Russian Civil war 1918-21

When did opposition to the Bolsheviks mount?

After the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in March 1918 which drew Russia out of the war but at the cost of major losses to territory and humiliation. This resulted in a series of military campaigns.

When did the Civil War start and end?

1918-1922

The main fighting ended in 1920 but the Soviet Union was established in 1922.

Why was organisation a reason for the Bolsheviks victory?

The reds had better organisation than the whites in military, economic and political terms.

The Whites were an amalgam of different groups united only by their desire to get rid of the Bolsheviks. Co-operation was limited and the whites fought on a long front they were also corrupt and inefficient.

By what year had all the whites strongholds been defeated?

1920

Who was responsible for the Bolsheviks successful military strategy during the civil war?

Leon Trotsky who became Commissar for War in early 1918.

What was introduced that increased the number of Bolshevik soldiers?

Conscription which increased the number of soldiers to over 5 million by the end of the war.

What policy was introduced that helped the Bolsheviks extend government direction over the economy?

War communism which ensured resources were organised and deployed effectively.

What other policies ensured supplies for the army?

Large scale nationalisation of industry and food requisitioning from the peasants.

What other factor also helped the Bolsheviks victory other than organisation?

The workers and a large majority of the peasants actively supported the Bolsheviks.

The workers saw themselves gaining from the revolution and the peasants liked the Land Decree of 1917 which guaranteed the distribution of land in their favour

What were the 3 key results of the Civil War?

• The centralisation of the Bolshevik state. Power was now firmly in the hands of the government and party leadership due to the necessity of quick decision making that war required.

• The use of terror against political opponents set the tone for the development of the Party after the civil war.

• The reinforcement of militaristic values in the population.