Civil War

• The different sides :

  • Reds: the Bolsheviks
  • Whites: Political opponents (including those who wanted a return of Tsardom)
  • Greens: National groups or minorities
• Red Army was victorious, after a 5 year Civil War
• Why did the Whites lose?

  • Lack of support
  • Lost support of nationalist groups
  • Worsening conditions drove peasants into the arms of the Reds (major issue as the peasants made up the majority of their army)
  • Divided
  • Differing aims and beliefs
  • Disagreements between Socialists, liberalists and monarchists
  • Level of indiscipline and corruption: Denkin said "I can do nothing with this army"
• Why did the Red Army win:

  • use of propaganda to gain support: extremely powerful images
  • Discipline - death penalty used frequently
  • Trotsky organised the Red army into an effective fighting force
  • Trotsky proved himself to be a great leader, able to inspire and rally men
  • Held the central area, making it easier to transport men/ weapons
• The introduction of War Communism caused significant unrest , and after the Civil War, Lenin replaced it with the NEP