Revolution, sat on the executive committee of the Petrograd Soviet and produced Bolshevik and feminist propaganda. She backed Lenin’s April 1917 call for a Soviet revolution and was arrested during the ‘July Days‘.
After the October Revolution, Lenin appointed Kollontai the Commissar of Social Welfare. In this role, she helped construct Soviet reforms that legalised abortion, divorce and birth control. Prostitution was also decriminalised, while the legal concept of illegitimacy was banished. The Soviet Union became one of the first countries to grant women voting rights.
In 1919, Kollontai and Inessa Armand formed Zhenotdel, a Soviet government department dedicated to the rights and needs of women. Kollontai took over the leadership of Zhenotdel after Armand’s death in 1920.
Kollontai was not only concerned with the rights of women. In government, she became increasingly critical of the Communist Party, its growing bureaucracy and its heavy-handed management of factories and workers. Along with her former lover Shlyapnikov, then Commissar for Labour, Kollontai appeared at the head of a faction that shared these criticisms.
Kollontai’s 1921 pamphlet “The Workers’ Opposition” called for party members and trade unions to have the freedom to discuss policy issues. She also advocated that before the government attempts to “rid Soviet institutions of the bureaucracy that lurks within them, the Party must first rid itself of its own bureaucracy.” This attack on the Bolshevik hierarchy spelt the end of Kollantai’s political career. At the Tenth Party Congress in 1922, Vladimir Lenin proposed a resolution to ban factionalism within the party. He argued that factions were “harmful” and only encouraged rebellions such as the Kronstadt Rising. The Congress agreed with Lenin and the Workers’ Opposition was dissolved. Soon after this, Kollontai was effectively sidelined by being given diplomatic posts abroad. She worked as a Soviet diplomat or ambassador in several countries, including Norway, Sweden and Mexico. After retirement, Kollontai retired to Moscow where she died in 1952.
creation of red army
Military force for new Soviet regime
Formed by a decree in jan 1918
Trotsky was appointed war commissar in march and played a major role in organising and forming it
Trotsky filled ranks with conscripts- thousands of tsarist officers for their expertise
He was ruthless in enforcing loyalty and discipline, using threats against families and deploying party commissars and ‘blocking units’
Raised morale in Red Army, reminding them of their importance in history, using propaganda and travelling to supervise and speak
name change
Bolsheviks became Russian Communist Party (of Bolsheviks)- March 1918
All-Union Communist Party (of Bolsheviks) in December 1925
attempted assasination of lenin
30 august 1918
Michael Uritsky, head of CHEKA was assassinated that morning but Lenin still did speeches that afternoon
Approached by women and Fanny Kaplan shot him three times
Demanded to go to the Kremlin, fearing being ambushed on the way to the hospital
Refused to be carried
Survived but suffered severe headaches and migraines
Now felt Red Terror was necessary
“For the blood of Lenin…let there be floods of the blood of the bourgeois.” - Bolshevik newspaper
story by early 1918
The political vision of the Bolsheviks and the social revolution envisaged by ordinary people drifting apart.
The economy continued to break down - the ideals of state capitalism and workers’ supervision in industry were proving unworkable.
A more centralised economic policy was emerging.
Authoritarian measures were adopted to address crime and political opposition - opposition newspapers shut down, rival political groups banned.
Cheka, led by Dzerzhinsky, created.
Constituent Assembly dispersed by Bolsheviks (with aid of Kronstadt sailors) after one day.
Economic difficulties exacerbated by loss of fertile grain-producing areas and mining regions in Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
towards civil war
Military opposition emerged soon after October 1917
Lenin wanted Treaty of Brest-Litovsk but left communists wanted international revolution
When the treaty was put forward for ratification at the Congress and was approved, left SRs and some other socialists walked out.
Opposition to the Soviet republic set in train - groups hostile to the Bolshevik regime fed south to the Ukraine or Siberia and began rallying forces. Former tsarist generals were already drafting together armies to oppose the Bolsheviks. (Whites and Greens)
white army
traditional conservative forces, led by officers of former Russian army, supported by peasants, landowners, businessmen, ousted groups like SRs.
main white army threats
General Miller’s northern threat September 1918: SRs created a government but it was overthrown by General Wrangel who opposed a revolutionary socialist government
General Yudenich’s north-western threat October 1919: 144000 Russian soldiers who had been captured and then released by the Germans. Attacked Petrograd but they were defeated by the Reds. General Denikin’s forces were the closest to Moscow before being defeated at Orel.
Murder of the royal family August 1918: murdered by local Bolsheviks to prevent them being captured by white armies.
Admiral Kolchak’s eastern threat 1918-20: Admiral of the Black Sea Fleet during the First World War and his hatred of socialism led him to focus on anti-Bolshevik government in Siberia. He advanced into Red territory along the Trans-Siberian Railway. Resigned after 80% of peasants deserted. He was shot by the Red Guard.
General Denikin’s Southern Threat 1917-20: old-fashioned nationalist who wanted to restore old regime. Commanded 150 000 soldiers and advanced on Moscow. In March 1920 he handed over command of his White forces to General Wrangel
green armies
eperate collection of peasant and Cossack forces who were not aligned with Reds or Whites. Sought autonomy. Operated primarily in outer provinces. Began as revolts against the requisitioning of food.
main green army threats
Antonov led 40 000 Parisians that controlled Tambov region absolutely successful until mid-1921
Former Bolshevik Mohkno lead a large group of guerrilla fighters (Revolutionary Insurgent Army) and controlled a small part of Ukraine 1919-20 through cavalry attacks
what caused the external threats?
Lenin’s political stance stirred anger amongst conservative European power holders
Allies refused to recognise the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and gathered support for the Whites
CATALYST - Lenin’s declaration on 18 January 1918 that all foreign debts were cancelled ‘uncondit
external threat and their involvement
April 1918 British threat: British marines landed in several locations and provided physical and financial (70 million pounds) to the white armies
April 1918 French Threat: involved with the British but withdrew the next year
April 1918 Japanese threat and August 1918 American threat: Japanese sent 70 000 troops to Siberia hoping for more territory and the Americans went to restrain the Japanese, protect the railway and maybe support Admiral Kolchak’s new government
May 1918 Czech Legion threat: 30 000 men planned to travel by trail back to the battlefields of Western Europe. Lenin agreed but Bolsheviks saw them as threats and attacked, especially when they aligned themselves with whites and and formed the independent republic of Volga. They had to fight to escape Russia.
February 1919 to March 1921 Polish Soviet War: fought over Ukraine and Poland’s independence. Lenin needed Poland to export revolutionary agitation to Europe. Red Army drove through until defeated at Battle of Warsaw. Ceasefire and the signing of the treaty of Riga resulted (signed in Latvia March 18 1921). A polish-soviet boarder was established and allowed the bolsheviks to defeat the last white Russian general, Wrangel.
September 1918
Siberian city of Omsk
Anti-bolshevik government set up predominantly by SRs
Lasts 8 weeks
Overthrown by admiral Kolchok (war minister)
white army propaganda
Alliances with the non-Russian population that used to be part of the empire were important in civil war- uses other ethnic languages
White horses fight the red dragon
1920: polish soviet war and treaty of Riga
Important external threat
Capture Kiev but are pushed back by the Red Army
Red Army nearly make in to Warsaw
Communists get excited about international revolution
Lenin expects Polish to welcome them as communist saviours- not so
Forced to retreat in Battle of Warsaw (12-25 August)
Armistice negotiated in October
Treaty of Riga ratified 18 March 1921
Treaty gave Poland 30 million roubles (not a lot with inflation), bit of Ukraine and Belorussian territory and railway material
Treaty allowed soviets to deal with shot term concerns- march 1921 Kronstadt uprising, peasant uprisings in Ukraine, defeat last White forces led by General Wrangel
why did the reds win?
Reds had advantages as they controlled the centre of the country- most of population, therefore can form a bigger army
Moscow was heart of railway which made communication easier
Reds inherited Tsar’s arsenal of weapons
Most people in centres were Russian so Reds could appeal to patriotism
Leadership of communists was effective
CHEKA ran a ruthless campaign of terror
Trotsky organised the Red Army
Propaganda portrayed the whites as tsarist
Red Army- effectively run by Trotsky, had 5 million by 1920, strict discipline (Oath of the Red Warrior), appointed 50 000 tsarist military officers
The CHEKA- terror, torture, nearly 9000 shot, 87000 arrested, 140 000 killed in Civil War, 140 000 killed in eliminating uprisings- Okhrana killed 14 000 in 50 years
Unity of purpose- patriotism- victory would consolidate revolution, whites were depicted as evil, tsarist, bourgeoisie, supernatural and foreign capitalists
Defending a central location- whites had a large area but reds had centres- industrial strongholds- equipment, ammunition, railway
why did the white army lose?
Divided purpose and strategy- vast background of motive and political ideology, geographical distance furthered disunity and lack of communication, equipment was not shared, military tactics were not shared, offensives did not happen planned together. The reds were not fighting a unified force but multiple little forces
Lack of propaganda- they didn’t communicate with the peasants, did not appear better than reds- from upper classes and did not approve of seizing land, also relied on foreign aid which allowed Lenin to depict them as foreign enemies
importance of trotsky during civil war
Important as a tactician and inspiring orator in encouraging victory
The armoured train in which he travelled around inspiring had ammunition, resources, a court, maps, specialists etc. people expected good things when he arrived
Talked of an “inevitable” victory
He was popular as people saw he would sacrifice himself for an idea
Passionate speeches, divisiveness
He fought on the front with his men as equals
Seemed undaunted by the attacks on his train
Never seemed to rest
“A prophet of a happy future”- Volkogonov
He defended the Bolshevik use of Terror, which gave the Bolsheviks more power to use it
Executed troops that attempted to escape- imposed heavy discipline
importance of Dzerzhinsky in civil war
Founder and head of the CHEKA
Increased numbers in the CHEKA
what is the red terror?
Targeted Russia’s privileged class, people suspected of anti-revolutionary actions and White Army
“First you must ask him to what class he belongs, what his social origin is, his education and profession. These are the questions that must determine the fate of the accused” - Latsis, deputy of Dzerzhinsky
“If there is meat in [the soup pot], then he is an enemy of the people.” - another CHEKA
More organised and fear-inducing by mid-1918
“We stand for organised terror…the CHEKA is obliged to defend the revolution and conquer the enemy even if its sword does by chance sometimes fall on the heads of the innocent.” - Dzerzhinsky
Decree “On Red Terror” was passed 5 September 1918 which allowed for concentration camps and the execution of white guard organisations, conspiracies and rebellions.
what were the methods of terror?
Shot victims bit my bit Boiled skin off hand- glove trick Rolled in spiked barrels Blunt saws through bones Rats gnawing stomach Roasted Buried in coffins with dead people Shot with a blank Many Chekists went insane- alcohol and drug abuse
“We must not only execute the guilty. Execution of the innocent will impress the masses even more.” - Nikolai Krylenko
what were the justifications of terror?
Death of Petrograd CHEKA Uritsky by assassination and attempt on Lenin’s life
“For the blood of Lenin and Uritsky…let there be floods of bourgeoisie blood.” - newspaper
Higher calling
“honest” and “trustworthy” men “pure as crystal” - Dzerzhinsky’s description of a CHEKA
Guardians of the revolution
what was the white terror?
White Armies targeted suspected communists and jews
Nailed them to trees
Buried them in the ground and rode over their head with horses
Carved stars into their backs
Hacked limbs off
Buried head-down
“let of steam” by murdering, raping and plundering Jewish towns
In Ukraine 100 000 Jews were murdered
