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The '''Russian Civil War''' (Russian: Гражданская война в России) was a war in parts of the former [[Russian Empire (1721–1917)|Russian Empire]] between the [[Red Army]] and counter-revolutionary [[White Army]]. [[Imperialism|Imperialists]] from 14 foreign countries including the [[United States of America|United States]] also intervened in the war to help the Whites.
The '''Russian Civil War''' (Russian: Гражданская война в России) was a war in parts of the former [[Russian Empire (1721–1917)|Russian Empire]] between the [[Red Army]] and counter-revolutionary [[White Army]]. [[Imperialism|Imperialists]] from 14 foreign countries including the [[United States of America|United States]] also intervened in the war to help the Whites. During the war, [[Joseph Stalin|Stalin]] served as the President of the Southern War Front Council and [[Leon Trotsky|Trotsky]] served as the [[People's Commissar for War]]. Both received the [[Order of the Red Banner]] for their military service.<ref name=":1">{{Citation|author=Ludo Martens|year=1996|title=Another View of Stalin|chapter=The young Stalin forges his arms|page=19–20|pdf=https://gateway.ipfs.io/ipfs/bafykbzaceab64vxtxpqt2cdl4zsrsftmedqidn4foq74gr25qkd35z5nwogdi?filename=Ludo%20Martens%20-%20Another%20View%20of%20Stalin-Editions%20EPO%20%281996%29.pdf|publisher=Editions EPO|isbn=9782872620814}}</ref>


== October Revolution ==
== Background ==
{{Main article|October Revolution}}
On 7 November [O.S. 25 October], the [[Bolsheviks]] overthrew the [[Russian Republic (1917–1918)|Russian Republic]] led by [[Alexander Kerensky]], and Kerensky fled from the Winter Palace in [[Saint Petersburg|Petrograd]] to [[Pskov]]. The [[Mensheviks|Menshevik]] Voitinsky had proposed sending troops to aid the provisional government in Petrograd but was removed in a no-confidence vote. [[Nikolai Kishkin]] from the [[Constitutional Democratic Party]] was then appointed as dictator and refrained from sending troops to Petrograd.<ref>{{Citation|author=E. Yaroslavsky, et al.|year=1946|title=The History of the Civil War in the U.S.S.R|chapter=The Suppression of the Anti-Soviet Mutiny|pdf=http://ciml.250x.com/archive/ussr/english/1946_the_civil_war_in_the_ussr_volume2.pdf}}</ref>
On 7 November [O.S. 25 October], the [[Bolsheviks]] overthrew the [[Russian Republic (1917–1918)|Russian Republic]] led by [[Alexander Kerensky]], and Kerensky fled from the Winter Palace in [[Saint Petersburg|Petrograd]] to [[Pskov]]. The [[Mensheviks|Menshevik]] Voitinsky had proposed sending troops to aid the provisional government in Petrograd but was removed in a no-confidence vote. [[Nikolai Kishkin]] from the [[Constitutional Democratic Party]] was then appointed as dictator and refrained from sending troops to Petrograd.<ref>{{Citation|author=E. Yaroslavsky, et al.|year=1946|title=The History of the Civil War in the U.S.S.R|chapter=The Suppression of the Anti-Soviet Mutiny|pdf=http://ciml.250x.com/archive/ussr/english/1946_the_civil_war_in_the_ussr_volume2.pdf}}</ref>


== Civil war ==
== War by region ==
White General [[Alexander Kolchak]] in Omsk was declared Supreme Ruler of Russia. He advanced towards the Volga in the spring of 1919 but was defeated in April by the Red Army and retreated into Siberia.<ref name=":0" /> The Bolsheviks captured and executed Kolchak at the end of 1919 with the help of 2,000 Bashkir soldiers who had defected from the White Army.<ref>{{Citation|author=Albert Szymanski|year=1984|title=Human Rights in the Soviet Union|chapter=The Asian Nationalities in the USSR|isbn=0862320186|city=London|publisher=Zed Books Ltd.|lg=https://libgen.rs/book/index.php?md5=C597B1232D9EA6B0F3DCB438D7E15A81|pdf=https://cloudflare-ipfs.com/ipfs/bafykbzaceazdmtb2y3qq27fve5ib3gk7uv2unt6ae2xss74xmfpur7k5uhl5m?filename=Albert%20Szymanski%20-%20Human%20Rights%20in%20the%20Soviet%20Union_%20Including%20Comparisons%20with%20the%20U.S.A.-Zed%20Books%20Ltd.%20%281984%29.pdf|page=35}}</ref>


[[Anton Denikin]] began an offensive against the Bolsheviks in the summer of 1920 in southern Russia.<ref name=":0">{{Citation|author=[[Joseph Stalin]]|year=1939|title=History of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (Bolsheviks)|title-url=http://marx2mao.com/Other/HCPSU39ii.html#c8s1|chapter=The Bolshevik Party in the Period of Foreign Military Intervention and Civil War|chapter-url=https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/stalin/works/1939/x01/ch08.htm|pdf=http://marx2mao.com/PDFs/HCPSU39.pdf|city=[[New York City]]|publisher=International Publishers|mia=https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/stalin/works/1939/x01/index.htm}}</ref>
=== Caucasus ===
[[Pyotr Krasnov|Krasnov]] threatened to capture the North Caucasus in June 1918, but Stalin successfully defended Tsaritsyn. Stalin opposed the former Tsarist officials Sytin and [[Jukums Vācietis|Vācietis]], who had been appointed by Trotsky.<ref name=":1" />


== Interventions ==
[[Anton Denikin]] began an offensive against the Bolsheviks in the summer of 1920 in southern Russia.<ref name=":0">{{Citation|author=[[Joseph Stalin]]|year=1939|title=History of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (Bolsheviks)|title-url=http://marx2mao.com/Other/HCPSU39ii.html#c8s1|chapter=The Bolshevik Party in the Period of Foreign Military Intervention and Civil War|chapter-url=https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/stalin/works/1939/x01/ch08.htm|pdf=http://marx2mao.com/PDFs/HCPSU39.pdf|city=[[New York City]]|publisher=International Publishers|mia=https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/stalin/works/1939/x01/index.htm}}</ref> He was defeated, but [[Pyotr Wrangel]] advanced towards [[Crimea]] before being defeated in late 1920.<ref name=":1" />


=== British and French intervention ===
=== Northwest Russia ===
In May 1919, Stalin was assigned with defending Petrograd from [[Nikolai Yudenich]].<ref name=":1" />
 
=== Siberia ===
White General [[Alexander Kolchak]] in Omsk was declared Supreme Ruler of Russia. He advanced towards the Volga in the spring of 1919 but was defeated in April by the Red Army and retreated into [[Siberia]].<ref name=":0" /> The Bolsheviks captured and executed Kolchak at the end of 1919 with the help of 2,000 Bashkir soldiers who had defected from the White Army.<ref>{{Citation|author=Albert Szymanski|year=1984|title=Human Rights in the Soviet Union|chapter=The Asian Nationalities in the USSR|isbn=0862320186|city=London|publisher=Zed Books Ltd.|lg=https://libgen.rs/book/index.php?md5=C597B1232D9EA6B0F3DCB438D7E15A81|pdf=https://cloudflare-ipfs.com/ipfs/bafykbzaceazdmtb2y3qq27fve5ib3gk7uv2unt6ae2xss74xmfpur7k5uhl5m?filename=Albert%20Szymanski%20-%20Human%20Rights%20in%20the%20Soviet%20Union_%20Including%20Comparisons%20with%20the%20U.S.A.-Zed%20Books%20Ltd.%20%281984%29.pdf|page=35}}</ref>
 
On the eastern front, a struggle developed between the commanders [[Sergey Kamenev]] and Jukums Vācietis. The Central Committee decided in favor of Kamenev and arrested Vācietis.<ref name=":1" />
 
=== Ukraine ===
In October 1918, Stalin was appointed to the Military Council of the Ukrainian Front to overthrow the [[German Empire (1871–1918)|German]]-backed ruler [[Pavlo Skoropadskyi]].<ref name=":1" />
 
== Foreign invasions ==
 
=== Britain and France ===
In December 1917, the United States authorized aid to [[Anti-communism|anti-communist]] forces in southern Russia and the Caucasus.<ref>{{Citation|author=David S. Foglesong|year=1995|title=America's Secret War against Bolshevism|title-url=https://b-ok.cc/book/5475068/86442c|chapter=The British Connection|page=76|pdf=https://bunker2.zlibcdn.com/dtoken/16089e3f7980a233801443d893d96559/Americas%20Secret%20War%20Against%20Bolshevism%20U.S.%20Intervention%20in%20the%20Russian%20Civil%20War%2C%201917-1920%20%28David%20S.%20Foglesong%29%20%28z-lib.org%29.pdf|publisher=University of North Carolina Press}}</ref>
In December 1917, the United States authorized aid to [[Anti-communism|anti-communist]] forces in southern Russia and the Caucasus.<ref>{{Citation|author=David S. Foglesong|year=1995|title=America's Secret War against Bolshevism|title-url=https://b-ok.cc/book/5475068/86442c|chapter=The British Connection|page=76|pdf=https://bunker2.zlibcdn.com/dtoken/16089e3f7980a233801443d893d96559/Americas%20Secret%20War%20Against%20Bolshevism%20U.S.%20Intervention%20in%20the%20Russian%20Civil%20War%2C%201917-1920%20%28David%20S.%20Foglesong%29%20%28z-lib.org%29.pdf|publisher=University of North Carolina Press}}</ref>


In the first half of 1918, [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1801–1922)|British]] and [[French Republic (1870–1940)|French]] forces invaded northwest Russia and occupied Arkhangelsk and Murmansk, overthrew the [[Soviet (governmental body)|soviets]] in the area, and established the counterrevolutionary Government of North Russia. The British and French also supported White generals [[Lavr Kornilov|Kornilov]], [[Mikhail Alekseyev|Alexeyev]], and Denikin in the North Caucasus. In the Volga region and [[Siberia]], they organized a revolt of [[Czechoslovak Republic (1918–1938)|Czechoslovak]] prisoners of war who had recently been released by the Soviet government.<ref name=":0" />
In the first half of 1918, [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1801–1922)|British]] and [[French Republic (1870–1940)|French]] forces invaded northwest Russia and occupied Arkhangelsk and Murmansk, overthrew the [[Soviet (governmental body)|soviets]] in the area, and established the counterrevolutionary Government of North Russia. The British and French also supported White generals [[Lavr Kornilov|Kornilov]], [[Mikhail Alekseyev|Alexeyev]], and Denikin in the North Caucasus. In the Volga region and Siberia, they organized a revolt of [[Czechoslovak Republic (1918–1938)|Czechoslovak]] prisoners of war who had recently been released by the Soviet government.<ref name=":0" />


=== German intervention ===
=== Germany ===
[[German Empire (1871–1918)|Germany]] supported Generals [[Pyotr Krasnov|Krasnov]] and [[Konstantin Mamontov|Mamontov]] in organizing a revolt of the Don Cossacks and occupied the Don region and [[Ukrainian People's Republic (1917–1921)|Ukraine]].<ref name=":0" />
Germany invaded [[Ukrainian National Republic (1917–1920)|Ukraine]] in February 1918.<ref name=":1" /> It supported Generals Krasnov and [[Konstantin Mamontov|Mamontov]] in organizing a revolt of the Don Cossacks and occupied the Don region and Ukraine.<ref name=":0" />


=== Japanese intervention ===
=== Japan ===
In January 1918, [[Empire of Japan|Japanese]] forces on the cruiser ''Iwami'' invaded [[Vladivostok]]. They were followed by a British vessel, a Statesian cruiser, and another Japanese cruiser.<ref>{{Citation|author=V. Parfenov|year=1941|title=The Intervention in Siberia (1918–1922)|chapter=Preparation for Intervention|page=8|pdf=http://ciml.250x.com/archive/ussr/english/1941_the_intervention_in_siberia.pdf|city=[[New York City]]|publisher=Workers Literary Publishers, Inc.}}</ref> Japanese intervention in the Far East continued until 1922.<ref name=":0" />
In January 1918, [[Empire of Japan|Japanese]] forces on the cruiser ''Iwami'' invaded [[Vladivostok]]. They were followed by a British vessel, a Statesian cruiser, and another Japanese cruiser.<ref>{{Citation|author=V. Parfenov|year=1941|title=The Intervention in Siberia (1918–1922)|chapter=Preparation for Intervention|page=8|pdf=http://ciml.250x.com/archive/ussr/english/1941_the_intervention_in_siberia.pdf|city=[[New York City]]|publisher=Workers Literary Publishers, Inc.}}</ref> Japanese intervention in the Far East continued until 1922.<ref name=":0" />


=== Polish intervention ===
=== Poland ===
{{Main article|Polish–Soviet War}}
{{Main article|Polish–Soviet War}}
In April 1920, [[Republic of Poland (1918–1939)|Poland]] under the right-wing nationalist [[Józef Piłsudski]] invaded [[Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (1919–1991)|Soviet Ukraine]] and occupied Kiev.<ref name=":0" />
In April 1920, [[Republic of Poland (1918–1939)|Poland]] under the right-wing nationalist [[Józef Piłsudski]] invaded [[Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (1919–1991)|Soviet Ukraine]] and occupied Kiev.<ref name=":0" /> [[Mikhail Tukhachevsky]] counterattacked, and [[Vladimir Lenin|Lenin]] formed a temporary [[Soviet (governmental body)|soviet]] Polish government as the Red Army approached Warsaw. The Polish later counterattacked and forced the Bolsheviks to retreat.<ref name=":1" />


== References ==
== References ==

Revision as of 17:03, 19 February 2023

The Russian Civil War (Russian: Гражданская война в России) was a war in parts of the former Russian Empire between the Red Army and counter-revolutionary White Army. Imperialists from 14 foreign countries including the United States also intervened in the war to help the Whites. During the war, Stalin served as the President of the Southern War Front Council and Trotsky served as the People's Commissar for War. Both received the Order of the Red Banner for their military service.[1]

Background

See main article: October Revolution

On 7 November [O.S. 25 October], the Bolsheviks overthrew the Russian Republic led by Alexander Kerensky, and Kerensky fled from the Winter Palace in Petrograd to Pskov. The Menshevik Voitinsky had proposed sending troops to aid the provisional government in Petrograd but was removed in a no-confidence vote. Nikolai Kishkin from the Constitutional Democratic Party was then appointed as dictator and refrained from sending troops to Petrograd.[2]

War by region

Caucasus

Krasnov threatened to capture the North Caucasus in June 1918, but Stalin successfully defended Tsaritsyn. Stalin opposed the former Tsarist officials Sytin and Vācietis, who had been appointed by Trotsky.[1]

Anton Denikin began an offensive against the Bolsheviks in the summer of 1920 in southern Russia.[3] He was defeated, but Pyotr Wrangel advanced towards Crimea before being defeated in late 1920.[1]

Northwest Russia

In May 1919, Stalin was assigned with defending Petrograd from Nikolai Yudenich.[1]

Siberia

White General Alexander Kolchak in Omsk was declared Supreme Ruler of Russia. He advanced towards the Volga in the spring of 1919 but was defeated in April by the Red Army and retreated into Siberia.[3] The Bolsheviks captured and executed Kolchak at the end of 1919 with the help of 2,000 Bashkir soldiers who had defected from the White Army.[4]

On the eastern front, a struggle developed between the commanders Sergey Kamenev and Jukums Vācietis. The Central Committee decided in favor of Kamenev and arrested Vācietis.[1]

Ukraine

In October 1918, Stalin was appointed to the Military Council of the Ukrainian Front to overthrow the German-backed ruler Pavlo Skoropadskyi.[1]

Foreign invasions

Britain and France

In December 1917, the United States authorized aid to anti-communist forces in southern Russia and the Caucasus.[5]

In the first half of 1918, British and French forces invaded northwest Russia and occupied Arkhangelsk and Murmansk, overthrew the soviets in the area, and established the counterrevolutionary Government of North Russia. The British and French also supported White generals Kornilov, Alexeyev, and Denikin in the North Caucasus. In the Volga region and Siberia, they organized a revolt of Czechoslovak prisoners of war who had recently been released by the Soviet government.[3]

Germany

Germany invaded Ukraine in February 1918.[1] It supported Generals Krasnov and Mamontov in organizing a revolt of the Don Cossacks and occupied the Don region and Ukraine.[3]

Japan

In January 1918, Japanese forces on the cruiser Iwami invaded Vladivostok. They were followed by a British vessel, a Statesian cruiser, and another Japanese cruiser.[6] Japanese intervention in the Far East continued until 1922.[3]

Poland

See main article: Polish–Soviet War

In April 1920, Poland under the right-wing nationalist Józef Piłsudski invaded Soviet Ukraine and occupied Kiev.[3] Mikhail Tukhachevsky counterattacked, and Lenin formed a temporary soviet Polish government as the Red Army approached Warsaw. The Polish later counterattacked and forced the Bolsheviks to retreat.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Ludo Martens (1996). Another View of Stalin: 'The young Stalin forges his arms' (pp. 19–20). [PDF] Editions EPO. ISBN 9782872620814
  2. E. Yaroslavsky, et al. (1946). The History of the Civil War in the U.S.S.R: 'The Suppression of the Anti-Soviet Mutiny'. [PDF]
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Joseph Stalin (1939). History of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (Bolsheviks): 'The Bolshevik Party in the Period of Foreign Military Intervention and Civil War'. [PDF] New York City: International Publishers. [MIA]
  4. Albert Szymanski (1984). Human Rights in the Soviet Union: 'The Asian Nationalities in the USSR' (p. 35). [PDF] London: Zed Books Ltd.. ISBN 0862320186 [LG]
  5. David S. Foglesong (1995). America's Secret War against Bolshevism: 'The British Connection' (p. 76). [PDF] University of North Carolina Press.
  6. V. Parfenov (1941). The Intervention in Siberia (1918–1922): 'Preparation for Intervention' (p. 8). [PDF] New York City: Workers Literary Publishers, Inc..