The Russian civil war

Course

1918-1921

Causes of the civil war

Opposition from SRs, Mensheviks and supporters of the Constituent Assembly (see its dissolution on 5 Jan 1918)

Outrage over Brest‑Litovsk—Bolsheviks’ signing in March 1918 triggered hostility from nationalists

Economic collapse, food shortages, and breakdown in law and order left Russia ripe for rebellion and counter-revolution

Strengths of the reds

Leadership of Trotsky

Control of petrograd and Moscow

Control of railways and industrial areas

Murder of the Romanovs

The tsar and his family were murdered on the 17 july 1918

Lenin wanted the Romanovs to be wiped out so the whites would lose their figure head

Trotsky’s Leadership

• Trotsky was appointed as People's Commissar for War by Lenin in 1918. Trotsky proved to be a highly effective leader of the Red Army.

• He implemented strict discipline and ensured the Red Army's loyalty to the Bolshevik cause. He was ruthless in dealing with desertion and disobedience. Trotsky famously used armored trains to travel across Russia, rallying support and maintaining control of his troops.

used former Tsarist officers under Bolshevik supervision to organize the army effectively.

Unified Leadership

The Bolsheviks had a unified command structure and central leadership under Lenin and Trotsky. This allowed them to act swiftly and decisively.

The Whites were fragmented and lacked a cohesive leadership. They were divided by ideological differences, with some factions aiming for monarchy, others for a military dictatorship, and some seeking democracy.

Control of Major Cities and Resources

• The Reds controlled central Russia, including the industrial cities of Moscow and Petrograd, which gave them access to resources, weapons, and soldiers.

• Located in the heart of the rail network = easier to move troops and supplies

• The Whites, by contrast, were spread out in regional territories and lacked vital infrastructure.

Trotsky’s Use of the Armored Train:

his use of an armored train to travel around the frontlines, gave him a direct role in decision-making and rallying troops, ensuring the Bolshevik cause remained focused.

In the course of the civil war, the train made 36 trips to the fronts and traveled at least 75,000 mile. The train was in action against White and other anti-Bolshevik forces

Centralized Leadership:

Under Lenin's direction, the Bolsheviks maintained a unified leadership structure, avoiding the fragmentation that plagued the White forces. Lenin made key decisions quickly and decisively, ensuring that the Bolshevik government remained strong and united during the crisis.

The Creation of the Red Army:

By 1918, Trotsky had transformed the Red Army from a scattered force into a disciplined military machine, utilizing political commissars to ensure loyalty and ideological consistency within the army.

suppression

The Bolsheviks used supression to maintain unity and control. The Cheka was a key part of this, executing perceived enemies of the state, ensuring that any form of opposition to the Bolsheviks was swiftly suppressed.

War Communism:

The Bolshevik government adopted War Communism (1918–1921), centralizing economic control to support the war effort. This allowed the Bolsheviks to ensure maximum resources went to the Red Army

Bolshevik Propaganda:

As the whites used foreign intervention it gave the bolsheviks a propaganda coup as they could present themselves as defendrs of russian soil

The Bolsheviks were very effective in using propaganda to galvanize support for their cause. They painted the Red Army as the defenders of the Revolution, appealing to workers, peasants, and soldiers who feared the return of the Tsarist or capitalist order.

Diverging Aims and Ideologies:

• The White forces were not a unified movement , each with its own agenda. Some, like General Kolchak, wanted to restore the Tsarist monarchy, while others, such as General Denikin, aimed for a military dictatorship.

Geographical Division:

• The White armies were spread out over vast territories, which meant that they were not able to coordinate military strategy effectively. For example, General Denikin led forces in the south Kolchak controlled Siberia, and General Yudenich was in the northwest near Petrograd.

• The lack of a unified front allowed the Bolsheviks to concentrate their forces in central Russia, where they controlled major urban centers like Moscow and Petrograd, giving them a logistical and supply advantage.

Brutality

White leaders ,Several were cruel and treated their men with contempt.They reminded the soldiers of the worst aspects of the Russian army and tsarist rule. Therefore, there was little natural warmth or support for the White leaders. Many soldiers deserted.

association with the tsarist regime

Whites associated with the old regime. Kolchak = unpopular with peasants. Gave estates to landlords who had not owned land before revolution. Urban workers and peasants wanted to protect the gains of the revolution so supported the reds

foreign intervention

Supported Whites from Britain, France, USA, Japan, but this intervention was limited, unpopular domestically, and weakened over time

Casualties & Impact

Military deaths: ~300,000 men killed in action (125,000 Reds, 175,500 Whites), with another ~450,000 from disease

civilian deaths: Estimated 5 million died in famine (especially 1921 drought), plus typhus epidemic (~3 million) and mass atrocities; up to 7–10 million deaths total

Government & Control

Bolsheviks implemented War Communism (1918–21): forced requisitioning of grain, nationalisation of all industries, central control of labour and production—for war supply

Kolchak

Kolchak was captured in january of 1920 and executed in february by the bolsheviks

Treaty of Riga

18 March 1921

• Followed the Polish–Soviet War (1919–1921):

  Battle of Warsaw (Aug 1920, aka “Miracle on the Vistula”) – Polish victory forced Red Army to retreat.

t marked the failure of Lenin’s hopes to spread communism westward via military force.