The Civil War Flashcards
What were the reasons for the ciivl war?
Economic aid and social hardship Bolshevik reforms Dissolving the constituent assembly The treaty of Brest-Livosk Opponents of the bolsheviks
Why economic and social hardship caused the civil war?
In the six moths following the cotober revolution the bolsheviks failed to deal with food shortages and starvation. Causing growth in opposition
Bread ration reached as low as 50g a day
Workforce decreasd by 60% and population decreased by 2 and 3 million
Why bolshevik reforms caused the civil war?
Other russian parties opposed their reforms
Decree of land eant land taken from church, nobles and landlords, so they sided with the whites
Decree of baanking meant bank owners lost their wealth and thus opposed bolsheviks
Decree on peace alienated those who wanted war and objected to losing land to germany
Why dissolving the constituent assembly caused the civil war?
SRs and Cadets accused bolsheviks for seizing power and demanded recalling of the assembly - they ended up supporting the whites
Why the treaty of brest-livosk caused the civil war?
Increased opposition
Why opponents of the bolsheviks caused the civil war?
Growing opposition led to economic hardship and lenins reforms hardened into civil war in early summer of 1918
What were the starting events of the civil war?
Czech legion revolted and compromised 42,000 soldiers who had fought in ww1. Allies covinved bolsheviks to transport them accross russia in order to rejoin the alllies at te western front. Local soviets did not like this and there was fighting. Leading to czech troops rebelling and taking over the trans siberien railway. This allowed the whites to openly go against the bolshevik regime
Who are the white?
Those who opposed the bolsheviks. Former Tsarists, nationalists, nobles
Liberals and moderate socialists -wante law and order
SRs who want constituent assemby
The czech legion
Who are the greens?
Nationalist minorities - georgians, wanted indepndence from russia
Who are the foreign powers?
Russians ex allies, france, usa, japan, uk
Because..
Lenin signed treaty of brest-livosk
Britain france usa feared communism
Bolshevik cancelled payments of all loans given by allies to russia
What were the key events?
General yudenich, with british support attacjed from the north-west and threatened petrograd. He had the smallest army 15,000 men. Reached outskirts of petrograd oct 1919 with estonian troops, but failed to secure petrograd railway. Bolshevik secured armistice with estonia to give peace to them. Yudenich dissolved his armies mid 1920s
General Denkin supported mainly by the french, threatened the south. Had 150,000 men. Advanced through don region. By 1918 his army was beseiging tsaritsyn, crucial land for reds had grain supply. Protected by stalin. Launched another offensive in 1919 which he was defeated by trotsky’s army. Denekin was replaced with wrangel who evacuted the army in nov 1920.
Admiral kochak attacked from the east. Had 140,000 men supported by the czech legion.july 1919 captured kazan and samara. By autumn red army forced kolchak to retreat, following year he was captured and shot. Defeat case of deterined counterattacks from red army and quarrels with czechs
General seminov in the east. Supported by japanese airforces, in siberian region. Kolchak transfered power to semenov. But he was uable to control his forces, they stole burned raped. July 1920 japan stopped helping, red army defeated semenov in oc 1920
White general miller in the north. Fled to archangel and declared himself govener general of northern russia. May 1919 kolchak appointed him in charge of white army in that region. Howver ad an unsucsessful advance in summer 1919, british forces withdrew, millers men eventually evacuated feb 1920.
Strengths of bolsheviks
Leadership of Lenin War commmunism and the cheka The rols of Trotsky Control of central area and the railway Support from the peasantry - Propoganda and a cause - Kept their promises
How did leadership of lenin provide victory
one strong leader
How did war commmunism and cheka provide victory
ruthless dicsipline in factories, food rationing, cheka used to prevent ppl helping the white
How did role of trotsky provide victory
- one commander, good leader
Inspired and rallied men
Promoted tallented soldiers
Restpre conscription for men aged 18-40 to raise large army
Brought bsck thousands of former tsarist officers. To ensure loyalty had family keot hostage
Appointed bolshevik political commisars to each army unit
Restored strict military discipline
His overall stratergy- defend red army internal lines of communication dnt let white concenrate large force on one location
Travelled to place with lost of fighting to provide support
