TSR Wiki > Study Help > Subjects and Revision > Revision Notes > History > The Civil War 1918-1921:
Opposition came from:
- Politicians in favor of revolution but not Bolshevism
- Former officers from the Czars army
- Nationalists seeking independence from Russia
- Foreign allies of Russia who were anti-Bolshevik (i.e.: Czechs, G.B., Japan, USA, France)
Reasons for the success of the Bolsheviks
- Were united and had clear aims
- They held the “inner lines of communication”
- The “Whites” were politically divided (lack of co-operation)
- The “Whites” had little appeal to the mass of the population (no desire to return to Czarist rule)
- White forces were often brutal (alienating themselves)
- The bulk of the peasants were at least passive supporters of the Bolsheviks
- The Allies began to loose interest in the Civil war (they no longer needed Russian help)
- The Bolsheviks (fighting against the Allies) represented their fight as patriotic.
- The Red Army proved a formidable fighting force.
- The introduction of “war communism” which allowed the freeing of necessary resources for the war effort.
- Non-Russians w/in Russia had little reason to support the Whites since the Bolsheviks had announced that they could seek independence.
War Communism
- Private ownership of land was abolished
- Industry was nationalized
- Peasants forced to sell surplus grain to Bolsheviks at fixed prices.
- Workers were no longer paid (were only allotted ration cards)
- Forced labor was introduced in vital areas.
This gave Bolsheviks control but caused:
- Peasant unrest
- Widespread famine w/ falling production
- Decreased industrial output.
The Kronstadt revolt (when sailors rebelled against Bolsheviks and were crushed by the Red Army) led Lenin to realize action must be taken that would improve the situation and might in the short term move away from communism.
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