Russia Civil War Flashcards
(7 cards)
Intro
- The Russian Civil War (1918–1921) was a brutal conflict between the Bolshevik (Red) forces and various opposition groups (Whites, nationalists, foreign powers).
- Causes include the Bolsheviks’ radical reforms, withdrawal from WWI, and growing resistance to their regime.
- Key events such as the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, Red Terror, and Trotsky’s military leadership defined the war.
- The outcome was Bolshevik consolidation of power and the formation of the USSR in 1922.
- Argument: The Civil War was primarily won due to Bolshevik organisation and brutal control, while disunity and lack of ideology weakened their opponents.
B1
-
Initial Bolshevik decrees alienated many groups:
- Decree on Land redistributed land to peasants, angering landowners.
- Decree on Peace withdrew Russia from WWI, upsetting nationalists.
- Workers’ Control Decree gave control of factories to workers, damaging industry.
-
Opposition included:
- Monarchists, liberals (Kadets), SRs, nationalists, and foreign powers (e.g. Britain, France, Japan).
- Lack of unity and ideology among Whites undermined their efforts.
- Historiography: Orlando Figes argues that the Whites “lost because they stood for the old order,” while the Reds presented a clear alternative.
- Fact/stat: By 1919, the Red Army numbered over 1.5 million men, compared to fractured White forces.
B2
Body Paragraph 2: Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and the Outbreak of War
-
Treaty signed March 1918 between Bolsheviks and Germany to exit WWI.
- Harsh terms: loss of 34% of population, 32% of farmland, and 54% of industry.
- Bolsheviks saw peace as essential to consolidate power, but it angered nationalists and military officers.
- Outbreak of civil war followed as opposition coalesced to stop Bolshevik rule.
- Historiography: Richard Pipes (conservative) states the treaty was “tantamount to political suicide,” fuelling resentment that led to civil war.
- Stat/fact: Over 2 million square kilometres of territory were lost under the treaty, including Ukraine and Poland.
B3
Body Paragraph 3: Role of Trotsky and the Red Army
-
Trotsky’s leadership vital in shaping the Red Army:
- Reorganised army with ex-Tsarist officers under strict Bolshevik control.
- Used railways to move troops efficiently.
- Enforced discipline with the death penalty and political commissars.
- Red Army morale was high due to ideology and discipline.
- Historiography: Isaac Deutscher praises Trotsky as “the architect of victory” due to his strategic vision and commitment.
- Stat/fact: The Red Army defeated Kolchak in the East by late 1919 and Denikin in the South by March 1920.
Bolshevik Reforms
Land Decree (1917):
Orlando Figes argues that the Whites “lost because they stood for the old order,” while the Reds presented a clear alternative.
Over 300 million acres of land redistributed to peasants.
Workers’ Control Decree (1917):
By 1918, over 2,000 factories were under workers’ committees
Russia lost 34% of its population, 32% of farmland, and 89% of coal mines to Germany.
Brest Litovsyck Treaty+how many ppl died
Richard Pipes (conservative) states the treaty was “tantamount to political suicide,” fuelling resentment that led to civil war.
4% of Russia’s population lost – approx. 50 million people.
89% of coal mines and 54% of industry lost to Germany.
26% of railway track lost, crippling transport infrastructure.
Estimated 7–10 million deaths during the war, mostly civilian
Red army stats
Historiography:** Isaac Deutscher praises Trotsky as “the architect of victory” due to his strategic vision and commitment
Red Army size under Trotsky:
Grew from 50,000 in 1918 to over 5 million by 1920.
Red Army victory in major battles:
Defeated Admiral Kolchak’s forces in the East by late 1919 and Denikin’s in the South by early 1920.
Use of former Tsarist officers:
Trotsky employed over 50,000 ex-Tsarist officers, supervised by political commissars to ensure loyalty.
