THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION AOS2 CREATING A NEW SOCIETY The Civil War 1918 – 1921: Causes and Characteristics

Learning Intention: Explain the reasons for Russia’s Civil war of 1918 - 1921 Explain the growing paranoia of the Bolshevik (Communist) party (assassination attempt on Lenin 30 August 918) Describe the various ‘white’ armies that challenged the Bolshevik’s rule Explain what is meant by the Green Army, and identify how they differ from the White armies List the countries that intervened in Russia’s Civil War and outline their motivations for doing so Outline the characteristics of ther Polish-Soviet War of 1920 and the Treaty of Riga VCAA Key Knowledge  The challenges the new regime faced in attempting to consolidate its power, including: the Civil War The Polish Soviet War The changes and continuities in political, social, cultural and economic conditions that influenced leaders to compromise their revolutionary the Treaty of Riga the contribution of significant individuals that changed society including: Lenin Trotsky

Attempted assassination of Lenin 30 August 1918 At a speech on this day, Fanny Kaplan shot three bullets at Lenin Two hit him and the one bullet in his neck remained their as operation was too risky Consequently he suffered migraines and headaches He became increasingly paranoid of counter-revolutionaries, and under this influence the policy of ‘Red Terror’ was implemented to defeat Bolshevik enemies

EXTERNAL THREAT OF FOREIGN INTERVENTIONS The Civil War WHITE ARMIES GREEN ARMIES Bolshevik Party THE REDS EXTERNAL THREAT OF FOREIGN INTERVENTIONS

Civil War: White Armies Comprised of traditional, conservative forces LED BY: Officers from the former Russian armies SUPPORTED BY: Peasants, landowners, businessmen and ousted political groups like SRs

Civil War: White Armies Map activity Use your text books, document 4b, and the above image complete the handout

Civil War: Green Armies Separate collection of peasants and Cossack forces that did not side with the White or Red Armies Demanded greater autonomy from Moscow Operated mainly in outer provinces that were occupied by the Whites Historian Geoff Swain: Argues the Civil War was a clash of different versions of the Revolution. Lenin’s government wanted unity whereas the Greens wanted local independence This became a dominant issue for the government in 1920 and 1921

Historians’ interpretations: Orlando Figes on the Green Armies ‘What is remarkable about these peasant wars is that they shared so many common features, despite the huge distances between them and the different contexts in which they took place. Most of the larger rebellions had started out in 1920 as small-scale peasant revolts against the requisitioning of food whilc, as a result of their incompetent and often brutal handling by the local Communists, soon came inflamed and spread into full scale peasant wars’ (Figes 273)

Why was there foreign intervention into the Russian Civil War? Allied countries refused to accept Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and therefore supported White army 18 January 1917: Lenin cancelled all foreign debts and confiscated all foreign owned property in Russia, which aggravated international companies USING pp.167-168, COMPLETE THE TABLE ACTIVITY

The Soviet-Polish War Poland declared independence at the beginning of the Civil April 1920: Invaded Ukraine, taking advantage of the turmoil in Russia Polish captured Kiev in Ukraine, but were pushed by the Red Army A counter invasion by the Red Army saiw them approached Warsaw, the Polish capital Lenin expected Polish workers to welcome the Red Army as the liberators of the Polish proletariat. He was wrong! A desperate retaliation of the Polish followed, and the Red Army were forced to retreat In March 1921, the Polish forced the Russians to sign a formal peace agreement: The Treaty of Riga. This secured Polish independence

Summary Lenin’s attempted assassination fuelled his paranoia of counter-revolution (though the threat was real) and influenced the ‘red terror’, which was largely carried out by the Cheka The Civil War was waged between White Armies (seeking to restore older regimes) and Green Armies (peasant and Kossack revolts that were not unified) Various countries sought to support ‘White Armies’. Including allies from the entente such as Britain, America and France