Russian Civil War 1917-1923

Causes due to a defeat…

Defeat in the Russo-Japanese War (1905) and subsequent political instability.

Cause due to losses…

Losses during WWI and economic crisis fueled discontent with the aristocracy and Romanov dynasty.

Cause due to Lenin…

Lenin's Marxist-Leninist ideology and rejection of Russian bourgeoisie failures

February Revolution

(March 1917): Led to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II; provisional government established but failed to end the war or stabilize the economy.

October Revolution

(November 1917): Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, seized power, establishing a communist government.

Reds

Bolsheviks, supported by Lenin, Trotsky, and revolutionary thinkers like Staline.

Whites:

Anti-communists, including royalists, Mensheviks, and foreign allies.

Others:

Ukrainian nationalists and "Green Armies" complicate the conflict.

Outcome due to Bolsheviks…

Bolsheviks sign the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (March 1918) with Germany, ending Russia's involvement in WWI.

Outcome due to Civil War…

Civil War results in approximately 14 million deaths (battle, famine, massacres).