Civil War Flashcards
who were the armies
reds
whites
greens
who were the red army
bolsheviks
formed from Kronstadt sailors and Red Guards
who were the white army
liberals and former tsarists
were united under the aim of wanting the tsar back, but this was very broad
wanted rid of the bolsheviks
deeply divided- not a lot in common
not uncommon for white Aries to fight each other
examples of white leaders
yudenich, kolchak, denikin
all wanted individual glory and could not work together to defeat the bolsheviks
who were the green army
peasant armies - some fought with the bolsheviks and some fought against them
example of a green army
led by Nestor Makhno in the Ukraine
skiled guerilla leader
blame an ally of the bolsheviks
his army was fighting for independence
what were the six main reasons fro the bolsheviks winning the war
geographical factors unity and organisation leadership support foreign intervention propaganda
how did geographical factors help the bolsheviks win the war
they held the central areas of Russia, like Petrograd and Moscow
easier for them to transport men / munitions
contained the main armament factories
produce war materials central areas were heavily populated
high numbers to conscript into the army
whites were scattered around the edges
separated by large distances communications were difficult
struggled to move men and ammunition
struggled to coordinate attacks
no telephone links and had to use men on horseback to convey messages
how did unity and organisation help the bolsheviks
bolsheviks had a united structure
Trotsky organised the army into an effective fighting force
whites were made up of different groups with entirely different aims
hard for them to cooperate
impossible to develop a political strategy
white generals did not trust each other - eg. suspicious of kolchaks intentions
how did bolshevik leadership help them
Trotsky was a superb leader - able to inspire men
discipline was very tough - death penalty was frequently used
white leaders were cruel to their men - replicated the worst part of the tsarist regime
who supported the bolsheviks and how did this help
the peasants - they were a huge fighting force who supported the bolsheviks due to the land situation
how did foreign intervention help the bolsheviks
half hearted and ineffective
gave the bolsheviks a propaganda source as were defending Russia against foreigners
how did propaganda help the bolsheviks
the reds showed land being taken away from the peasants
foreign invaders supporting the whites
how they would create a wonderful society for peasants and workers
