Reasons why the Bolshevik party was able to win the Civil war.

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Disunity of the opposition to the Bolsheviks

- Anti Bolshevik forces wasted energy and resources fighting eachother as well as fighing the Bolsheviks, e.g Ukranian nationlists fought whites and the reds.

-Opposition to Bolsheviks all fighting for different reasons, e.g: whites wanted Tsar back, whilst others wanted democracy, so could not work well together.

-White forces failed to combine, so always outnumbered by Reds.

-Lack of clear overall strategy of smaller opposition groups, e.g: 3 seperate white armies.

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The organisation of the Bolsheviks.

-Strong central leadership under Trotsky and Lenin who were united in vision for Russia's future. Helped them remain organised as clear aim of what they wanted to achieve.

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The leadership of Leon Trotsky.

-Trotsky developed strategy of keeping Bolshevik controlling railways which prevented opponents from getting supplies or building up large numbers of troops in one area.

-Created Red army to fight for Bolsheviks. By far largest group fighting within civil war.

-Trotsky travelled country insepcting Red army and giving speeches. Travelled 70,000 miles during course of confilct. His commitment kept Bolshevik army going.

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Bolshevik control of Russian infrastructure.

-Controlled most of Russia' railway system. Troops could move quickly and maintain supplies.

-Controlled industrial heartlands including Mosgow and Petrograd.

-Introduced War Communism policiy in 1918 where gov controlled everything within economy. Allowed Bolsheviks to keep well supplied with resources.

-Due to control of industrial heartlands, Red army were more equipped than others.

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The effectiveness of Bolshevik terror

-The Cheka enforced terror in Ukraine in order to display the message to people to not stand up against the Bolsheviks. E.g: people frozen and displayed in public in Oryol.

-Launched campaign of terror by the Cheka to hunt down and kill supporters of their opponents. Eg: burned entire villages that were thought to be hiding poltiical opponents.

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