(U2) Lenin’s Russia 1917-24

Question 1

What was the initial political issue experienced by Lenin after taking power?

Answer 1

• The Bolsheviks were forced to allow the constituent assembly elections
• this created the possibility of the Bolshevik control being undermined - illegitimate leaders

Question 2

When were the constituent assembly elections held?

What were the results (3 major parties)?

Answer 2

1. November 1917
2. • Bolsheviks 9.8m votes
   • Kadets - 1.8m votes
   • SRs - 17.1m votes

Question 3

Why was Lenin against the idea of sharing power (coalitions)?

Answer 3

He believed it would dilute communist policies, e.g. the idea of class consciousness would be undermined

Question 4

When did the constitutional assembly meet?

Where?

What happened? (3)

Answer 4

1. Jan 5th 1918
2. Tauride palace
3. • armed Bolsheviks placed around the building
   • Jan 6th - palace locked and surrounded by Red guards
   • Lenin announced the assembly had been dissolved

Question 5

How did Lenin justify shutting down the constitutional assembly?

Answer 5

• claimed the SRs and Kadets rigged the elections
• claimed the Bolsheviks were more legitimate and representative

Question 6

When did Russia agree an armistice with Germany? (WWI)

Why did this infuriate the allies?

Answer 6

• December 1917
• obviously withdrawal left them vulnerable, but they were already suspicious of the new govt being communist

Question 7

What policy did Trotsky use while negotiating the Brest-Litovsk agreement?

why?

How did the Germans respond?

Answer 7

• ‘neither war nor peace’ - essentially he tried to prolong the negotiations
• he believed communist revolutions would occur across Europe and the war would therefore end itself
• out of anger, resumed their offensive into Russian territory

Question 8

What were the broad terms of Brest-Litovsk (for Russia) (6)

and

When was it signed

Answer 8

Signed March 3rd 1918:

• 32% of agricultural land lost
• large areas of European territory lost
• 75% coal and iron mines lost
• 33% factories lost
• 26% of rail network lost
• 60 million people lost territorially

Question 9

Despite Brest-Litovsk being so harsh, why were the Bolshevik govt still confident?

Answer 9

Germany was losing the war, it would probably be overturned

Question 10

What was State capitalism? (3)

Answer 10

• transition stage on the way to full economic communism
• Government assume ownership of most profit making organisations
• temporary fix to be replaced after Bolshevik consolidated their position

Question 11

What were the policies of state capitalism? (3)

Answer 11

• cancelled all foreign debt from former governments
• Council of National economy (Vesenkha) oversaw nationalisation of banks and railways
• Land decree passed October 1917 abolished right to privately hold large farms or estates

Question 12

What were the affects of state capitalism? (4)

Answer 12

• Depended on middle class to transition to state capitalism
• without state approval workers seized control of factories from owners
• many Bolsheviks believed Lenin compromised too much
• proved ineffective by early 1918

Question 13

Why was War Communism introduced (5)

Answer 13

• create new economy to curb increased food shortages and large movement from urban areas to rural ones
• helped to blame peasants for falling agricultural production
• provide armed forces basic supplies to fight civil war
• allowed Bolsheviks to take tighter grip on power
• harsh and unpopular but most Bolsheviks accepted as necessary for government to gain control of economy

Question 14

What were the features of War Communism (10)

Answer 14

• made Russia have centralised planned economy
• Foreign trade brought under government control
• Any private business nationalised
• banned private business in principle
• strikes banned
• all major industries nationalised
• rationing Introduced
• railways under government control
• surplus food confiscated from peasants e.g. grain requisitioning
• seized by ‘special punishment’ squads left peasants with very little

Question 15

What were the affects of War Communism? (5)

Answer 15

• 5 million died due to famines
• 70,000 rebelled in Tambov rebellion against Bolsheviks - killed 140,000 civilians in retaliation
• Kronstadt Naval base gave government demands calling for end to War Communism
• operated under slogan ‘soviets without Bolsheviks’ and developed into rebellion
• Trotsky retaliated with merciless attack with high causalities on both sides 500 rebels executed on spot

Question 16

How was the NEP passed and what happened within the Bolshevik party? (3)

Answer 16

• 10th congress of All Russian communist party proposed NEP March 1921
• Trotsky and other high ranking Bolsheviks wanted to intensify War Communism
• Lenin forced the matter passed a law banning factionalism in the party

Question 17

Give statistics that demonstrate the growth of the Red army between 1919 and 1920 (2)

Answer 17

• 1919 - 3 million in red army
• 1920 - more than 5 million

Question 18

How did Trotsky strengthen the Red army during the civil war? (4)

Answer 18

• originally organised with equality of role in the army which made it attractive to join
• created obedience through fear - special punitive brigades run by Cheka and the Red Guards
• recruited approx 50,000 former Tsarist officers in summer 1918, helping train and lead the army
• boosted morale by traveling to frontlines and by being brave and decisive

Question 19

Why were the Reds so strong during the civil war? (10)

At least 6

Answer 19

• enemies to the regime had been virtually eradicated by early 1921 (Red Terror; Cheka and Red Guards under leadership of Stalin)
• only remote regions were not under full Bolshevik control: by mid 1918, controlled most populous and industrial cities
• strong unity in Bolshevik party, helped by Lenin’s leadership and the capability of the Red Army
• war communism fed troops (but did grow discontent with sailors and peasants)
• requisitioning - helped bolster the military
• strong leadership of Trotsky as commander-in-chief (e.g. introduced conscription, 5 million soldiers by 1920, propaganda armoured train etc.)
• 50,000 former tsarist officers recruited - helped train army
• utilised transport for spread of supplies and propaganda
• killing of the Romanovs - removing figurehead for counter Revolution
• grain requisitioning and targeting kulaks - more food for military

Question 20

Why were the Whites so weak during the civil war? (5)

With regard to geography and policy

Answer 20

• transport infrastructure they controlled was isolated; easily damaged & difficult to repair
• they were based in remote, inhospitable areas without supply routes
• poor co-ordination and a lack of unifying strategy
• politically divided, made up of monarchists, socialists, conservatives etc, making co-operation difficult
• hurt by allied blockade 1918

Question 21

Why were the Whites so weak during the civil war? (8)

With regard to military

Answer 21

• outnumbered
• unreliable food supplies and limited munitions imports
• some units lacked discipline
• faced difficulty in enforcing conscription
• foreign intervention was inadequate
• communications and logistics were poor
• lack of support
• lack of central, strong leadership

Question 22

What measures did Lenin take in the summer of 1918 to ensure victory in the civil war?

Answer 22

• leaders of political parties who weren’t in exile were arrested
• July 1918 the Tsar and his family were murdered, as Lenin feared the whites using them as legitimate leaders
• August 1918, many Kulaks murdered to scare them into adopting war communism

Question 23

What events during the civil war demonstrated how the Reds had weaknesses? (3)

Answer 23

• August 30th 1918, assassination attempt on Lenin, Petrograd Cheka leader arrested; demonstrating internal conflict
• 6th December 1918, Finnish independence
• allies impose a naval Blockade, (however this backfired and hurt the Whites as Reds could provide for themselves)

Question 24

When did Lenin pass a ban on factionalism?

Answer 24

1921