The Civil War

Question 1

Causes: Reaction to Oct Rev

Answer 1

• Not everyone agreed
• Fighting lasted for 2 weeks in Moscow until 2 Nov
• Most in provincial Russia didn’t recognise Bols. Authorities

Question 2

Causes: The Czech Legion

Answer 2

• 40000 Czech troops separated from War
• Granted permission to travel east across Russia
• Stopped by provincial -Soviets building confusion and tension
• Soviet saw them as a threat and Bols. Ordered them to disarm
• 22 May 1918: Start attacking provincial Soviets
• 8 June 1918: support SR led ‘People’s Army’ and capture Samara. SR form the Komuch
• Inspired other groups to rebel

Question 3

Causes: Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

Answer 3

• Anger at concessions
• Left SRs turn against Bols.
• Inspired former generals to create ‘Volunteer Armies’ to regain lost land
• UK, France, US, Japan all turn against Bols.

Question 4

Causes: The Dismissal of the Constituent Assembly

Answer 4

• Kadets and Octoberists were willing to fight to restore it

Question 5

Causes: Monarchists

Answer 5

• Anger at PG failing and radical nature of Bols.

- Push for the restoration of the Romanov dynasty

Question 6

Causes: Nationalists calls for Independence

Answer 6

• Even with a decree, Bols. unwilling to let regions have independence
• Partly due to losses from Treaty of B-L
• Poles and Cossacks wanted greater autonomy
• Russia still divided ethnically

Question 7

Whites

Answer 7

• Not a united force.
• Included liberals, former tsarists, nationalist, SRs
• 4 main White Armies.
• Armed Forces of Southern Russia (General Denikin, assisted by Kornilov, Krasnov.)
• Siberian Forces (Admiral Kolchak)
• North-Western Army (General Yudenich)
• Foreign Interventionists.
  Britain (General Miller), Japan, France, USA
• “the only thing that they all had in common was that they were anti-Bolshevik” (Corin & Fiehn)

Question 8

Greens

Answer 8

• Peasant partisan armies.
• Led by Mahkno (SR)
• Fought against White and Red
• Green Armies targeted by Red Army.
• 1921 – Green armies defeated in full.

Question 9

Victory: Geograpy

Answer 9

• Moscow was “The hub of the railway network”. (Corin & Fiehn).
• Controlled the Railway network.
• Larger population to draw from 70 million compared to 8-10 million in White areas. (Perfect et al.))
• Control of factories in Petrograd, Moscow

Question 10

Victory: Ideology

Answer 10

• Bols. and Red Army shared united belief. (Lincoln)
• Marxism stated their victory was inevitable
• Propaganda became a very effective tool (Kulaks, bourgeoisie, foreigners were all targets)

Question 11

Trotsky

Answer 11

• Dec 1918: Red Army had 500 000 men (Perfect et al.)
• 1920: 5 million (Perfect et al.)
• Due to Trotsky’s propaganda and recruiting.
  Implemented harsh policies for deserters (Chekist regiments ordered to shoot any retreating soldiers)
• Enlisted Tsarist officers as ‘expert advisors’ (Compliance gained by holding families hostage)
• Rewards for soldiers who showed bravery, ingenuity.
• Travelled between fronts and delivered speeches, propaganda, tobacco/boots/food/prostitutes for those in need of a morale boost.

Question 12

White Weakness

Answer 12

• Corruption and discipline was an issue
• Each group had different goals and didn’t cooperate (not united)
• Lack of communication
• Did not offer a clear alternative to Bols. Rule

Question 13

Civil War

Answer 13

• 1917-1922
• Counter-rev opposition was squashed
• Economically in trouble