Problems following the October Revolution… - PowerPoint Presentation

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Problems following the October Revolution…You fill this in based on last week’s notes!Slide3

Assassinations and attempts in August 191830 August 1918: Michael Uritsky (Head of the Cheka) assassinated in PetrogradSame day: Fanny Kaplan, a Jewish Ukrainian anarchist, shot at Lenin, hitting him in the shoulder blade and the back of the neckLenin survived, Kaplan was executed three days later without trial Shooting = proof to the Government that counter-revolution was real and dangerous Policy of Red Terror implemented to defeat enemies of the Bolshevik GovernmentSlide4

Fanny KaplanSlide5

Red TerrorA campaign of mass killings, torture, and systematic oppression conducted by the Bolsheviks after seizing power in Petrograd and Moscow and extending throughout the Civil War Carried out by the Cheka Slide6

How did it start?Internal dissent in October 1917:-Don Cossacks declared self-government-Mensheviks seize power of Georgia and declare it an independent republic -Cossacks supporting Kerensky fight against Red Army at Tsarskoye Selo-Kerensky flees after October Revolution but gains support of Cossack troops under General Krasnov who take Tsarskoye Selo. Fight against Red Army in Petrograd, defeated -Cadet Uprising (defeated)Dec 1917: -General Alekseev recruiting a volunteer army of former Tsarist officers --attracted Cossacks, Kadets and members of upper classes-General Kornilov gathering a volunteer army from the Don Cossack region to fight against the Government-General Denikin’s southern threat of 150 000 soldiers, wants to restore Old RegimeSlide7

How did it start ? 1918:-Admiral Kolchak’s eastern threat along Trans-Siberian Railway -General Miller’s northern threat: SR Gov in north established, then overthrown by Genral Wrangel who opposed all revolutionary governmentOctober 1919: -General Yudenich north-western threat –he led a group of soldiers captured then released by Germans. Attacked Petrograd in October 1919‘Spark’: Czech Legion: in 1918, given permission to cross the Eastern Front (40 000 of them) to serve on Western Front of WWI before returning home. Hostilities broke out between Soviets and Czech Legion, Czech Legion tried to overthrow regional Soviet authorities . Created impetus for other troops to organise mass armed opposition to Bolshevik regime. Slide8

The Civil War 1918-1921The opponents of the ‘Reds’, Lenin and the Communists, were known as the ‘Whites’. The Whites were a mixture of aristocrats, royalists, churchmen, army officers and many others. The Whites were led by Admiral Kolchak and Generals Deniken and Wrangel.The Whites were supported by Britain, France, Japan and the USA, countries that were alarmed at the possible spread of communism. At the same time, Lenin fought a war against Poland, a new country formed by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.Although in a very dangerous position, the Communists were able to win the Civil War. This was because the Whites were divided, while the Reds controlled the key cities, industrial centres and communication links. Trotsky’s tough leadership of the new Red Army proved decisive in the victory over the Whites.Slide9

The Key Players…Red ArmyWhite ArmiesGreen ArmiesLeaders Trotsky Admiral Kolchak Generals Deniken, Wrangel, Kornilov, Yudenich -Anarchist Nestor MahknoSR governments of Siberia (Komuch and Provisional All-Russian Government)Not a unified group Groups Bolsheviks, workers, sailors, soldiers. Wanted to maintain power and success of revolutionControlled central European Russia Traditional and conservative anti-Bolshevik forces, including a mixture of aristocrats, royalists, churchmen, army officers. Some wanted to either restore the Old Regime or a democratic government.-Armed Forces of South Russia (Denikin)-Kolchak’s Siberian Forces -North-Western Army (Yudenich)Anti-Bolshevik forces, comprised mostly of peasants and Cossack forces (peasant Partisan forces). Wanted local independence from the communist government. Controlled South-East of the Ukraine and central province of Tambov, parts of Siberia Support?The Bolshevik Government, Kronsdadt sailors Peasants, landowners, businessmen and ousted political groups like the SRs; countries like Germany, Britain, France, Japan, America, Czech Legion, Poland Those who wanted local independence, peasants, some cossacksSlide10

Allied armies

White Russian armies

Polish armies

Japanese armies

Finns

Communist Russia besieged during the Civil War 1918-1921

Moscow

Petrograd

Czechs (ex-prisoners of war)Slide11

Every scoundrel who incites anyone to retreat or to desertwill be shot!Every soldier who throws awayhis rifle will be shot!Leon Trotsky – founder and commander of the Red ArmyEvery scoundrel who incites anyone to retreat or to desert will be shot!Every soldier who throws away his rifle will be shot!Long live the Red ArmySlide12

The execution of Tsar Nicholas II July 1918After his abdication in March 1917, Tsar Nicholas II and his family were arrested and sent to Siberia.In July 1918, the Romanovs were in Ekaterinburg, with a White army closing in on the town. Local communists were worried that the Tsar might be a rallying point for the Whites. As a result, Tsar Nicholas, his wife, their five children and four attendants were shot and bayoneted.Slide13

War CommunismTo win the Civil War and impose Communism in Russia, Lenin needed a strong Red Army supplied with weapons and food.The state took control of the factories and appointed managers to run them. Work was hard and long, food was rationed to only those who worked and trade unions were banned.To get enough food, the Cheka seized all surplus grain from the peasants. The peasants hid food or preferred to grow less rather than give it away free to feed the towns.Drought and famine hit Russia in 1921 – over 4 million people died.Food?