1. Deniken and Wrangel Deniken had an army of 150,000 which included a great number of Cossacks (soldiers from southern Russia who fought on horses). He was also supported by the French. His army advanced through the Don region and aimed to link up with Kolchak’s army in the east. By the summer of 1918, Deniken’s army was besieging Tsaritsyn, which was vital to the Reds in order to protect grain supplies and prevent the link between the southern and eastern White armies. It was successfully defended by the Bolsheviks under the leadership of Stalin. Deniken launched another offensive in 1919 which got to within 320km of Moscow. It was defeated by a Red counter-attack led by Trotsky and driven back to the Crimean Peninsular. Deniken was replaced by Wrangel, who held out until the following November 1920 when he was evacuated by British and French ships. Deniken and Wrangel Deniken had an army of 150,000 which included a great number of Cossacks (soldiers from southern Russia who fought on horses). He was also supported by the French. His army advanced through the Don region and aimed to link up with Kolchak’s army in the east. By the summer of 1918, Deniken’s army was besieging Tsaritsyn, which was vital to the Reds in order to protect grain supplies and prevent the link between the southern and eastern White armies. It was successfully defended by the Bolsheviks under the leadership of Stalin. Deniken launched another offensive in 1919 which got to within 320km of Moscow. It was defeated by a Red counter-attack led by Trotsky and driven back to the Crimean Peninsular. Deniken was replaced by Wrangel, who held out until the following November 1920 when he was evacuated by British and French ships.

2. Yudenich General Yudenich’s army was the smallest army, only some 15,000, and it reached the outskirts of Petrograd in October 1919 with the support of Estonian troops who wanted independence from Russia and British forces. However, Yudenich failed to secure the Petrograd railway, which enabled the Bolsheviks to send in massive reinforcements to prevent the fall of the city to the White forces. The Bolsheviks also secured a separate armistice (a decision by both armies to suspend fighting in an attempt to come to an agreement) with Estonian forces by promising to recognise Estonian independence. Without the support of Estonia, Yudenich dissolved his armies in mid-1920. Yudenich General Yudenich’s army was the smallest army, only some 15,000, and it reached the outskirts of Petrograd in October 1919 with the support of Estonian troops who wanted independence from Russia and British forces. However, Yudenich failed to secure the Petrograd railway, which enabled the Bolsheviks to send in massive reinforcements to prevent the fall of the city to the White forces. The Bolsheviks also secured a separate armistice (a decision by both armies to suspend fighting in an attempt to come to an agreement) with Estonian forces by promising to recognise Estonian independence. Without the support of Estonia, Yudenich dissolved his armies in mid-1920.

3. Admiral Kolchak Admiral Kolchak led an army of about 140,000 which advanced from the east, supported by the Czech regiment and the British. At first he was very successful and, by June 1919, had captured Kazan and Samara. However by the autumn of 1919 the Red Army (Bolsheviks) had forced Kolchak to retreat and in the following year he was captured and shot. This defeat was due to the determined counter-attacks by the Red Army as well as differences and quarrels with the Czechs. Admiral Kolchak Admiral Kolchak led an army of about 140,000 which advanced from the east, supported by the Czech regiment and the British. At first he was very successful and, by June 1919, had captured Kazan and Samara. However by the autumn of 1919 the Red Army (Bolsheviks) had forced Kolchak to retreat and in the following year he was captured and shot. This defeat was due to the determined counter-attacks by the Red Army as well as differences and quarrels with the Czechs.

4. Semenov Semenov commanded White forces in the Siberian region supported by Japanese forces. After the defeat of the White movement, Admiral Kolchak transferred power to Semenov in the Far East. However Semenov was unable to keep his forces in Siberia under control: they stole, burned, murdered and raped civilians, and developed a reputation for being little better than thugs. In July 1920 the Japanese Expeditionary Corps started their withdrawal, leaving Semenov without support, and he was defeated by units of the Red Army in October 1920. Semenov Semenov commanded White forces in the Siberian region supported by Japanese forces. After the defeat of the White movement, Admiral Kolchak transferred power to Semenov in the Far East. However Semenov was unable to keep his forces in Siberia under control: they stole, burned, murdered and raped civilians, and developed a reputation for being little better than thugs. In July 1920 the Japanese Expeditionary Corps started their withdrawal, leaving Semenov without support, and he was defeated by units of the Red Army in October 1920.

5. Miller After the Bolshevik takeover, Miller, a general in the tsarist army, fled to Archangel and declared himself Governor-General of Northern Russia. In May 1919 Admiral Kolchak appointed him to be in charge of the White army in the region where his anti-Bolshevik army was supported by British forces. However, after an unsuccessful advance against the Red Army along the northern Dvina in the summer of 1919, British forces withdrew from the region and Miller’s men faced the enemy alone, eventually being evacuated to Norway in February 1920. Miller After the Bolshevik takeover, Miller, a general in the tsarist army, fled to Archangel and declared himself Governor-General of Northern Russia. In May 1919 Admiral Kolchak appointed him to be in charge of the White army in the region where his anti-Bolshevik army was supported by British forces. However, after an unsuccessful advance against the Red Army along the northern Dvina in the summer of 1919, British forces withdrew from the region and Miller’s men faced the enemy alone, eventually being evacuated to Norway in February 1920.