Soldiers of the Civil War
The February Revolution, the abdication of Nicholas II were greeted by the population of Russia with rejoicing. split the country. Not all citizens positively accepted the Bolsheviks' call for a separate peace with Germany, not everyone liked the slogans about the land - to the peasants, factories - to the workers and peace - to the peoples, and, moreover, the proclamation by the new government of the "dictatorship of the proletariat", which she began to carry out in life very brisklyYears of the Civil War 1917 - 1922
Hand on heart, however, it should be recognized that the very seizure of power by the Bolsheviks and a few months after that were relatively peaceful times. Three or four hundred who died in the uprising in Moscow and several dozen during the dispersal of the Constituent Assembly are trifles compared to the millions of victims of the "real" Civil War. So there is confusion with the date of the start of the Civil War. Historians name different
— 1917, October 25-26 (O.S.) - Ataman Kaledin announced the non-recognition of the power of the Bolsheviks
On behalf of the "Don Military Government", he dispersed the soviets in the Don Cossack Region and declared that he did not recognize usurpers and did not submit to the Council of People's Commissars. A lot of people dissatisfied with the Bolsheviks rushed to the Region of the Don Cossacks: civilians, cadets, high school students and students ..., generals and senior officers Denikin, Lukomsky, Nezhentsev ...
The call was "to all who are ready to save the Fatherland." On November 27, Alekseev voluntarily handed over command of the Volunteer Army to Kornilov, who had combat experience. Alekseev himself was a staff officer. Since that time, the Alekseevskaya Organization has officially received the name of the Volunteer Army.
The Constituent Assembly opened on January 5 (O.S.) in the Tauride Palace in Petrograd. The Bolsheviks had only 155 votes out of 410 in it, therefore, on January 6, Lenin ordered not to allow the opening of the second meeting of the Assembly (the first ended on January 6 at 5 o'clock in the morning)
Since 1914, the Allies have been supplying Russia with weapons, ammunition, ammunition, and equipment. Cargoes went along the northern route by sea. The ships were unloaded into warehouses. After the October events, the warehouses required protection so that the Germans would not capture them. When the World War ended, the British went home. However, March 9 has since been considered the beginning of the intervention - the military intervention of Western countries in the Civil War in Russia.
In 1916, the Russian command formed a corps of 40,000 bayonets from captured Czechs and Slovaks, former servicemen of Austria-Hungary. In 1918, the Czechs, not wanting to participate in the Russian showdown, demanded that they be returned to their homeland in order to fight for the independence of Czechoslovakia from the rule of the Habsburgs. Austria-Hungary's ally Germany, with which peace had already been signed, opposed. They decided to send Chekhov to Europe via Vladivostok. But the echelons moved slowly, or stopped at all (they needed 50 pieces). So the Czechs rebelled, dispersed the soviets along their line of march from Penza to Irkutsk, which was immediately used by the opposition forces to the Bolsheviks
—
The dispersal of the Constituent Assembly by the Bolsheviks, the work and decisions of which, in the opinion of the liberal-minded public, could direct Russia along the democratic path of development
—
The dictatorial policy of the Bolshevik Party
—
Change of elite
The Bolsheviks, implementing the slogan of destroying the old world to the ground, voluntarily or unwittingly, took up the destruction of the elite of Russian society, which had ruled the country for 1000 years since the time of Rurik.
After all, these are fairy tales that people make history. The people are brute force, stupid, irresponsible crowd, consumable which is used for own benefit certain movements.
History is made by the elite. It comes up with an ideology, forms public opinion, sets the state's development vector. Having encroached on the privileges and traditions of the elite, the Bolsheviks forced it to defend itself, to fight
—
Economic policy Bolsheviks: the establishment of state ownership of everything, the monopoly of trade and distribution, surplus appropriation
—
Elimination of civil liberties proclaimed
—
Terror, repression against the so-called exploiting classes
: workers, peasants, soldiers, sailors, part of the intelligentsia, armed detachments of the national outskirts, hired, mostly Latvian, regiments. As part of the Red Army, tens of thousands of officers of the tsarist army fought, some voluntarily, some mobilized. Many peasants and workers were also mobilized, that is, drafted into the army by force.
: officers tsarist army, cadets, students, Cossacks, intellectuals, other representatives of the "exploitative part of society." The Whites also did not disdain to establish mobilization laws in the conquered territory. Nationalists who stand for the independence of their peoples
: gangs of anarchists, criminals, unprincipled lumpen, robbed, fought in a specific territory against everyone.
: protected from surplus appropriation
Every Russian knows that civil war 1917-1922 opposed two movements - "red" and "white". But among historians there is still no consensus on how it began. Someone believes that the reason was Krasnov's March on the Russian capital (October 25); others believe that the war began when, in the near future, the commander of the Volunteer Army, Alekseev, arrived on the Don (November 2); it is also believed that the war began with the fact that Milyukov proclaimed the “Declaration of the Volunteer Army, delivering a speech at the ceremony, called the Don (December 27). Another popular opinion, which is far from unfounded, is the opinion that the Civil War began immediately after February Revolution when the whole society split into adherents and opponents of the Romanov monarchy.
Where did the terms "red" and "white" come from? The Civil War also knew the "greens", "cadets", "SRs" and other formations. What is their fundamental difference?
In this article, we will answer not only these questions, but also get acquainted briefly with the history of formation in the country. Let's talk about the confrontation between the White Guard and the Red Army.
Today, the history of the Fatherland is less and less concerned with young people. According to polls, many do not even have an idea, what can we say about Patriotic war 1812...
However, such words and phrases as "red" and "white", "Civil War" and "October Revolution" are still well known. Most, however, do not know the details, but they have heard the terms.
Let's take a closer look at this issue. We should start with where the two opposing camps came from - "white" and "red" in the Civil War. In principle, it was just an ideological move by Soviet propagandists and nothing more. Now you will understand this riddle yourself.
If you turn to the textbooks and reference books of the Soviet Union, it explains that the “whites” are the White Guards, supporters of the tsar and enemies of the “reds”, the Bolsheviks.
It seems that everything was like that. But in fact, this is another enemy that the Soviets fought.
After all, the country has lived for seventy years in opposition to fictitious opponents. These were the "whites", the kulaks, the decaying West, the capitalists. Very often, such a vague definition of the enemy served as the foundation for slander and terror.
Next, we will discuss the causes of the Civil War. The "Whites", according to the Bolshevik ideology, were monarchists. But here's the catch, there were practically no monarchists in the war. They had no one to fight for, and honor did not suffer from this. Nicholas II abdicated the throne, but his brother did not accept the crown. Thus, all the royal officers were free from the oath.
Where, then, did this “color” difference come from? If the Bolsheviks did have a red flag, then their opponents never had a white one. The answer lies in the history of a century and a half ago.
The Great French Revolution gave the world two opposing camps. The royal troops wore a white banner, a sign of the dynasty of the French rulers. Their opponents, after the seizure of power, hung a red canvas in the window of the city hall as a sign of the introduction of wartime. On such days, any gathering of people was dispersed by soldiers.
The Bolsheviks were opposed not by monarchists, but by supporters of the convocation of the Constituent Assembly (Constitutional Democrats, Cadets), anarchists (Makhnovists), "Green Army" (fought against the "Reds", "Whites", interventionists) and those who wanted to separate their territory into a free state .
Thus, the term "whites" has been cleverly used by ideologues to define a common enemy. His winning position turned out to be that any Red Army soldier could explain in a nutshell what he was fighting for, unlike all the other rebels. It attracted ordinary people on the side of the Bolsheviks and made it possible for the latter to win the Civil War.
When the Civil War is studied in the classroom, the table is simply necessary for a good assimilation of the material. Below are the stages of this military conflict, which will help you better navigate not only in the article, but also in this period of the history of the Fatherland.
Now that we have decided who the “reds” and “whites” are, the Civil War, or rather its stages, will be more understandable. You can proceed to a deeper study of them. Let's start with the prerequisites.
So, the main reason for such a heat of passion, which subsequently resulted in a five-year Civil War, was the accumulated contradictions and problems.
First, participation Russian Empire in World War I destroyed the economy and depleted resources in the country. The bulk of the male population was in the army; Agriculture and urban industry. The soldiers were tired of fighting for other people's ideals when there were hungry families at home.
The second reason was agrarian and industrial issues. There were too many peasants and workers who lived below the poverty line and destitution. The Bolsheviks took full advantage of this.
In order to turn participation in the world war into an interclass struggle, certain steps were taken.
First, the first wave of nationalization of enterprises, banks, and lands took place. Then the Brest Treaty was signed, which plunged Russia into the abyss of complete ruin. Against the background of the general devastation, the Red Army men staged a terror in order to stay in power.
To justify their behavior, they built an ideology of struggle against the White Guards and interventionists.
Let's take a closer look at why the Civil War began. The table we cited earlier illustrates the stages of conflict. But we will start with the events that took place before the Great October Revolution.
Weakened by participation in the First World War, the Russian Empire is in decline. Nicholas II abdicates the throne. More importantly, he does not have a successor. In the light of such events, two new forces are being formed simultaneously - the Provisional Government and the Soviet of Workers' Deputies.
The first begin to deal with the social and political spheres crisis, the Bolsheviks concentrated on increasing their influence in the army. This path led them subsequently to the opportunity to become the only ruling force in the country.
It was the confusion in the administration of the state that led to the formation of "red" and "white". The civil war was only the apotheosis of their differences. Which is to be expected.
In fact, the tragedy of the Civil War begins with the October Revolution. The Bolsheviks were gaining strength and more confidently went to power. In mid-October 1917, a very tense situation began to develop in Petrograd.
October 25 Alexander Kerensky, head of the Provisional Government, leaves Petrograd for Pskov for help. He personally assesses the events in the city as an uprising.
In Pskov, he asks to help him with troops. Kerensky seems to be getting support from the Cossacks, but suddenly the Cadets leave the regular army. Now the Constitutional Democrats refuse to support the head of government.
Not finding proper support in Pskov, Alexander Fedorovich travels to the city of Ostrov, where he meets with General Krasnov. At the same time, the Winter Palace was stormed in Petrograd. IN Soviet history this event is presented as a key event. But in fact, it happened without resistance from the deputies.
After a blank shot from the Aurora cruiser, the sailors, soldiers and workers approached the palace and arrested all the members of the Provisional Government who were present there. In addition, the Second Congress of Soviets took place, where a number of basic declarations were adopted and executions at the front were abolished.
In view of the coup, Krasnov decides to help Alexander Kerensky. On October 26, a cavalry detachment of seven hundred people leaves in the direction of Petrograd. It was assumed that in the city itself they would be supported by the uprising of the Junkers. But it was suppressed by the Bolsheviks.
In the current situation, it became clear that the Provisional Government no longer had power. Kerensky fled, General Krasnov bargained with the Bolsheviks for the opportunity to return to Ostrov with the detachment without hindrance.
Meanwhile, the Socialist-Revolutionaries begin a radical struggle against the Bolsheviks, who, in their opinion, have gained more power. The answer to the murders of some "red" leaders was the terror of the Bolsheviks, and the Civil War began (1917-1922). We now consider further developments.
As we said above, the tragedy of the Civil War began long before the October Revolution. The common people, soldiers, workers and peasants were dissatisfied with the current situation. If in the central regions many paramilitary detachments were under the tight control of the Headquarters, then completely different moods reigned in the eastern detachments.
It was the presence of a large number of reserve troops and their unwillingness to enter the war with Germany that helped the Bolsheviks quickly and bloodlessly gain the support of almost two-thirds of the army. Only 15 large cities resisted the "red" power, 84 own initiative passed into their hands.
An unexpected surprise for the Bolsheviks in the form of tremendous support from the confused and tired soldiers was announced by the "Reds" as "the triumphal march of the Soviets."
The civil war (1917-1922) only worsened after the signing of the devastating for Russia Under the terms of the agreement, the former empire was losing more than a million square kilometers of territory. These included: the Baltic States, Belarus, Ukraine, the Caucasus, Romania, the Don territories. In addition, they had to pay Germany six billion marks indemnity.
This decision provoked protest both within the country and from the side of the Entente. Simultaneously with the intensification of various local conflicts, military intervention Western states to the territory of Russia.
The entry of the Entente troops in Siberia was reinforced by a revolt of the Kuban Cossacks led by General Krasnov. The defeated detachments of the White Guards and some interventionists went to Central Asia and continued the struggle against Soviet power for many more years.
It was at this stage that the White Guard Heroes of the Civil War were the most active. History has preserved such names as Kolchak, Yudenich, Denikin, Yuzefovich, Miller and others.
Each of these commanders had his own vision of the future for the state. Some tried to interact with the troops of the Entente in order to overthrow the Bolshevik government and still convene the Constituent Assembly. Others wanted to become local princelings. This includes such as Makhno, Grigoriev and others.
The complexity of this period lies in the fact that as soon as the First World War, German troops had to leave the territory of Russia only after the arrival of the Entente. But according to a secret agreement, they left earlier, handing over the cities to the Bolsheviks.
As history shows us, it is after such a turn of events that the Civil War enters a phase of particular cruelty and bloodshed. The failure of the commanders, who were guided by Western governments, was aggravated by the fact that they were sorely lacking in qualified officers. So, the armies of Miller, Yudenich and some other formations disintegrated only because, with a lack of middle-level commanders, the main influx of forces came from captured Red Army soldiers.
Newspaper reports of this period are characterized by headlines of this type: "Two thousand servicemen with three guns went over to the side of the Red Army."
Historians tend to associate the beginning of the last period of the war of 1917-1922 with the Polish War. With the help of his western neighbors, Piłsudski wanted to create a confederation with territory from the Baltic to the Black Sea. But his aspirations were not destined to come true. The armies of the Civil War, led by Yegorov and Tukhachevsky, fought their way deep into Western Ukraine and reached the Polish border.
The victory over this enemy was to rouse the workers in Europe to the struggle. But all the plans of the Red Army leaders failed after a devastating defeat in the battle, which has been preserved under the name "Miracle on the Vistula."
After the conclusion of a peace treaty between the Soviets and Poland, disagreements begin in the Entente camp. As a result, the financing of the "white" movement decreased, and the Civil War in Russia began to decline.
In the early 1920s, similar changes in the foreign policy of Western states led to the fact that Soviet Union recognized by most countries.
The heroes of the Civil War of the final period fought against Wrangel in Ukraine, the interventionists in the Caucasus and in Central Asia, in Siberia. Among the particularly distinguished commanders, Tukhachevsky, Blucher, Frunze and some others should be noted.
Thus, as a result of five years of bloody battles, a new state was formed on the territory of the Russian Empire. Subsequently, it became the second superpower, the only rival of which was the United States.
Let's see why the "whites" were defeated in the Civil War. We will compare the assessments of the opposing camps and try to come to a common conclusion.
Soviet historians main reason they saw their victory in the fact that there was massive support from the oppressed sections of society. Particular emphasis was placed on those who suffered as a result of the 1905 revolution. Because they unconditionally went over to the side of the Bolsheviks.
"Whites", on the contrary, complained about the lack of human and material resources. In the occupied territories with a million people, they could not even carry out a minimal mobilization to replenish the ranks.
Of particular interest are the statistics provided by the Civil War. The "Reds", "Whites" (table below) suffered particularly from desertion. Unbearable living conditions, as well as the lack of clear goals, made themselves felt. The data relates only to the Bolshevik forces, since the White Guard records did not save intelligible figures.
The main point noted by modern historians was the conflict.
The White Guards, firstly, did not have a centralized command and minimal cooperation between units. They fought locally, each for their own interests. The second feature was the absence of political workers and a clear program. These moments were often assigned to officers who only knew how to fight, but not to conduct diplomatic negotiations.
The Red Army soldiers created a powerful ideological network. A clear system of concepts was developed, which were hammered into the heads of workers and soldiers. The slogans made it possible for even the most downtrodden peasant to understand what he was going to fight for.
It was this policy that allowed the Bolsheviks to get the maximum support of the population.
The victory of the "Reds" in the Civil War was given to the state very dearly. The economy was completely destroyed. The country has lost territories with a population of more than 135 million people.
Agriculture and productivity, food production have decreased by 40-50 percent. Prodrazverstka and "red-white" terror in different regions led to the death of a huge number of people from starvation, torture and execution.
Industry, according to experts, has sunk to the level of the Russian Empire during the reign of Peter the Great. According to the researchers, production figures have fallen to 20 percent of the volume in 1913, and in some areas up to 4 percent.
As a result, a mass exodus of workers from cities to villages began. Since there was at least some hope not to die of hunger.
The "whites" in the Civil War reflected the desire of the nobility and higher ranks to return to their former living conditions. But their isolation from the real moods that prevailed in common people, led to the total defeat of the old order.
The leaders of the Civil War have been immortalized in thousands of different works - from cinema to paintings, from stories to sculptures and songs.
For example, such productions as "Days of the Turbins", "Running", "Optimistic Tragedy" immersed people in the tense atmosphere of wartime.
The films "Chapaev", "Red Devils", "We are from Kronstadt" showed the efforts that the "Reds" made in the Civil War to win their ideals.
The literary work of Babel, Bulgakov, Gaidar, Pasternak, Ostrovsky illustrates the life of representatives of different strata of society in those difficult days.
You can give examples almost endlessly, because the social catastrophe that resulted in the Civil War found a powerful response in the hearts of hundreds of artists.
Thus, today we have learned not only the origin of the concepts of "white" and "red", but also briefly got acquainted with the course of events of the Civil War.
Remember that any crisis contains the seed of future changes for the better.
The Great Russian Revolution of 1917 was the impetus for the deployment of armed struggle between different groups population. The revolution deprived some of them of everything, while for others it seemed to give everything, but did not say how it could be obtained. There were more dissatisfied people than one could imagine. Military-political structures formed during the days of the revolution, and public entities on the territory of the former Russian Empire, they were divided into two groups, which were assigned the names "white" and "red". The spontaneously arising military and socio-political groups, which were called the "third force" (insurgent, partisan detachments, and others), did not stand aside. Foreign states, or interventionists, did not stand aside from the civil confrontation in Russia either.
Until now, historians have no consensus on how to determine the chronology of the Civil War. There are experts who believe that the war began with the February bourgeois revolution, while others defend May 1918. There is also no final opinion on when the war ended.
The next stage can be called the period until April 1919, when the intervention of the Entente is expanding. The Entente set itself the main task of supporting the anti-Bolshevik forces, strengthening its interests and resolving the issue that had been troubling it for many years: the fear of socialist influence.
The next stage is the most active on all fronts. Soviet Russia simultaneously waged a struggle against the interventionists and against the White armies.
Naturally, the beginning of the Civil War cannot be reduced to one reason. The contradictions that had accumulated in society by this time went off scale. World War I sharpened them to the extreme, values human life have been devalued.
Of no small importance in the aggravation of the situation were changes in the state political system, especially the dispersal of the Constituent Assembly by the Bolsheviks, the creation of which many counted on. The actions of the Bolsheviks in countryside. The Decree on Land was announced, but new decrees reduced it to zero. Nationalization and confiscation land plots the landlords gave rise to a harsh rebuff from the owners. The bourgeoisie was also extremely dissatisfied with the nationalization that had taken place and sought to return factories and plants.
The actual way out of the war, Brest Peace- all this played against the Bolsheviks, which made it possible to accuse them of "the destruction of Russia."
The right of peoples to self-determination, which was proclaimed by the Bolsheviks, contributed to the emergence of independent states. This also caused irritation as a betrayal of Russia's interests.
Not everyone agreed with the policy of the new government, which broke with its past and ancient traditions. The anti-church policy was especially rejected.
There were many forms of the Civil War. Uprisings, armed clashes, large-scale operations involving regular armies. Partisan actions, terror, sabotage. The war was bloody and extremely long.
We offer you the following chronicle of the events of the Civil War:
1917
|
Uprising in Petrograd. Fraternization of workers and soldiers. The capture by the rebels of the arsenal, row public buildings, Winter Palace. Arrest of tsarist ministers. The formation of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' Deputies, to which the elected representatives of the soldiers adjoin. |
|
|
The executive committee of the Petrograd Soviet concluded an agreement with the Provisional Committee of the State Duma on the formation of the Provisional Government, one of whose tasks was to govern the country until the convocation of the Constituent Assembly. |
|
|
Since May 1917 on the South Western front the commander of the 8th shock army, General Kornilov L. G., the formation of volunteer units begins ( "Kornilovites", "drummers"). |
|
|
Speech by General L. G. Kornilov, who sent the 3rd Corps of General A. M. Krymov to Petrograd (“ Wild division”) in order to prevent a possible action of the Bolsheviks. The general demanded the resignation of the socialist ministers and a tightening of the internal political course. |
|
|
Resignation of Cadets. Kerensky removes Kornilov from his duties as commander in chief and declares him a traitor. He turns to the Soviets for support, which send Red Guard detachments to repulse the military units sent to Petrograd. |
|
|
Kerensky takes command of the troops. An attempted military coup is finally averted. |
|
|
An open break between the Petrograd Soviet and the Provisional Government. The beginning of the uprising: the capture of the most important points of Petrograd by the Red Guards, soldiers and sailors. Departure of Kerensky for reinforcements. |
|
|
The rebels control almost all of Petrograd, except for the Winter Palace. The Military Revolutionary Committee declares the Provisional Government deposed. On the night of October 26, the rebels occupy the Winter Palace. At the same time, the II All-Russian Congress of Soviets opens its meetings (out of 650 delegates, 390 Bolsheviks and 150 Left Socialist-Revolutionaries). The Mensheviks and Right Socialist-Revolutionaries, in protest against the beginning of the seizure of the Winter Palace, leave the congress, thereby making it easier for the Bolsheviks to make decisions affirming the victory of the rebels. |
|
|
The beginning of an armed uprising in Moscow. |
|
|
The unsuccessful offensive of the troops of General Krasnov (prepared by Kerensky) on Petrograd. |
|
|
Organization of the first counter-revolutionary military formations in the south of Russia (in particular, the Volunteer Army of Generals Alekseev and Kornilov). |
1918
|
In Brest-Litovsk, General Hoffmann, in the form of an ultimatum, presents the terms of peace put forward by the Central European powers (Russia is deprived of its western territories). |
|
|
Advice people's commissars accepted Decree on the organization of the Red Army- the Bolsheviks began to recreate the previously destroyed Russian army. It is organized by Trotsky, and soon it will become a really powerful and disciplined army. A large number of experienced military specialists were recruited, officer elections were canceled, political commissars appeared in the units). |
|
|
After the presentation of an ultimatum to Russia, the Austro-German offensive was launched along the entire front; despite the fact that the Soviet side on the night of February 18-19 accepts the terms of peace, the offensive continues. |
|
|
The volunteer army, after failures on the Don (the loss of Rostov and Novocherkassk), is forced to retreat to the Kuban (Ice Campaign). |
|
|
In Brest-Litovsk, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed between Soviet Russia and the Central European powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary) and Turkey. Under the treaty, Russia loses Poland, Finland, the Baltic States, Ukraine and part of Belarus, and also cedes Kars, Ardagan and Batum to Turkey. In general, losses amount to 1/4 of the population, 1/4 of cultivated land, about 3/4 of coal and metallurgical industry. After the signing of the treaty, Trotsky resigns as People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs and on April 8 becomes People's Commissar for Naval Affairs. |
|
|
At the end of March, an anti-Bolshevik uprising of the Cossacks began on the Don under the leadership of General Krasnov. |
|
|
The landing of the British in Murmansk (initially, this landing was planned to repel the offensive of the Germans and their allies - the Finns). |
|
|
The landing of Japanese troops in Vladivostok began, the Americans, the British and the French would follow the Japanese. |
|
|
A coup took place in Ukraine, as a result of which, with the support of the German occupying army, Hetman Skoropadsky came to power. |
|
|
The Czechoslovak Legion (formed from about 50 thousand former prisoners of war who were supposed to be evacuated through Vladivostok) takes the side of the opponents of the Soviet regime. |
|
|
Decree on general mobilization into the Red Army. |
|
|
The 8,000th Volunteer Army began its second campaign (Second Kuban Campaign) |
|
|
The uprising of the Terek Cossacks began under the leadership of Bicherakhov. The Cossacks defeated the Red troops and blocked their remnants in Grozny and Kizlyar. |
|
|
The beginning of the White offensive on Tsaritsyn. |
|
|
The Yaroslavl rebellion began - an anti-Soviet armed uprising in Yaroslavl (lasted from July 6 to 21 and was brutally suppressed). |
|
|
The first major victory of the Red Army: Kazan was taken by it. |
|
|
The coup in Omsk, committed by Admiral Kolchak: overthrows the Ufa directory, declares himself the supreme ruler of Russia. The beginning of the offensive of the Red Army in the Baltic States, which continues until January 1919. With the support of the RSFSR, ephemeral Soviet regimes are established in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. |
1919
|
General A. Denikin unites under his command the Volunteer Army and the Don and Kuban formations. |
|
|
The Red Army occupies Kyiv (the Ukrainian directory of Semyon Petliura accepts the patronage of France). |
|
|
The beginning of the offensive of the troops of Admiral A. V. Kolchak, who are advancing in the direction of Simbirsk and Samara. |
|
|
The offensive of the Eastern Front begins - fighting red against the white troops of Admiral A. V. Kolchak. |
|
|
The offensive of the Whites on Petrograd. It is shown at the end of June. |
|
|
The beginning of the offensive of General Denikin in Ukraine and in the direction of the Volga. |
|
|
The Red Army knocks out Kolchak's troops from Ufa, who continues to retreat and in July-August completely loses the Urals. |
|
|
The August offensive of the Southern Front against the White armies of General Denikin begins (about 115-120 thousand bayonets and sabers, 300-350 guns). The main blow was delivered by the left wing of the front - the Special Group of V.I. Shorin (9th and 10th armies). |
|
|
Denikin launches an attack on Moscow. Kursk (September 20) and Orel (October 13) were taken, a threat loomed over Tula. |
|
|
The beginning of the counteroffensive of the Red Army against A. Denikin. |
|
|
The First Cavalry Army was created from two cavalry corps and one rifle division. S. M. Budyonny was appointed commander, and K. E. Voroshilov and E. A. Shchadenko were members of the Revolutionary Military Council. |
1920
|
The Red Army begins an offensive near Rostov-on-Don and Novocherkassk - the Rostov-Novocherkassk operation - and again occupies Tsaritsyn (January 3), Krasnoyarsk (January 7) and Rostov (January 10). |
|
|
Admiral Kolchak renounces his title of supreme ruler of Russia in favor of Denikin. |
|
|
The Red Army enters Novorossiysk. Denikin retreats to the Crimea, where he transfers power to General P. Wrangel (April 4). |
|
|
Beginning of the Polish-Soviet War. The offensive of J. Pilsudski (an ally of S. Petliura) in order to expand the eastern borders of Poland and create a Polish-Ukrainian federation. |
|
|
Polish troops occupy Kyiv. |
|
|
In the war with Poland, the beginning of a counteroffensive on the Southwestern Front. Zhytomyr taken and Kyiv taken (June 12). |
|
|
Offensive unfolds on the Western Front Soviet troops under the command of M. Tukhachevsky, who approached Warsaw in early August. According to Lenin, entry into Poland should lead to the establishment of Soviet power there and cause a revolution in Germany. |
|
|
The Red Army begins an offensive against Wrangel in Northern Tavria, crosses the Sivash, takes Perekop (November 7-11). |
|
|
The Red Army occupies the entire Crimea. Allied ships evacuate to Constantinople more than 140 thousand people - civilians and the remnants of the white army. |
|
|
Thanks to diplomatic efforts, Japanese troops were withdrawn from Transbaikalia, and during the third Chita operation, the troops of the Amur Front of the NRA and partisans defeated the Cossacks of Ataman Semyonov and the remnants of Kolchak's troops. |
1921
1922
The civil war ended, its main result was the establishment of Soviet power.
During the war years, the Red Army was able to turn into a well-organized and well-armed force. She learned a lot from her opponents, but her talented and original commanders also appeared a lot.
The Bolsheviks actively used the political mood of the masses, their propaganda set clear goals, promptly resolved issues of peace and land, etc. The government of the young republic was able to organize control over the central provinces of Russia, where the main military enterprises were located. The anti-Bolshevik forces were never able to unite until the end of the war.
The war ended, and Bolshevik power was established throughout the country, as well as in most national regions. According to various estimates, more than 15 million people died or died due to disease and starvation. More than 2.5 million people have gone abroad. The country was in a state of severe economic crisis. whole social groups were on the verge of annihilation, primarily the officers, the intelligentsia, the Cossacks, the clergy and the nobility.
The civil war that took place in Russia from 1917 to 1922 was a bloody event where in a brutal massacre brother went against brother, and relatives took up positions along different sides barricade. In this armed class clash on the vast territory of the former Russian Empire, the interests of opposing political structures intersected, conditionally divided into “reds” and “whites”. This struggle for power took place with the active support of foreign states that tried to extract their interests from this situation: Japan, Poland, Turkey, Romania wanted to annex part of the Russian territories, while other countries - the USA, France, Canada, Great Britain expected to receive tangible economic preferences.
As a result of such a bloody civil war, Russia turned into a weakened state, the economy and industry of which were in a state of complete ruin. But after the end of the war, the country adhered to the socialist course of development, and this influenced the course of history throughout the world.
A civil war in any country is always caused by aggravated political, national, religious, economic and, of course, social contradictions. The territory of the former Russian Empire was no exception.
Before the start of the civil war, there were regions on the territory of Russia that were loosely interconnected: in some of them, Soviet power was firmly established, while others (south of Russia, the Chita region) were under the rule of independent governments. On the territory of Siberia, in general, one could count up to two dozen local governments, not only not recognizing the power of the Bolsheviks, but also at enmity with each other.
When the civil war began, then all the inhabitants had to decide, that is, to join the “whites” or “reds”.
The course of the civil war in Russia can be divided into several periods.
At the very beginning of the fratricidal war, the Bolsheviks had to suppress local armed rebellions in Petrograd, Moscow, Transbaikalia and the Don. It was at this time that a white movement was formed from those dissatisfied with the new government. In March, the young republic, after an unsuccessful war, concluded the shameful Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.
At this time, a full-scale civil war began: the Soviet Republic was forced to fight not only with internal enemies, but also with interventionists. As a result, most Russian territory was captured by enemies, and this threatened the existence of the young state. In the east of the country, Kolchak dominated, in the south Denikin, in the north Miller, and their armies tried to close the ring around the capital. The Bolsheviks, in turn, created the Red Army, which achieved its first military successes.
In November 1918, the First World War ended. Soviet power was established in the Ukrainian, Belarusian and Baltic territories. But already at the end of autumn, the Entente troops landed in the Crimea, Odessa, Batumi and Baku. But this military operation was not crowned with success, since revolutionary anti-war sentiments reigned in the troops of the interventionists. During this period of the struggle against Bolshevism, the leading role belonged to the armies of Kolchak, Yudenich and Denikin.
During this period, the main forces of the interventionists left Russia. In the spring and autumn of 1919, the Red Army won major victories in the East, South and North-West of the country, defeating the armies of Kolchak, Denikin and Yudenich.
The internal counter-revolution was completely destroyed. And in the spring the Soviet-Polish war began, which ended in complete failure for Russia. According to the Riga Peace Treaty, part of the Ukrainian and Belarusian lands went to Poland.
During these years, all the remaining centers of the civil war were liquidated: the rebellion in Kronstadt was suppressed, the Makhnovist detachments were destroyed, the Far East was liberated, the struggle against the Basmachi in Central Asia was completed.
