1. The Early Years of the Bolshevik Government The Civil War

2. Questions Why didn’t traditional Marxism apply to Russia? Why didn’t traditional Marxism apply to Russia? What was Sovnarkom? What was Sovnarkom? List five reforms made by the Bolshevik government. List five reforms made by the Bolshevik government. What measures did the Bolshevik Government take to increase women’s equality? What measures did the Bolshevik Government take to increase women’s equality?

3. Consolidation of Bolshevik Power After October Revolution, the Bolsheviks only controlled Petrograd After October Revolution, the Bolsheviks only controlled Petrograd By January 1918, control of other major cities By January 1918, control of other major cities By 1921 control over most of Russia By 1921 control over most of Russia Taking power was easy – challenge was to keep it Taking power was easy – challenge was to keep it

4. Attacks on political Opponents To stop opposition, Kadet Party banned and leaders arrested To stop opposition, Kadet Party banned and leaders arrested Mensheviks and Socialist Revolutionaries also arrested Mensheviks and Socialist Revolutionaries also arrested Attacks on bourgeoisie were called ‘warfare’ and encouraged Attacks on bourgeoisie were called ‘warfare’ and encouraged People in civil service were Bolsheviks People in civil service were Bolsheviks

5. Attacks on political Opponents Opposition was weak and disorganised Opposition was weak and disorganised Didn’t think Bolsheviks would last long, so would not cooperate with them Didn’t think Bolsheviks would last long, so would not cooperate with them This gave Bolsheviks more power This gave Bolsheviks more power Both groups also had divisions in their parties – to cooperate or not to cooperate Both groups also had divisions in their parties – to cooperate or not to cooperate

6. The Constituent Assembly When came to power, agreed to hold elections When came to power, agreed to hold elections Bolsheviks didn’t win enough seats Bolsheviks didn’t win enough seats Lenin shut it down Lenin shut it down

7. Quitting World War 1 Signing the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany To fulfil the promise of peace to a war weary public and army, and rebuild a shattered economy, the Bolsheviks needed the war over no matter what. To fulfil the promise of peace to a war weary public and army, and rebuild a shattered economy, the Bolsheviks needed the war over no matter what. This meant signing a very unappealing treaty with Germany which ended the conflict on the Eastern Front. This meant signing a very unappealing treaty with Germany which ended the conflict on the Eastern Front.

8. Treaty of Brest-Litovsk The treaty was not good for Russia, with the signing of it they lost: The treaty was not good for Russia, with the signing of it they lost: ¼ of their population ¼ of their population ¼ of their land ¼ of their land ½ their industry ½ their industry ¾ of their coal and iron reserves ¾ of their coal and iron reserves Lenin was a realist who foresaw a civil war, in which he needed all the military and economic resources he could rebuild. Lenin was a realist who foresaw a civil war, in which he needed all the military and economic resources he could rebuild.

9. Russia’s Western Border pre-WW1

10. Europe Today

11. Why did Russia accept a harsh treaty? Bolsheviks had to fulfil promise of peace, as war had wrecked havoc on the economy Bolsheviks had to fulfil promise of peace, as war had wrecked havoc on the economy Some believed that more revolutions would begin across Europe, and when this happened, land would be returned to Russia Some believed that more revolutions would begin across Europe, and when this happened, land would be returned to Russia Russian army in no state to continue fighting Russian army in no state to continue fighting Lenin realised the Bolsheviks would face a civil war – army couldn’t fight both Lenin realised the Bolsheviks would face a civil war – army couldn’t fight both

12. Opposition to the new Bolshevik Government Political: Bolsheviks were not willing to share power with other left wing socialist parties, like the Mensheviks and Social Revolutionaries, seen with the closing of the Constituent Assembly Local & Regional Interests: Some saw the Bolshevik grab for power just as bad as the Tsar’s hold over Russia. Some minorities were interested in independence.

13. Economic Problems: Lost the wheat fields of the Ukraine from the treaty. The Bolsheviks lacked the power to bring about any sweeping changes and had to resort to State Capitalism. Foreign Opposition: The WW1 Allies of France, Britain, USA and Japan sent aid to the anti- Bolshevik forces (the ‘Whites’) to get Russia back in the war against Germany. The Allies were also capitalist and were opposed to communism. Opposition to the new Bolshevik Government

14. Questions What parts of Russia did the Bolsheviks control when they came to power? What parts of Russia did the Bolsheviks control when they came to power? What happened to the Constituent assembly? What happened to the Constituent assembly? What was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk? What was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk? What did Russia lose under this treaty? What did Russia lose under this treaty? Which groups opposed the Bolshevik Gov? Which groups opposed the Bolshevik Gov? What was the Bolshevik Gov’s first economic policy? What was the Bolshevik Gov’s first economic policy?

15. The Civil War Begins Bolshevik support outside of European Russia was very weak. Bolshevik support outside of European Russia was very weak. This lead to the ‘White’ forces taking control under different ex-Army leaders surrounding the Bolshevik forces around Moscow and Petrograd. This lead to the ‘White’ forces taking control under different ex-Army leaders surrounding the Bolshevik forces around Moscow and Petrograd. Local opposition included the Mensheviks, Socialist Revolutionaries, Kadets, tsarists and Ukrainian and Georgian Nationalists. Local opposition included the Mensheviks, Socialist Revolutionaries, Kadets, tsarists and Ukrainian and Georgian Nationalists.

16. Trotsky the Fighter Leon Trotsky was the Bolshevik Commissar for War who followed a strategy of defending all lines of transport and communication, moving Red troops quickly by rail. Leon Trotsky was the Bolshevik Commissar for War who followed a strategy of defending all lines of transport and communication, moving Red troops quickly by rail. The Whites were unable to maintain consistent supplies and concentrate their forces in a single location. The Whites were unable to maintain consistent supplies and concentrate their forces in a single location.

17. 1918 Bolshevik propaganda poster depicting Trotsky as Saint George slaying the reactionary dragon of counterrevolution (Trotsky was People's Commissar of War & organizer of the Red Army). 1918 Bolshevik propaganda poster depicting Trotsky as Saint George slaying the reactionary dragon of counterrevolution (Trotsky was People's Commissar of War & organizer of the Red Army). Note the dragon is wearing a top hat, which the Soviets associated with capitalism. Note the dragon is wearing a top hat, which the Soviets associated with capitalism.

18. White Army propaganda poster depicting Trotsky as a "Red devil" that attempts to appeal to anti-Semitism. White Army propaganda poster depicting Trotsky as a "Red devil" that attempts to appeal to anti-Semitism. The text above the picture reads, "Peace and Liberty in Sovdepiya" The text above the picture reads, "Peace and Liberty in Sovdepiya"

20. Timeline of the War May 1918: Czech Legions capture the Trans-Siberian Railway. May 1918: Czech Legions capture the Trans-Siberian Railway. 1919: Commander of the White Forces, Admiral Kolchak pushes the Red Army back close to Moscow, before being defeated. 1919: Commander of the White Forces, Admiral Kolchak pushes the Red Army back close to Moscow, before being defeated. October 1919: General Denikin captures Kiev before being defeated. October 1919: General Denikin captures Kiev before being defeated. April 1920: Poland invades Russia. April 1920: Poland invades Russia. October 1920: White armies admit defeat and are evacuated by the British Navy. October 1920: White armies admit defeat and are evacuated by the British Navy. 1921: Georgian, Armenian and Azerbaijan Nationalists are defeated, ending the war for good. 1921: Georgian, Armenian and Azerbaijan Nationalists are defeated, ending the war for good.

21. Clockwise from top: Soldiers of the Don Army in 1919; Soldiers of the Don Army in 1919; A White Russian infantry division in March 1920; A White Russian infantry division in March 1920; Soldiers of the 1st Cavalry Army; Soldiers of the 1st Cavalry Army; Leon Trotsky in 1918; Leon Trotsky in 1918; Hanging of Bolsheviks by the Czechoslovak Corps. Hanging of Bolsheviks by the Czechoslovak Corps.

22. Soldiers pose over the Bolsheviks killed at Vladivostok Soldiers pose over the Bolsheviks killed at Vladivostok

23. Why the Communists Won the War Geography: Red control of railways Red control of railways White army being scattered White army being scattered Most of the Russian population living in the Red area and conscription of men into the Red army. Most of the Russian population living in the Red area and conscription of men into the Red army. Red Control of industry and arsenal Red Control of industry and arsenalLeadership: Trotsky as a brilliant military leader Trotsky as a brilliant military leader White generals mistrusted each other White generals mistrusted each other

24. Why the Communists Won the War Military and political unity and organisation: White forces were divided along political lines White forces were divided along political lines Communists (or Reds) were a united political force Communists (or Reds) were a united political forceSupport: Poor foreign support for the Whites Poor foreign support for the Whites Good propaganda for the Reds Good propaganda for the Reds The peasants didn’t want landlords to return The peasants didn’t want landlords to return War Communism to control the economy War Communism to control the economy

25. Questions Who were the ‘Whites’? Who were the ‘Whites’? Which other groups fought the Bolsheviks? Which other groups fought the Bolsheviks? What was Trotsky’s strategy in the Civil War? What was Trotsky’s strategy in the Civil War? Summarise the reasons why the Reds won the Civil War. Summarise the reasons why the Reds won the Civil War.

26. The use of Terror to Win the War Lenin and the Bolsheviks had to consolidate power by means of repression through the Cheka (secret police) and the Red Army. Lenin and the Bolsheviks had to consolidate power by means of repression through the Cheka (secret police) and the Red Army. Lenin and the Cheka Commander Dzerzhinsky believed the survival of the revolution depended on stopping a counter revolution. Lenin and the Cheka Commander Dzerzhinsky believed the survival of the revolution depended on stopping a counter revolution.

27. ‘War Communism’ Economy The desperate situation created by the Civil War led to state capitalism being abandoned with every aspect of economic, political and social life directed towards the war effort. The desperate situation created by the Civil War led to state capitalism being abandoned with every aspect of economic, political and social life directed towards the war effort. Included a series of harsh economic restrictions which gave full Bolshevik of all trade and industry like the nationalism of industry, strikes illegal and food supplies reserved for workers. Included a series of harsh economic restrictions which gave full Bolshevik of all trade and industry like the nationalism of industry, strikes illegal and food supplies reserved for workers.

28. ‘War Communism’ economy Industry: The Decree of Nationalisation in 1918 put Industry under govt control. Didn’t improve or increase production because of the lack of manpower due to food shortages and war. Agriculture: The main aim of ‘War Communism’ was to produce more food. The peasants resisted Bolshevik terror and produced less food causing a huge famine in 1920 and 1921, killing 5 million!

30. The Kronstadt Rebellion 1921 The failure of war communism lead to open rebellion. The failure of war communism lead to open rebellion. Workers left the cities went on strike. Workers left the cities went on strike. Peasant rebellions broke out killing 250,000 Red Army soldiers. Peasant rebellions broke out killing 250,000 Red Army soldiers. Sailors at the Kronstadt Naval Base felt betrayed by the Bolshevik Govt and mutinied, but were crushed by 6000 Red army troops in March 1921. Sailors at the Kronstadt Naval Base felt betrayed by the Bolshevik Govt and mutinied, but were crushed by 6000 Red army troops in March 1921.

31. Lenin learns his lesson Lenin saw the rebellion as a reality wake up call and knew he had to get rid of war communism to retain the party power. Lenin saw the rebellion as a reality wake up call and knew he had to get rid of war communism to retain the party power. He needed an economic policy that wouldn’t cause famine and open rebellion! He needed an economic policy that wouldn’t cause famine and open rebellion!

32. Questions What was the Red Terror? What was the Red Terror? Why was terror used to consolidate Bolshevik power? Why was terror used to consolidate Bolshevik power? What was the Cheka? What was the Cheka? What was war communism? What was war communism? What were the effects of war communism? What were the effects of war communism?