Civil War Flashcards
Date
Spring 1918-1922
Causes
Bolsheviks seized power by force, no right to rule, so were challenged.
Peasants were involved mainly to protect and keep their own land, didn’t care about who ruled.
National minorities wanted self government or independence.
Foreign powers wanted non-communists in power so supported the White Army
Some old Tsarist officers wanted Tsar in power.
Red Strengths: Trotsky
Increased size of army: brought back thousands of old tsarist officers to train and command units, ensured their loyalty by holding their families hostage.
Communication and Organisation: clear hierarchy, able to give orders to the entire army.
Loyalty: reduced desertion through his orders such as to ‘shoot every soldier who deserts’
Train: brought supplies and uniforms to the front line, dealt with the issue of desertion, 4 million by 1921, they took weapons and uniform with them.
Presence: boosted morale, rushed to fighting, inspired the men, orator, turned battles, e.g defence of Petrograd.
Red Strengths: Geography
Reds controlled area from Petrograd to Moscow.
Control of railways, to transport supplies and troops.
Large population in the area, useful for troops.
Control of most of Russia’s industry, used to make munitions and supplies.
Red Strengths: Propaganda
A highly effective propaganda campaign was instilled in the areas they controlled. Speeches, newspapers and posters told everyone they controlled Russia.
Said that the white armies would reverse the gains of the revolution.
Useful for convincing people to fight for them.
Took a nationalist stance since the White Army was supported by foreign countries.
White Weakness: Divisions
There was no clear leader, and no co-operation between the multiple leaders and infighting such as the Omsk government and SRs killing and weakening each other.
White Weakness: Support
Brutal towards peasants thievery, adultery and rape flourished in these areas - several were killed for speaking out against the White army. Peasants made up lots of the white army but this alienated them and they didn’t have support from peasants.
Support from foreign countries wasn’t strong, mostly provided supplies not troops.
White Weakness: Morale
No clear aim or cause that united the people like in the Red Army, so White Army was often demoralised or less motivated.
