War Communism Flashcards
Why was war communism introduced?
To ensure the Red Army was supplied with munitions and food
Lead country to socialist economy
Overcome failures of state capitalism
The economy was to be treated as a single enterprise to avoid what?
Market forces and individual interests
Four key features of War Communism?
Grain requisitioning
Nationalisation
Labour discipline
Rationing
What was the Red terror?
A time of political repression, coercion and mass killings carried out by the bolsheviks during the civil war
When was The Kronstadt Rising?
1921
When was the Tambov Revolt?
August 1920 - June 1921
By 1921 what had industrial output fallen to?
20% of pre war levels
How much grain did the 1921 harvest produce?
1921 Famine
48% of that of 1913
Social impact of War Communism
Cannibalism and trade in dead bodies
Disease rife - typhus, cholera, dysentery
Around 500,000 executed by Cheka during civil war
Acute food shortage by 1920 - widespread famine
What were wages like in 1919 compared to 1913?
2% of those in 1913
Political Impact of war communism?
Divisions within Bolshevik party
Some bols saw it as a permanent measure, representing true communism
Some Russians called for new elections and a recall of the constituent assembly
What happened to land and livestock?
1/3 of land abandoned to grass
Cattle/ horses slaughtered in their thousands by hungry peasants
How many died from famine?
Around 5 million
Population of Petrograd 1914 and 1920?
- 2 million
0. 6 million
What did the assassination attempt on Lenin in August 1918 result in?
Used as an excuse for the Cheka to launch the Red Terror
How did the Cheka carry out class warfare?
Intense campaign of arrests, executions and imprisonments targeting the bourgeoisie
However, victims from all levels of society, including children
Overall policy of using arbitrary terror to ensure compliance and submission to regime
Extent of Bolshevik concentration and labour camps?
Not as orderly as those in 1930’s under Stalin
No accurate records during Leninist period
What was Lenin (and most bolsheviks) view of using ‘terror’?
Not out of economic or military necessary but an integral part of class warfare
What was the Tambov revolt?
70,000 peasant army rose up against requisitioning squads
100,000 Red army troops deployed with brutal reprisals (particularly against kulaks)
Red Army destroyed whole villages and used gas against those who hid in forests
Who led the Tambov revolt?
Alexander Antonov
How many peasant risings did the Cheka report in February 1921?
155
What caused the Kronstadt rising?
1921 famine - 1/3 less bread ration in cities
Many Kronstadt sailors of peasant origin and witnessed poor situation when on leave
What happened in the Kronstadt rising?
January 1921 - martial law declared
30,000 Kronstadt sailors rebelled, sent manifesto to Lenin with social, economic and political demands
Demanded end to one party rule
Red army (under Marshal Tukhachevsky) sent 5 miles across ice with artillery and Cheka support
Rebel leaders shot, 15,000 prisoner (denounced as ‘white traitors’)
What slogan did the Kronstadt sailors use?
Soviets without Bolsheviks
What was the significance of the Kronstadt rising?
Previously loyal to bols (key role in Oct rev)
Trotsky had described them as reddest of the Red
Occurred at peak of Tambov rising
Led to divisions within the Bolshevik party
Made clear to Lenin that he needed to relax measures to avoid a revolution/ further uprisings
What was the Workers Opposition Group?
Set up by Alexandra Kollontai and Alexander Shlyapknikov
Wanted greater worker control, objected to state appointed trade union leaders
Strongly opposed to continuation of war communism
