Russian Civil War and Consolidation Antonia Clement Manuel Reyes Jassmyn Butler

Consolidation of the Bolshevik Party 1917 – Bolshevik’s held St. Petersburg and moved quickly to consolidate power January 1918 – first and only meeting of the Constituent Assembly (democratically elected body – viewed as legitimate Russian gov’t) March 1918 – Brest-Litovsk Treaty was signed taking Russia out of WWI Transferred capital from St. Petersburg to Moscow

Consolidation cont. March 1918 – Bolshevik's declare themselves formally as the Communist Party This is the name they would rule Russia for nearly 70 years

White Army

Russian Civil War Russia was a vast empire with considerable resistance Two sets of enemies against Lenin 1)Soldiers sent by foreign powers (Britain and US – to cripple the revolution) 2)Whites – a loose collection of armies united only by their opposition to the Bolshevik Reds

Bolshevik’s Opponents Social Revolutionaries Wealthy landowners Army and navy officers – White Army Monarchists Other conservatives Foreign industrial powers (Great Britain, U.S,

The War Thousands murdered for opposing the Bolsheviks and belonging to the wrong class Battles were relatively short and low manpower figures (Below generally) Battle for Tsaritsyn was one of the largest with Soviet Reds against Whites

The War Pbdk Pbdk

The Man of Steel During the Civil War Stalin during the time was the People's Commissar for Nationalities. Along with Lenin they promised the right of self-determination of all ethnic minorities within Russia. But this was just a major false propaganda move. Stalin was also given military command because of his high rank in the Soviet Government

Continuation Stalin won several battles, particularly he helped in stopping a White advance from the North into St. Petersburg in June of 1919 But he also made many errors as a military leader, particularly in the Tsaritsyn campaign as he refused to take orders from Trotsky and committed several tactical mistakes

Bolshevik Victory The Red Army was much more disciplined and united under the fierce leadership of Leon Trotsky Their enemies fought as fragmented and isolated forces Foreign and domestic forces never cooperated jointly Final Battle fought on 7th-15th November 1920 The Reds ultimately won by 1921

Death Tolls Total: 7,000,000 – 10,000,000 Red Army i.Battle: 632,000 ii.Disease: 581,000 (Typhoid and Typhus) White Army i.1,290,000 battle + disease

Red Terror The Red Terror was carried out in post- revolutionary Russia by the Cheka (secret police) headed by Felix Dzerzhinsky along with units of the Red Army led by Leon Trotsky An assasination attempt on Lenin was used as a rationale for the secret police and the army to round up and deal with anyone suspected of counter-revolutionary activities

Red Terror Continued Executed: i.50 – 200,000 Died in prison or revolts: i.400,000

Sources SparkNotes. SparkNotes, n.d. Web. 13 Nov "Russian Revolution." Infoplease. Infoplease, n.d. Web. 13 Nov