Question

Explain the civil war in Russia.

Answer 1

• After 1919, Bolsheviks (Reds) became the only party to participate in elections
• All Russian Congress of Soviet became the Parliament of Russia
• Trade unions were kept under control
• Secret Police force named as Cheka was maintained
• Russian army began to break up with Bolsheviks order of land redistribution
• Soldiers who were mainly peasants left for their homes and the army was deserted
• Non – Bolsheviks condemned the Bolsheviks revolt
• In order to fight the Bolsheviks (Reds), Socialist revolutionaries (greens) and Pro – Tsarists (whites) joined forces
• They were backed or confronted by British, American and French troops
• All these forces and Bolsheviks fought a war which was known as civil war
• Due to civil war in Russia, famine, theft, banditry became common
• In this war, brutality, harsh measures were taken by non – Bolsheviks which made them unpopular
• In order to end the war and revive the economy, socialist principles came to be followed
• Many national leaders favoured the ideas of socialism