Russian Civil War

1. Russian Civil War Lecture II – Inner Turmoil

2. Abandonment of Constituent Assembly Treaty of Brest-Litovsk 1918 CHECKA Factors that help Lenin impose Communist Control in Russia 1917 - 1920 Success of New Economic Policy Civil War: 1918 - 1921 Execution of Tsar Nicholas & Family: 1918 War for Communism Kronstadt Revolt: 1921

3. Abandonment of Constituent Assembly: 1917 • After October Revolution – Lenin promised to hold elections for a Parliament to :Constituent Assembly. • renamed the Bolshevik Party -Communist Party in order to win wider support. • Communists only won 175 seats out of 700, not enough for a majority. • Lenin shut down the Constituent Assembly after only one day! • This was the first step in setting up a Communist Dictatorship.

4. The Cheka (secret police): December 1917 • Agents spied on the Russian people in factories and villages. • suspected anti-Communist could be arrested, tortured, and executed without a trial. • After assassination attempt in 1918, launched the Red Terror campaign against his enemies • 50,000 executed in this period. Three barefoot men face an improvised firing squad in Latvia in May 1919, moments before being shot to death and toppling into their grave. This stunning footage, recorded by an American newsreel cameraman accompanying a German occupation force, was to make an appearance in twentieth-century politics, history, and—in a grotesque way—entertainment.

5. The Cheka: Video Clip • Communists worried that the Tsar might be a rallying point for the Whites. • Tsar Nicholas, his wife, their five children and four attendants were shot and bayoneted in July 1918. • Overall, there was a period of strict governmental and economic control known as War Communism. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrZ3dJiyKpU

6. Discussion Questions • How did Lenin maintain his control over Russia once he came to power?

7. Sides of the Civil War • Lenin’s opponents had launched a full scale civil war • The “Whites” vs the “Reds” • Lenin’s army was able to win this war by 1920-21.

8. “The Reds” “The Whites” • Lenin’s army – Trotsky in charge wasan efficient leader • Occupied the strategic center of Russia • strict military discipline (deserters for example were shot) • Made use of Czarist officers and their military experience. • Led by Admiral Kolchak and Generals Deniken and Wrangel • Occupied the fringes of Russia • Diffent groups different ideas • Included reformists, Mensheviks, Czarists • This wartime coalition proved to be incompatible

9. The White Army: Strengths and Weaknesses • High numbers with experienced military generals and soldiers. • United volunteer army with Kuban Cossacks • Had access to sea-going and river-based naval forces • Surrounded Bolshevik forces by obtaining territory around them • Received assistance from Foreign powers • Difficult to communicate between four armed groups • Each group attacked individually • Some groups even hated each other • Bolsheviks had easier time to defeat each group • Russia’s size – difficult to transport supplies and soldiers • Lack of an efficient railway system

10. Discussion Question • Explain how the White Army should have been able to win the Civil War.

11. Polish-Soviet War: Battle of Warsaw • Poland was a new country formed by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. • Lenin saw Poland as a bridge to spread communism in Europe. • Poland wanted to expand their territory into Ukraine and Russia. • Treaty of Riga March 1921 – Poland received parts of Belorussia (now Belarus) and Ukraine

12. The KronstadtRevolt – 1921 • War Communism made Lenin’s government very unpopular. • violence in the cities. Workers went on strike, in spite of the death penalty for striking. • March 1921. 10,000 sailors at the Kronstadt naval base near Petrograd revolted. • accused Lenin of breaking his promise to workers • Red Army to put down the revolt. • This caused 20,000 casualties and the leaders of the revolt were executed. • warning to Lenin that he might have to relax War Communism.

13. Mobilization:War Communism • State took control of the factories and farms • Forced labor and food was rationed to only those who worked • unions were banned. • Chekaseized all surplus grain from the peasants for . • The peasants hid food or preferred to grow less • Drought and famine hit Russia in 1921 – over 4 million people died.

14. Discussion Question • How does War Communism differ from forms of mobilizing for war?

15. Civil War Ends • By 1921, the Civil War was over, but the Soviet land and economy were devastated • Lenin created a program of economic reform known as the NEP. • He also re-named his nation the USSR. Propaganda: Join the Red Calvary

16. New Economic Policy • Economic crisis w/ the conclusion of the wars • Western Nations refused to trade w/ USSR for their Communist ideals • 1921 introduced the NEP • attempt to rebuild agriculture and industry thru a free market system(capitalism) • caused a rift within the Communist Party: • Strict communist against this • nonconformists were shipped off to the gulags • The NEP did workhelp improve food and industrial production • Plan to reinstate full communism • 1922 Lenin had a stroke, and died in 1924: • Fight for power between Trotsky and Stalin

17. NEP – Video Clip • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U5duV94Ocs