The Russian civil war

What did the civil war result in?

Bolshevik success

What were the causes of the Russian Civil war?

1. Political opponents were not willing to accept Bolshevik absolute rule

2. Lenin wanted to destroy opponents to strengthen communist state

3. Some fought to achieve independence others fought to prevent it

Why did Lenin support civil war?

Wanted to get rid of political opponents in order to strengthen communist rule

Who thought was going to lose the battle at the beginning of the war?

the reds

Why did people think the reds were going to lose?

Red army only controlled 1/5 of all of Russia

What did Lenin’s new government control however?

Most of the northern and central Russia

What parts of the state did Lenin control?

• Most industrialised areas of Russia - provided railroads

• Densely populated- provided recruitment

What type of areas did the whites control?

• Less populated and urbanised

• Less industrialised- fewer factories and less ability to produce munitions

• White regions were divided and were difficult to coordinate- Lenin had better control

What areas did the greens control?

• Small areas mainly in Ukraine

• Resources limited

• Surrounded by whites- very limited mobilisation

What areas did nationalists control?

* Georgia, Armenia etc

What did the whites/reds have that greens/nationalists didnt?

* control of significant land

Who wanted to put Nicholas II on trial?

Trotsky

What did Lenin want to do with the Romanov’s?

Eradicate them

What happened to Nicholas II and his family?

Executed for their crimes on the order of Lenin in the middle of the night.

What ere the strengths of the red army?

1. More disciplined - conscription introduced by Bolsheviks

2. Had ex-tsarist officers with experience

3. Trotsky’s leadership

4. Common unified cause

5. Remained in control of key areas such as Moscow and Petrograd

What did the red army number by 1920?

5 million- much stronger force

Who were the red army being led by?

Experienced officers (war the year before so plenty of experience)

What did Trotsky spend a lot of time doing?

• Travelling to the front lines encouraging discipline from his troops

• Boosting morale

How did the Bolsheviks see the war?

Ideological conflict

Why did seeing the war as ideological conflict benefit Bolshevik’s ?

• Further encouraged discipline and support

• showed they were fighting for a common cause

What did the red army have greater control of?

• the railways and the industrial areas- could utilise more resources

• Railways meant army could travel faster and remain co-ordinated

• Moscow and Petrograd

What was the advantage of Bolshevik’s remaining in control of Moscow and Petrograd

* Majority of population lived there so there was more people to conscript into the army and gain support of

Who did the whites receive more support from?

The allies

Why was the Whites having foreign support from allies a disadvantage?

As soon as the ww1 ended, the foreign support ended as they didnt see the need to support the whites

What did the Bolshevik’s do if the whites did receive any foreign support?

Used this as propaganda- further unified red army

What did the white army not have?

• no unity or coherent ideology- didnt see it s an ideological conflict

• No central leadership

How was there whites scattered ?

Geographically- made communications impossible- functioning was poor

What did no leadership under the whites lead to?

• No discipline

• Led to a large number of desertions

Who played a role in supporting the regime during the war?

• The rede army

• Cheka

What did Cheka eliminate in Bolshevik controlled areas and what did this ensure?

• political opposition

• 100% control in Bolshevik areas

How was discipline reinforced in the red army?

You would be shot if you deserted

What was the victory of the reds mainly due to?

Lenin’s ability to centralise power

What are principles of centralisation against?

Communist ideas

What continued even after the victory of civil war?

Centralisation- Lenin claimed it as initially necessary to win civil war and then because the revolutionary government was still in danger.(Lenin’s assassination attempt)