The Russian Civil war

duration of the civil war

1918-1921

How was the country divided

Between the Reds (Bolsheviks) and the Whites(political opponents)

Bolshevik prescense in russia at the time

20%

When and why were the Romanovs murdered

17th July 1918

-Lenin wanted the Romanovs to be wiped out so the whites lost their figurehead

-The Bolsheviks feared that the Tsar would be used as a figurehead for a royalist rebellion supported by foreign powers.

-The execution was part of the Red Terror, a broader campaign to instill fear in opposition forces and eliminate any potential threats.

In March 1918

the term bolshevik was changed officially to the All Union Communist Party

Conscription and Recruitment:

Trotsky implemented mass conscription, effectively turning civilians into soldiers. He also reformed military training and sought to professionalize the army.

Why did the Reds win the civil war?

• Unified Leadership: The Bolsheviks, led by Lenin and Trotsky, had stable leadership. Trotsky’s leadership of the Red Army were crucial

• Clear Ideology: The Bolsheviks offered a ideology based on Marxism and promises of land reform, worker rights, and peace. This attracted support from workers, soldiers, and peasants, against the fragmented White factions

• By holding cities (Moscow / Petrograd) the bolsheviks maintained support from workers and they also had access to factories and resources

Name 3 reasons for the Civil war.

• Bolshevik Seizure of Power: The Bolsheviks overthrew the Provisional Government, leading to opposition from various political groups.

• Discontent with Bolshevik Policies: Radical Bolshevik reforms, like land redistribution and withdrawing from World War I, alienated many.

• Ethnic and Regional Struggles: The collapse of the Russian Empire sparked regional and ethnic groups seeking independence, further fueling conflict.

Who were the white army leaders

• Admiral Alexander Kolchak: Leader of the White forces in Siberia, proclaimed himself the Supreme Ruler of Russia.

• General Anton Denikin: Leader of the White Army in the south, fighting to overthrow the Bolshevik government.

What were Trotsky’s main contributions to the war?

: As People’s Commissar for War, Trotsky transformed the Bolshevik forces into a highly disciplined, organized army,

• Military Leadership: Led key campaigns and boosted morale.

• Use of Former Officers: Recruited former Tsarist officers to train and lead troops.

• War Propaganda: Used propaganda to rally support for the Bolsheviks.

• Strategic Planning: Focused on key cities and control of railways to secure victory.

What is the link between success and the centralization of power?

• Centralized Military Control: Under Trotsky, the Red Army had a unified command structure,

• Suppression of Opposition: The Red Terror targeted political opponents, rival socialist factions, consolidating Bolshevik control by eliminating threats to their power.

• War Communism: The Bolsheviks centralized control over economy, nationalizing industry and redistributing resources to support the war,

• One-Party Rule: The Civil War allowed the Bolsheviks to suppress rival political parties and solidify their one-party rule,

When was the USSR formed?

December 30 1922

How did foreign support effect the white army

Although the foreign support from Britain,France,USA and Japan should have worked in the Bolshevik favour it was largely ineffective and it also gave the Bolsheviks a propaganda coup

Leadership in the white army

The leadership was harsh and ineffective , many generals  were cruel and treated their men harshly . They reminded them of the worst aspects of the Russian army and the Tsarists rule

Brutality of the whites

Denikin refused to make concessions to national aspirations , the brutality of the white army antagonised the peasants , they practiced a sort of “Ethnic cleansing” driving out thousands of non cossack peasants from their lands and treating them brutally driving the peasants to the Red army

Bolshevik Geography

The Bolsheviks held the central area which included Petrograd and Moscow which were the densely populated areas allowing them to garner support and conscripting larger numbers to fight making it easier to transport men and mutons to the battle fronts .This contested the whites who were spread out and struggled as a result.

Propaganda use by the Bolsheviks

Both sides used propaganda but the whites ,especially Denikin did not see how valuable it was.The Reds would use ;

-Images of the whites taking away land from the peasants

-foreign invaders supporting the whites

-the reds offering a wonderful new society for the workers and peasants

Bolshevik Seizure of Power

After the Bolsheviks seized power in October 1917, opposition grew from multiple groups. The White Armies consisted of anti-Bolshevik factions (monarchists, liberals, military officers, and others), while various non-Bolshevik socialist groups like the Mensheviks and Social Revolutionaries (SRs) were also opposed to Bolshevik rule.

Creating the Red Army

Trotsky was appointed People’s Commissar for War and transformed the Red Army into a well-organized force. He centralized command, recruited military specialists (including former Tsarist officers), and instilled discipline.

Leadership and Strategy

Trotsky was a brilliant strategist. He traveled extensively to the frontlines, boosting morale and directing tactics. His leadership was central to winning key battles.

The Use of Terror

Trotsky, along with Lenin, approved the use of harsh measures against the White forces, including summary executions of captured enemies and deserters. He famously used propaganda trains to move quickly across the frontlines, maintaining control.

Did not let ideology get in the way of winning

He instilled ex-tsarist officers claiming to need their experience and expertise to shape the new soviet army.However every one of those officers were supervised by someone from the Bolsheviks

War Communism

The Bolshevik government introduced War Communism (1918-1921) to control the economy during the Civil War. This included nationalization of industry, centralization of control, and forced grain requisitioning from peasants to feed the Red Army. This caused widespread famine and discontent, contributing to revolts like the Tambov Rebellion (1920).

The Cheka

The All-Russian Extraordinary Commission for Combating Counter-Revolution and Sabotage (Cheka) was the Bolshevik secret police. It played a central role in the Red Terror and in suppressing opposition, often through execution and imprisonment.

The Politburo

is formed in 1919

Formation of the Red Army

(January 1918):After Bolshevik opposition begins to mount, Lenin and Trotsky create the Red Army to defend the revolution. Trotsky is appointed as the Commissar of War.

Assassination Attempt on Lenin

August 30, 1918

Fanya Kaplan, a Socialist Revolutionary, attempts to assassinate Lenin. Though Lenin survives, this event leads to the Red Terror (1918-1922), a campaign of repression by the Cheka to eliminate counter-revolutionaries.

The Red Terror

(1918–1922):A campaign of political repression and mass executions by the Bolsheviks to eliminate opposition, both from the White forces and from within the population. The Cheka, under Felix Dzerzhinsky, plays a central role in carrying out the terror.

The White Forces leaders;

Led by General Denikin (South), Admiral Kolchak (East), and General Yudenich (Northwest), the Whites are supported by the Allies but fail to coordinate effectively.