1. Lenin’s Terror

2. The Start The trigger is often seen as the attempt on Lenin's life in Aug 1918 The trigger is often seen as the attempt on Lenin's life in Aug 1918 Officially announced in Sept 1918 through Izvestiya, the propaganda paper Officially announced in Sept 1918 through Izvestiya, the propaganda paper The Cheka, the secret police, were mainly responsible for the terror The Cheka, the secret police, were mainly responsible for the terror Their leader was Felix Dzerzhinsky Their leader was Felix DzerzhinskyFelix DzerzhinskyFelix Dzerzhinsky

3. Aims The Terror targeted a variety of groups thought to be counter-revolutionary The Terror targeted a variety of groups thought to be counter-revolutionary Priests, the Bourgeoisie, the Gentry, former officials and White Guards were all targeted, exiled and executed Priests, the Bourgeoisie, the Gentry, former officials and White Guards were all targeted, exiled and executed The idea was to secure the Bolsheviks grip on power – these tactics may indicate how worried they were about losing power so soon after Oct 1917 The idea was to secure the Bolsheviks grip on power – these tactics may indicate how worried they were about losing power so soon after Oct 1917

4. Victims Nicholas II and his family and some of his staff Nicholas II and his family and some of his staff Peasants who did not want to see their land requisitioned Peasants who did not want to see their land requisitioned Any person whose background made them even a remote counter-revolutionary Any person whose background made them even a remote counter-revolutionary SR’s who were not radical enough for the Bolsheviks who posed a threat to their autonomous control SR’s who were not radical enough for the Bolsheviks who posed a threat to their autonomous control

5. Where The Terror was at first confined mainly to Moscow after the Bolsheviks made it the administrative capital in Mar 1918 The Terror was at first confined mainly to Moscow after the Bolsheviks made it the administrative capital in Mar 1918 Petrograd also saw arrests and executions Petrograd also saw arrests and executions Later, this would spread across the country as peasants became targets Later, this would spread across the country as peasants became targets The ensuing Civil War saw terror tactics across all of Western Russia The ensuing Civil War saw terror tactics across all of Western Russia

6. Actions Arbitrary arrest and imprisonment – no trials or juries Arbitrary arrest and imprisonment – no trials or juries Summary mass executions, even though the Bolsheviks had outlawed the death penalty Summary mass executions, even though the Bolsheviks had outlawed the death penalty Seizing of property and money Seizing of property and money Elimination of any anti-Bolshevik rhetoric or propaganda Elimination of any anti-Bolshevik rhetoric or propaganda

7. The Red Army Although the Cheka led the terror, the Red Army became increasingly involved, especially after the Civil War began. Although the Cheka led the terror, the Red Army became increasingly involved, especially after the Civil War began. Trotsky was the leader of the Red Army and atrocities were committed during the conflict on Whites and Greens Trotsky was the leader of the Red Army and atrocities were committed during the conflict on Whites and Greens The Red Army bacame a feared instrucment of the terror The Red Army bacame a feared instrucment of the terror

8. Why? (1) To secure and maintain control To secure and maintain control Marxism interpreted so that violence was acceptable in securing revolution Marxism interpreted so that violence was acceptable in securing revolution The Bolsheviks were becoming unpopular in 1918 – election results show that The Bolsheviks were becoming unpopular in 1918 – election results show that The social situation in Russia was deteriorating – strikes, food shortages etc The social situation in Russia was deteriorating – strikes, food shortages etc There was a split developing between Bolsheviks and SR’s There was a split developing between Bolsheviks and SR’s

9. Why? (2) Does this suggest that the Bolsheviks were very concerned about their position? Does this suggest that the Bolsheviks were very concerned about their position? Was there a real chance that the Bolshevik revolution could have been crushed? Was there a real chance that the Bolshevik revolution could have been crushed? Was the terror necessary to secure the revolution? What does this tell us about other Bolshevik policies and their success? Was the terror necessary to secure the revolution? What does this tell us about other Bolshevik policies and their success? Context – Treaty of Brest Litovsk, Land Reform policies, terrorist attacks in Moscow and Petrograd in 1917/18 Context – Treaty of Brest Litovsk, Land Reform policies, terrorist attacks in Moscow and Petrograd in 1917/18

10. Impact Elimination of political and social opponents Elimination of political and social opponents The rise of the Cheka The rise of the Cheka In the official period of the Terror (Sep 1918 to Oct 1918) saw several thousand deaths In the official period of the Terror (Sep 1918 to Oct 1918) saw several thousand deaths However, the terror continued unofficially throughout the Civil War and the number of deaths would be in the tens of thousands However, the terror continued unofficially throughout the Civil War and the number of deaths would be in the tens of thousands The Bolsheviks did win the Civil War and gain complete control – what role did the terror play in this? The Bolsheviks did win the Civil War and gain complete control – what role did the terror play in this?

11. Important How successful were other factors in the winning of the Civil War? How successful were other factors in the winning of the Civil War? Compare these against the Terror … relatively speaking, how important was the Terror? Compare these against the Terror … relatively speaking, how important was the Terror? The Terror is your focus, find sources that evaluate its importance The Terror is your focus, find sources that evaluate its importance