Bolskevik Civil War 1917
Factors for Bolshevik Vicotry in the Civil War
- Created by: Amir
- Created on: 09-12-12 18:54
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- Reasons for Bolshevik victory and the importance of War Communism
- White Weaknesses
- They lacked a unified command structure and strategy
- As a result they failed ot use thier forces effectively against the Red Army
- The Whites were spread out over large geographical areas
- The Whites (and Greens) often failed to co-ordinate attacks
- For example General Deniken's forces were concentrated in the South East of Russia, he failed to concentrate his attacks with Kolchak effectively, and his forces were defeated
- They lacked many support from the Russians who identified the whites as former Tsarist troops or foreign invaders
- They lacked a unified command structure and strategy
- Trotsky & Red Military Strengths
- Trotsky used officers who fought for the Tsar - this ensured that experienced leaders were used
- Trotsky's Red Army also held key Railway roots which ensured the contiuos supply of troops along with arms
- By the end of 1919 the Red Army had 3 million troops
- Lenin & War Communism
- Nationalisation of Industry
- All industries were brought under state control. Workers committess were replaced by Single managers
- Cotrol output of key materials required for war
- Factoriese were also converted to factories
- Labour Discipline
- Workers were fired for being late
- Internal Passports were introduced to stop people leaving their jobs
- GRAIN REQUISITIONING
- Food was taken by force
- This ensured that the Industrial Workers and the Red Army was supplied with food
- Rationing
- Ensured no supplies were wasted and also enusred that the Red Army was fed along with the qwor
- Nationalisation of Industry
- Foreign Intervention
- Lack of Long Terms Foregin Intervention
- By 1919 foreign forces from gb, France, USA left
- Loss of support in terms of troops for the Whites
- Foreign forces stopped supoorting the Whites after an Armistice had been signed with germany signalling the end of WW1
- By 1919 foreign forces from gb, France, USA left
- Treaty of Riga was signed with Poland after Lenin's failed invasion of Poland - ensured Poland would not be of threat to the bolsheviks - and also made sure Poland would join the Whites
- Lack of Long Terms Foregin Intervention
- Red Leadership
- The Red Army had a unified Leadership under Lenin - (unlike the Whites)
- Trotsky was a very effective leader of the Red Army
- Trotsky enforced Strict discipline and used Political officers within the army to ensure loyalty
- Trotsky visited the troops on the front line and support areas under threat - giving speeches and motivating the Red Army
- Lenin used the Chek to eliminate Politcial opposition
- This would reduce the amount of enemies the bolsheviks would have to fight
- Geography
- Whites were scattered around the edges of the central area
- They moved the capital to Moscow which made transport easier
- The area the Bolsheviks held was full of armament factories which helped kepp the Red Army armed
- Also the ground the Bolsheviks hedl was also heavily populated - this worked in their favour when it cam to recruiting for the Red Army
- 5 million members had joined the Bolsheviks
- White Weaknesses
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