Trotsky Flashcards
Pre civil war
Trotsky proved his value to the bs cause through his crucial role in organising bs operations in oct/Nov rev in petrograd and his role as a speaker and theorist was unquestioned
1
-did not have military background he proved himself a skillful organiser and propagandist and Lenin gave trotsky a free hand to mould the red army into an effective army of 3 mill men
- trotsky directed from the war often with his train that covered 65,000 miles during the war. He travelled with his own elite force in black leather uniforms visiting the various fronts and meeting commanders and their troops
- he ensured the red army was fed and armed. Trotsky could inspire and helped boost the morale of the troops and other bs leaders
2
-trotsky was prepared to use any methods necessary eg he recruited 50000 former tsarist army officers for their experience and used them to train new recruits
-even though they were ideological enemies of the working class political commisars watched the tsarist officers for any sign of disloyalty
-they were committed party loyalists who could be relied upon to obey there political masters. The commisars had to counter sign all army officers orders as well as instilling ideological principles to the troops
-discipline was harsh any sign of disloyalty or desertion was punishable by death. Deserters were shot
-if a unit retreated without being ordered to, trotsky said the first to be shot would be the political commisar and then unit commander
Trotsky 3
-he made the red army a professional force, reintroducing traditional ranks and practices
-when it was nessecery to build up its numbers conscription was introduced in some areas, either into fighting units or labour battalions and were used on the front line to clear debris and remove bodies of the wounded
-his train contained food equipment and cigarettes for the troops and had a propaganda unit
-his ruthless approach ensured the red army had food by requstioning grain from the peasants and weapons
-civilian occupied areas were often badly treated in order to keep the rest of the population in line
