Government under Lenin

The Background of the Civil War

A civil war was triggered by disagreements over which form of government would be best for Russia, as well as whether or not Russia should be involved in World War One. The empire was collapsing, as Finland, Latvia and Lithuania split from Russian rule. Armies from these nations fought in the civil war to maintain their own independence.

Armies of the Civil War

Different colours to refer to the different groups who fought in the Civil War.
- Reds - Bolsheviks
- Whites - Nationalists and monarchists
- Greens - Peasant armies fight against any outside rule by Whites or Reds, particularly in Siberia.

Anti-Bolsheviks

There was a complex patchwork of armies fighting the Bolsheviks.
This included left wing groups who wanted a more democratic Russia, conservatives who opposed Bolshevik proposals for profound social and economic change, as well as groups of soldiers from other countries who had been captured during the First World War and found themselves in Russia.

Bolshevik power

The Bolsheviks controlled central Russia and this helped their position in the war enormously.
The Red Army was a powerful force in these areas, and conscription was used to force local men from these populous areas to fight.
By 1920, the Red Army had 5 million soldiers and had become a disciplined fighting force.

Historical assessment

The Russian Civil War was inextricably linked to the end of the First World War.
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was one particularly controversial element of the 1918 peace.
- Joshua Sanborn (2014): 'Trotsky said that the Treaty of Brest Litovsk was a peace “which Russia, grinding its teeth is forced to accept…”'

Why did the Bolsheviks win the Civil war?

Despite the Bolsheviks controlling central Russia and the Red Army having 5 million disciplined soldiers by 1920, there were many other reasons for their victory.

Propaganda

The Bolsheviks had control of industrial heartlands and transport links.
They had a strong propaganda organization, called Agitprop.
Agitprop was used to spread the Bolshevik message using art, posters and entertainment to influence the people’s thought.
The Bolsheviks were also able to make an alliance with anarchists and other ‘Greens’ to win over the population in important areas.

Red Army discipline

There was strict discipline in the Red Army, but the soldiers also received an education, learning to read and write and to understand the political aims of the Bolsheviks.
Soldiers had to swear the Socialist Military Oath.
The Red Banner was introduced - an award for those who fought bravely.
Trotsky, in particular, was crucial in instigating these policies and in leading the Red Army.

The Whites

On the other side, the Whites were geographically spread out, with much longer supply lines. They had little control over strategic industries, and at most their armies had 250,000 men.
The Whites lacked leadership or an individual to rally around, and had no common goal other than to defeat the Bolsheviks.
Because they treated peasants badly, the Whites were unpopular. They also wanted Russian control of non-Russian groups.

Foreign intervention

British, French, Japanese and US troops were sent to Russia to help and encourage the Whites. These countries wanted to prevent the spread of Bolshevism.
Because of the Whites’ shortcomings, the Bolsheviks won the Civil War. This reaffirmed their political and economic world view.

Devastation

The Cheka (Bolshevik political police) was present in every Red-controlled area, and shot anyone it considered an enemy.
Former tsarist officers, under close supervision of Bolshevik political commissars (officers in charge of spreading Bolshevik ideas), were employed to improve the Reds’ military capabilities.
Millions of people died as a result of the Civil War, and the economy was severely weakened, with food shortages throughout the cities.

Economic Achievements of Lenin and Trotsky

Despite constant controversy around the New Economic Policy (NEP), Lenin enjoyed a certain amount of economic success.

Economic growth

Economic growth was strong, particularly during 1924 and 1925.
This increased the popularity of the Bolshevik leadership, and optimism about possibilities with the NEP increased.

Electrification programme

Lenin's electrification programme was the best example of a successful public works project.

Agriculture

Productivity in farming went back to pre-war levels
Some peasants were able to raise funds to buy new machinery and tools.
But exports to other countries never reached their 1913 levels.

Workers

The length of the working day fell from 9.9 hours to 7.8 hours by 1928.
This applied to both women and men.
But unemployment remained high as many people moved to the towns.
- Economic growth was not quite fast enough to solve this problem.

1Communist Government in the USSR, 1917-85

1.1Establishing Communist Party Control, 1917-24

1.1.1The Creation of a One-Party State

1.1.2Government under Lenin

1.1.3Centralisation of Power

1.1.4End of Topic Test - Establishing Control

1.1.5A-A* (AO3/4) - Establishing Control

1.2Stalin in Power, 1928-53

1.2.1The Elimination of Opponents

1.2.2The Purges of the 1930s

1.2.3End of Topic Test - The Elimination of Opponents

1.2.4Stalin's Power Over the Communist Party

1.2.5Stalin's Power During & After the Communist Party

1.2.6End of Topic Test - Power Over the Communist Party

1.2.7A-A* (AO3/4) - Stalin in Power

1.3Government, 1953-85

1.3.1Changes in Leaders' Control of the State

1.3.2Khrushchev's Attempts to Reform Government

1.3.3End of Topic Test - Government 1953-85

1.3.4Stability & Stagnation, 1964-85

1.3.5End of Topic Test - Stability & Stagnation

1.3.6A-A* (AO3/4) - Government 1953 - 85

2Industrial & Agricultural Changes

2.1Towards a Command Economy

2.1.1Nationalisation of Industry, Communism & the NEP

2.1.2End of Topic Test - Towards a Command Economy

2.2Industry & Agriculture in the Stalin Era

2.2.1Five Year Plans & Industrial Change

2.2.2Five Year Plans & Industrial Change 2

2.2.3End of Topic Test - Five Year Plans

2.2.4Agricultural Collectivisation & its Impact

2.2.5Recovery from War after 1945

2.2.6End of Topic Test - Collectivisation & Recovery

2.3Changes in Industry & Agriculture, 1953-85

2.3.1Light Industry, Chemicals & Consumer Goods

2.3.2Investment in Agriculture & Virgin Lands

2.3.3Attempts at Reform after 1964

2.3.4End of Topic Test - Industry & Agriculture

2.3.5A-A* (AO3/4) - Industry & Agriculture

3Control of the People, 1917-85

3.1Media, Propaganda & Religion

3.1.1State Control of Mass Media & Propaganda

3.1.2Attacks on Religious Beliefs & Practices

3.1.3Attacks on Religious Beliefs & Practices 2

3.1.4End of Topic Test - Media, Propaganda & Religion

3.1.5Cults: Stalin, Khrushchev, Brezhnev

3.1.6A-A*/ - Media, Propaganda & Religion

3.2The Secret Police

3.2.1Attacks on Opponents of the Government

3.2.2The Roles of Yagoda, Yezhov & Beria

3.2.3Andropov & Late Opposition to Soviet Rule

3.2.4End of Topic Test - Secret Police

3.3The State & Cultural Change

3.3.1Proletkult, Avant-Garde & Socialist Realism

3.3.2Nonconformity from the 1950s

3.3.3End of Topic Test - State & Cultural Change

3.3.4A-A* (AO3/4) - Control of the People

4Social Developments, 1917-35

4.1Social Security

4.1.1Full Employment Benefits

4.1.2Housing & Social Benefits

4.1.3Khrushchev, Brezhnev & Stable Society

4.1.4End of Topic Test - Social Security

4.2Women & Family

4.2.1Changing Status of Different Groups

4.2.2Changing Attitudes to Family

4.2.3Changing Attitudes to Family 2

4.2.4End of Topic Test - Women & Family

4.3Education & Young People

4.3.1Growth of Primary, Secondary & Higher Education

4.3.2Reduction of Illiteracy

4.3.3State Control of the Curriculum

4.3.4End of Topic Test - Education & Young People

4.3.5A-A* (AO3/4) - Social Developments

5Historical Interpretations

5.1What Explains the Fall of the USSR, 1985-91?

5.1.1Economic Weakness

5.1.2Attempts at Economic Reform

5.1.3Failure To Reform The Communist Party & Soviet Gov

5.1.4Impact of Reforms

5.1.5End of Topic Test - Economic Reform

5.1.6Impact of the Nationalist Resurgence

5.1.7Impact of the Nationalist Resurgence 2

5.1.8End of the USSR

5.1.9Gorbachev & Yeltsin's Responsibility

5.1.10End of Topic Test - Nationalist Resurgence

5.1.11A-A* (AO3/4) - Explaining the Fall of the USSR

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