Russian Civil War

Fought:

1918-1921

Groups Involved

• Reds → Bolsheviks, Workers and Peasants Army

• Whites → loosely allied ‘anti-Bolshevik’ forces, deep division and infighting

• Greens → non-ideological peasant armies fighting against War Communism to protect their communities

Causes

• Alienation of other socialist groups

• Involvement of Czechoslovak Legion

• Anti-Bolshevik Uprisings → Kossak armies that had loyalty to the provisional government, Tsarist officers, national minorities(e.g. Muslims in Turkestan)

Events 1918

• Jan: Red Army established

• March: Brest-Litovsk

• May: CS Legion captures part of the Trans-Siberian Railway

• June: Execution of Tsar and family

• Nov: Admiral Kolchak takes Omsk

Events 1919

• Feb: Reds take Kiev

• March: Kolchak crosses Urals, meets with Red Army

• July: Reds lose several generals to Denikin

Events 1920

• Feb: Capture of Kolchak

• May: Polish army invades and takes Kiev

• Aug: Red Army defeated by Poles outside Warsaw

• Nov: Defeat of last surviving White general

Events 1921

• March: Treaty of Riga, peace with Poland

Reasons for Red Victory

• Strong leadership + Trotsky

• Unified force with a coherent political view

• Geographical advantages

• Support from peasants

Reasons for White Defeat

• Poor leadership

• Ill disciplined forces

• Political disunity

• Geographical disadvantages

• Failure of foreign intervention