The Civil War Flashcards
What were some of Lenin’s changes in response to the war?
The demand for obedience was tightened, and war communism & terror were used to enforce stringent new measures and eradicate new opposition.
Which policies could be justified as the fulfilment of socialist principles or a pragmatic reaction to the crisis?
Central planning, nationalisation of industry and overall state control.
What shows Lenin’s readiness to change course following the 1921 Civil War?
He allowed more capitalist practices, such as the NEP. This shows that to Lenin, ideology was secondary to pragmatism.
What was the Kronstadt sailors revolt a sign of?
Working-class disillusionment.
What were the 2 important consequences of Lenin’s change of heart?
- He refused to admit any errors so the infallibility of the Party was born.
- Ban on factions as Party unity was paramount.
What was the effect of the civil war on national minorities?
Earlier, Lenin’s self-determination of nationality was supported, but now any independence movements were seen as counter-revolutionary. Demands from Georgia for independence in 1922 were brutally crushed.
Between 1921 and 1924, what were some of the main areas attacked by Lenin?
The Church, and censorship became systematic and secret police powers were extended.
What effectively destroyed the Mensheviks?
5000 being arrested and Martov fleeing the country to avoid persecution.
What happened to the remaining SRs in 1922?
They were put on a show trial for ‘trying to assassinate Lenin’. They were all found guilty and executed.
What created the Whites?
Anger at the B-L Treaty and political opposition.
Which countries supported the Whites?
Britain, France and Germany due to the ideological battle against communism. They also hoped to force Russia back into WW1 and to defend financial interests in the area. The Anti-Bolshevik Volunteer Army also grew.
When did the Bolsheviks move the capital from Petrograd to Moscow?
1918.
What was the conflict with the Czech Legion that sparked the war?
The ‘Army of Liberation’ had 45,000 soldiers in 1918.
In March 1918, the Bolsheviks gave them permission to travel using the Trans-Siberian Railway to get east to fight on the Western Front.
Some Bolshevik soldiers tried to arrest some soldiers so the Czech Legion began fighting and seized the railway line through Siberia and Eastern Europe. They abandoned their plans and advanced on Moscow.
What were the main factors meaning the Bolsheviks were winning by 1920?
Geographical advantage of being in the industrial heartland, and superior organisation & leadership from Trotsky and Lenin.
How many deaths were there purely from hunger and disease?
10 million, mostly during the siege of Moscow & Petrograd.
