Red Terror Flashcards
(8 cards)
What was the Red Terror?
A campaign of political repression and executions by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War, closely tied to War Communism.
What triggered the escalation of the Red Terror in August 1918?
An assassination attempt on Lenin by a Socialist Revolutionary (SR), which he survived.
What role did the Socialist Revolutionaries (SRs) play in the Red Terror?
They opposed the Bolsheviks and carried out assassinations, including killing the German ambassador.
How many people were executed without trial during the Red Terror?
Approximately 300,000 people.
Who were targeted during the Red Terror?
Suspected class enemies such as bourgeois (bouzhis), kulaks (coulaks), and priests—often arbitrarily.
Why were many executions during the Red Terror performative?
To instill fear and deter any form of opposition to Bolshevik rule.
What infamous directive did Lenin send regarding the Red Terror?
He ordered the hanging of no fewer than 200 kulaks in public to set an example and frighten the population.
What logistical issue led to the creation of concentration camps during the Red Terror?
The overwhelming number of arrests required holding centers for detainees.
