Russian Civil War & Foreign Intervention Flashcards
(15 cards)
How and why did the civil war occur?
- dissolution of the constituent assembly outraged liberals & SRs
- treaty of brest Litovsk, stripped Russia of lots of territory, seen as national humiliation
Why did the SRs oppose the Bolsheviks?
Right SRs - infuriated by the dissolution of the CA, they fought for power and the reinsitution of Russia’s democratic institutions set up Konuch 500 miles east of Moscow
Left SRs - although many of them aligned themselves with the Bolsheviks, many played an active role in the green armies
Why did the white armies oppose the Bolsheviks?
- political conservatives, beloved on property rights (alienating the peasantry)
Hated Bolsheviks, many received foreign aid - monarchists
Why did the Bolsheviks win the civil war?
- Supported by the peasants and workers
- Trotsky — imposed command structure backed by party hierarchy, used his own skills to drill the red army into an recent organisation (compulsory military service May 1918)
- March 1918 Trotsky invited back ex tsarist officers who were experienced in combat
What was the population of the red army?
1 million in the end of 1918, but 5 million in 1921
What parts of Russia did the Bolsheviks control?
Controlled the central, north and western areas across Russia including major cities
Had the job of the railway communications, so troops and supplies could quickly be moved
Red areas had main armament factories, tsarist supply depts and artillery parks
What was the population of the reds?
70 million
What was the amount of tsarist stockpile owned by the reds?
2.5m rifles
12,000 artillery
28m shells
What was the geography of the white army?
Whites were scattered around the central area and strategically in weak areas
Isolated from means of manufacturing and relied on foreign supplies
Lacked communication links to messagers on horse were used
Total population of the whites?
20 million
What were the flaws in the white leaders?
General Kolchack — poor
administrator, thin-
skinned, Had a force of 150,00 men – pushed the Red Army back 250 miles. Summer 1919 – his forces were broken &
driven back. By early 1920, he was
defeated
Denikin — Had a force of 150,000, Summer-autumn 1919 his forces advanced to within 250 miles from
Moscow, March 1920 – his forces were pushed back so he resigned
What were the primary reasons for foreign intervention in Russia during the Civil War?
The Bolsheviks signed peace with Germany (Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, Nov 1917), enabling Germany to focus on Western Front.
Allies (Britain, France, USA, Japan) feared Germany would gain control of Russian resources and territory.
Wanted to reopen Eastern Front and stop spread of communism.
Concern over safety of Allied war supplies in Russian ports (e.g. Murmansk, Archangel).
Hoped to support anti-Bolshevik (White) forces and re-establish the Eastern Front.
How significant was the foreign military presence in Russia?
Japanese forces were the largest single contingent (over 70,000).
British sent around 40,000; Americans about 10,000
Which regions saw foreign troop deployment and during what time periods?
North Russia (Murmansk, Archangel): British, French, American (1918–1919).
Siberia: British, American, Japanese, French, Canadian, Italian (1918–1920).
Baltic: British (Dec 1918–Mar 1919).
South Russia: French, Greek (Dec 1918–Apr 1919).
Who benfitted from the czech legion?
SRs
Made up of 50,000 czech and troops from the Austrian army who had been taken prisoner by russian soldiers during the first world war – agreed to fight for them - believing the defeat of the bolsheviks would bring indepdenence to czechsolvakia
Encouraged by Britain and France to fight against the Bolsheviks - eventually lost effectiveness
