2.4.1. The Civil War

When the Bolsheviks ordered land redistribution, the Russian army began to break up. Soldiers, mostly peasants, wished to go home for the redistribution and deserted.

The Bolshevik government decided to redistribute land from the nobility to the peasants. This decision was very popular among soldiers, who were largely composed of peasants themselves. As a result, many soldiers deserted from the army because they were eager to go home and claim their share of the redistributed land.

Imagine a group of workers in a factory learning that their factory owner will give them part of the business as a reward for their hard work. Many workers might decide to leave their jobs to start their own businesses with their share, just like the soldiers left the army to claim their land.

Non-Bolshevik socialists, liberals, and supporters of autocracy condemned the Bolshevik uprising. Their leaders moved to south Russia and organised troops to fight the Bolsheviks (the ‘reds’).

After the Bolsheviks seized power, various groups opposed to them—including non-Bolshevik socialists, liberals, and supporters of the old Tsarist regime—united against the Bolshevik government. These groups organized forces to combat the Bolsheviks, who were referred to as the 'Reds'. This marked the beginning of the Russian Civil War, which was a struggle between the Bolsheviks and their opponents, often known collectively as the 'Whites'.

Think of a sports team that suddenly changes management. The old management team doesn't agree with the new policies, so they set up their own rival team to compete against the new one. This is similar to how the various opposition groups banded together to challenge the Bolshevik regime.

During 1918 and 1919, the ‘greens’ (Socialist Revolutionaries) and ‘whites’ (pro-Tsarists) controlled most of the Russian empire. They were backed by French, American, British, and Japanese troops – all those forces who were worried at the growth of socialism in Russia.

The Civil War in Russia was complex, involving not just the Bolsheviks and their opponents but also various local factions and foreign powers. The Socialist Revolutionaries (the 'greens') and the pro-Tsarist forces (the 'whites') controlled large territories and received military support from several foreign nations. These countries were concerned about the spread of socialism and sought to contain the Bolshevik influence.

Imagine if a new political party in a country faces opposition not only from local groups but also from foreign nations that send resources and support to the opposition. This is similar to how foreign powers intervened in the Russian Civil War to combat the Bolsheviks.

As these troops and the Bolsheviks fought a civil war, looting, banditry, and famine became common. Supporters of private property among ‘whites’ took harsh steps with peasants who had seized land.

The ongoing conflict led to widespread chaos and suffering. Banditry and looting became common as law and order broke down. The 'whites', representing landowners and other supporters of the former regime, often took brutal measures to regain control of land that had been seized by peasants, causing further resentment and unrest.

Think of a community experiencing a natural disaster that leads to chaos. In the struggle for resources, groups might fight over what little is available, leading to increased crime and violence, just like the looting that happened during the Civil War.

By January 1920, the Bolsheviks controlled most of the former Russian empire. They succeeded due to cooperation with non-Russian nationalities and Muslim jadidists.

By early 1920, the Bolsheviks had largely triumphed in the Civil War, gaining control of most of the territories that constituted the former Russian empire. They were able to achieve this, in part, by garnering support from non-Russian groups and local populations who were also looking for change and better conditions after the upheaval of the war.

Imagine a brand-new leader in charge of a big country who manages to win over various ethnic or cultural groups by addressing their concerns and working together towards common goals. This can lead to a stronger and unified leadership, similarly to how the Bolsheviks built alliances to solidify their power.

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