Civil War

Question 1

How did the October Revolution lead to Civil War?

Answer 1

All parts of the political spectrum were angry that Petrograd and Moscow had been taken by political force:
Right - They have no right to rule
Centre - They didn’t get to vote under popular elections
Left - They had ignored the Soviet

Question 2

Civil war factors

What group was alienated by the Bolshevil regime?

Answer 2

The Mensheviks and the Bourgeoisie.

Question 3

Reasons for Civil war

Who did the Bolsheviks force out of the Government?

Answer 3

The Right Wing Socialist Revolutionaries and the Kadets.

Question 4

Reasons for Civil War

What did some minority groups see the war as ?

Answer 4

An opportunity to fight for their independence.

Question 5

What problems did the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk cause?

Answer 5

1. The Loss of Ukraine (Bread Basket of Europe) threatened food shortages, which was exacerbated by distribution probkems.
2. Created economic problems by the loss of land and industry.
3. Rationing.

Question 6

Why did Foreign powers enter the Civil War?

Answer 6

They resented the Bolsheviks for leaving the war when they had promised to not.

Question 7

How much did the Russian population fall by between 1917 and 1921?

Answer 7

12.7 million

Question 8

How did Trotsky contribute to the Red Win?
[4]

Answer 8

1. He was ruthless, traitors were shot and he kept the family of tsarist commanders hostage to ensure their loyalty.
2. He used a train to cover 65,000 miles and give rousing speeches to troops he was visiting.
3. He turned the Red army into a “well disciplined fighting force.”
4. Used conscription.

Question 9

Where was Denikin and who was he replaced by?

Answer 9

He was in the south, and replaced by Wrangel in 1920

Question 10

Where was Yudenich?

Answer 10

In the west

Question 11

Where was Kolchak?

Answer 11

In the East

Question 12

Describe the usefullness of Foreign Intervention for the whites.
[5]

Answer 12

• Not very successful
• Only left their bases for minor skirmishes
• Withdrew in 1920
• They had little accurate knowledge as to what was happening
• Their intervention provided the Reds a platform for propaganda.

Question 13

Describe some of the failings of the White Army.
[3]

Answer 13

1. The Czech loegion turn on the Whites in 1920 and kill Kolchak.
2. They Failed to link up or co-ordinate attacks, both Denikin and Yudenich got very close to Petrograd in 1919 but failed to coordinate.
3. There was widespread disorganisation.

Question 14

What geographical factors contributed to the success of the Red army?

Answer 14

1. The Reds controlled the infrastructure e.g the Krondschat sailors travelled by train
2. Reds had control of the armament factories, and the most densley populated areas of Russia.
3. Reds had the hub of communication.

Question 15

What economic factor helped the Reds win the civil war?

Answer 15

War communism, they forcibly took grain to feed the Russian armies.