 starter activity Between 1918 and 1921 civil war ravaged Russia. Above the pictures suggest reasons for Bolshevik success in the war and threats to their authority. Which is which? Red Army recruitment poster Assassination attempt on Lenin Trotsky aboard an Agitprop train Starving peasants forced into cannibalism Red Army puts down mutiny at Kronstadt

Why were the Bolsheviks successful in winning the Civil War ( )? Identify causes of Civil War Timeline key events Examine strengths of Reds & Whites Analyse reasons for Bolshevik success  Aims

 Your task Study Lynch p and Oxley p list the causes of the Civil War in Russia ( ) Study Lynch p and Oxley p list the causes of the Civil War in Russia ( )

Collapse of Russian Empire Decree on Nationalities allowed national minorities chance to govern themselves Decree on Nationalities allowed national minorities chance to govern themselves Many territories declared independence from RSFSR Many territories declared independence from RSFSR Central Siberian Region Soviet rejected Tr of B- L Central Siberian Region Soviet rejected Tr of B- L 33 sovereign governments in Russia (June 1918) 33 sovereign governments in Russia (June 1918)

Political opposition Growth of political opposition, e.g. Union for Defence of the Motherland & Liberty (Jan 1918) Growth of political opposition, e.g. Union for Defence of the Motherland & Liberty (Jan 1918) SRs and Mensheviks excluded from Constituent Assembly & Sovnakom joined anti-Bolshevik alliance, ‘Whites’ SRs and Mensheviks excluded from Constituent Assembly & Sovnakom joined anti-Bolshevik alliance, ‘Whites’

Allied opposition Western allies angry with Russia’s withdrawal from WWI Western allies angry with Russia’s withdrawal from WWI Churchill sent £100m of supplies to help Whites Churchill sent £100m of supplies to help Whites French govt sent 7 million francs to Kaedin French govt sent 7 million francs to Kaedin USA, Japan, Italy, Canada sent troops USA, Japan, Italy, Canada sent troops

Breakdown of law & order Class warfare broke out – Bolsheviks led attacks on burzhui Class warfare broke out – Bolsheviks led attacks on burzhui Peasants acting illegally seizing land without official sanction Peasants acting illegally seizing land without official sanction Arbitrary arrest & imprisonment by Cheka Arbitrary arrest & imprisonment by Cheka

Food requisitioning Loss of Ukraine – ‘bread basket of Russia’ as part of Tr. of B-L exacerbated problem Loss of Ukraine – ‘bread basket of Russia’ as part of Tr. of B-L exacerbated problem Soaring inflation Soaring inflation Kulaks accused of grain hoarding Kulaks accused of grain hoarding Officers of Cheka recover hidden grain

 Your task Watch the clip from the Russian Revolution in colour and complete the question sheet your teacher gives you. Watch the clip from the Russian Revolution in colour and complete the question sheet your teacher gives you.

Cheka officers sometimes paid the ultimate price for their devotion to duty

 Your task Create a timeline of events using the information in Oxley, p Create a timeline of events using the information in Oxley, p

November 1917, Kerensky fails to rally an army November 1917, Kerensky fails to rally an army Spring 1918, Bolsheviks crush resistance from Cossacks (Ural Mountains) & Volunteer Army (raised by Gen Kornilov) Spring 1918, Bolsheviks crush resistance from Cossacks (Ural Mountains) & Volunteer Army (raised by Gen Kornilov) May 1918, rebellion of Czech Legion; Komuch (rival assembly) estd. at Samara May 1918, rebellion of Czech Legion; Komuch (rival assembly) estd. at Samara July 1918, assassination of Tsar Nicholas & family, Ekaterinburg July 1918, assassination of Tsar Nicholas & family, Ekaterinburg

August 1918, Trotsky enforces military discipline, 1 in 10 retreating officers in Red Army shot August 1918, Trotsky enforces military discipline, 1 in 10 retreating officers in Red Army shot September, another rival govt, the Directory, estd. at Ufa September, another rival govt, the Directory, estd. at Ufa Nov 1918, Kolchak takes control of Directory & appoints himself dictator Nov 1918, Kolchak takes control of Directory & appoints himself dictator March 1919 Kolchak’s White Armt advances West along Trans-Sib March 1919 Kolchak’s White Armt advances West along Trans-Sib April 1919, Trotsky forced to retreat April 1919, Trotsky forced to retreat May 1919, Denikin & Cossacks (Whites) advance on Moscow May 1919, Denikin & Cossacks (Whites) advance on Moscow

August 1919, Red Army abandons Kiev, capital of Ukraine August 1919, Red Army abandons Kiev, capital of Ukraine Oct 1919, Yudenich’s (Whites) advance on Petrograd & Denikin’s attack on Moscow halted Oct 1919, Yudenich’s (Whites) advance on Petrograd & Denikin’s attack on Moscow halted Jan 1920, Kolchak abdicates Jan 1920, Kolchak abdicates Apr 1920, beginning of Russo-Polish War Apr 1920, beginning of Russo-Polish War Oct 1920, Tr of Riga signed Oct 1920, Tr of Riga signed Nov 1920, last Whites leave southern Russia Nov 1920, last Whites leave southern Russia 1921 defeat of Greens led by Makno (Ukraine) & Antonov (Tambov) 1921 defeat of Greens led by Makno (Ukraine) & Antonov (Tambov)

 Your task Study the information in Oxley, p and create a scales chart weighing up the strengths of the Reds against the weaknesses of the Whites Study the information in Oxley, p and create a scales chart weighing up the strengths of the Reds against the weaknesses of the Whites Did foreign interventions help or hinder the Reds? Read Lynch p and make notes. Did foreign interventions help or hinder the Reds? Read Lynch p and make notes.

Strengths of Reds Conscription – 5m soldiers in Red Army by 1920; Reds controlled key cities Conscription – 5m soldiers in Red Army by 1920; Reds controlled key cities Trotsky – ranks; harsh discipline; recruited Tsarist officers; commissars within army; Red cavalry; agitprop trains Trotsky – ranks; harsh discipline; recruited Tsarist officers; commissars within army; Red cavalry; agitprop trains Munitions – controlled factories; Whites reliant on imported weapons Munitions – controlled factories; Whites reliant on imported weapons

Strengths of Reds Ideological commitment – proletariat didn’t want restoration of Tsarism; Communist propaganda v. effective Ideological commitment – proletariat didn’t want restoration of Tsarism; Communist propaganda v. effective Red Terror – Cheka; 50,000 executions in 1918; execution of Tsar Red Terror – Cheka; 50,000 executions in 1918; execution of Tsar Control of railways – Reds controlled railway hubs; same units fought against Kolchak, Denikin & Yudenich Control of railways – Reds controlled railway hubs; same units fought against Kolchak, Denikin & Yudenich

Weaknesses of Whites Reliant on foreign assistance – foreign forces rarely involved in fighting; Whites portrayed as invading army Reliant on foreign assistance – foreign forces rarely involved in fighting; Whites portrayed as invading army Divisions – some wanted return to Tsarism, others military dictatorship, others Constituent Assembly Divisions – some wanted return to Tsarism, others military dictatorship, others Constituent Assembly Lack of planning – problems with communications; geographical distances; rivalry between leaders Lack of planning – problems with communications; geographical distances; rivalry between leaders Desertions – peasants worried about land issues Desertions – peasants worried about land issues

Foreign interventions Foreign states interested in military consequences of Revolution (Russia’s commitment to WWI) Foreign states interested in military consequences of Revolution (Russia’s commitment to WWI) Germany sponsored Bolshevism Germany sponsored Bolshevism No single aim – trade protectionism (e.g. Japan & USA), territorial independence (e.g. Poland) No single aim – trade protectionism (e.g. Japan & USA), territorial independence (e.g. Poland) Interventionists portrayed by Bolsheviks as imperialist aggressors Interventionists portrayed by Bolsheviks as imperialist aggressors Many countries were war-weary Many countries were war-weary Sympathy with Bolsheviks, e.g. among TUs in UK Sympathy with Bolsheviks, e.g. among TUs in UK

Plenary Sum up the reasons for the success of the Reds in the Russian Civil War ( ) Sum up the reasons for the success of the Reds in the Russian Civil War ( ) What was the biggest factor contributing to their success? What was the biggest factor contributing to their success?