russian civil war

Who were the three primary sides in the Russian Civil War?

The Reds (Bolsheviks), the Whites (anti-Bolshevik forces), and the Greens (peasant/nationalist armies).

What was the main aim of the Reds?

To stay in power at all costs and defend the Communist revolution.

Why were the Whites so deeply divided?

They were a fragmented mix of liberals, tsarists, and socialists who only shared a hatred for the Bolsheviks.

Who were the Greens, and what did they fight for?

Peasant armies who fought to protect their local areas from the interference of both Reds and Whites.

What role did Leon Trotsky play in the Civil War?

As Commissar for War, he transformed the Red Army into a disciplined force of 3 to 5 million men.

Which four White Generals led the major regional threats to Moscow?

Denikin (South), Kolchak (East/Siberia), Yudenich (North-West), and Wrangel (Crimea).

What was the 'spark' that turned localized fighting into a full-scale Civil War?

The Czech Legion revolt in May 1918.

When and where were the Tsar and his family executed?

July 17, 1918, in Yekaterinburg.

What was the geographical advantage of the Reds?

They held the central hub of Russia (Petrograd and Moscow) with the main railway networks.

How did the Bolsheviks use the railways to win?

Holding the center allowed them to move troops and munitions rapidly.

Why did the peasants generally support the Reds over the Whites?

The Reds promised to let the peasants keep their land, while the Whites promised to return it to former owners.

What was the significance of foreign intervention?

Foreign troops provided supplies to the Whites but did little fighting; the Reds used this as propaganda.

What was War Communism?

An economic policy introduced by Lenin to supply the Red Army, characterized by grain requisitioning.

What was the Red Terror, and who headed it?

A campaign of systematic violence led by Felix Dzerzhinsky and the Cheka.

What was the total estimated death toll of the Civil War?

Up to 10 million people, mostly from famine and disease.

What treaty ended the Russo-Polish War in 1921?

The Treaty of Riga.