starter activity

Propaganda poster typical of the civil war era, showing Trotsky. What accusations would Trotsky have to answer if was to win the propaganda war?

Why was there a Why was there a civil war in Russia civil war in Russia

(1918-1920)?(1918-1920)?

Your taskYour task

Read p. 80 and note down the Read p. 80 and note down the membership & aims of each of main membership & aims of each of main groups involved in the fighting.groups involved in the fighting.

Reds Whites Greens

RedsReds

Kronstadt sailorsKronstadt sailors Red GuardRed Guard Workers & volunteersWorkers & volunteers Soldiers from Russian armySoldiers from Russian army Pro-Revolution Pro-Revolution

WhitesWhites LiberalsLiberals Tsarists or supporters of military dictatorshipTsarists or supporters of military dictatorship NationalistsNationalists SeparatistsSeparatists Socialist RevolutionariesSocialist Revolutionaries Moderate socialistsModerate socialists Yudenich (NW), Omsk govt. led by Kolchak Yudenich (NW), Omsk govt. led by Kolchak

including pro-monarchists (Siberia), Southern including pro-monarchists (Siberia), Southern Volunteer Army (S) including Liberals & army Volunteer Army (S) including Liberals & army officers; Komuch (former Const. Assemb.) officers; Komuch (former Const. Assemb.) including Soc. Revs. (Samara, E.)including Soc. Revs. (Samara, E.)

Anti-Bolshevik Anti-Bolshevik

GreensGreens

PeasantsPeasants DesertersDeserters Interested in protecting own land or Interested in protecting own land or

banditsbandits Nestor Makhno, anarchist, UkraineNestor Makhno, anarchist, Ukraine Supported Reds, Whites or exploited Supported Reds, Whites or exploited

chaos to loot property chaos to loot property

Your taskYour task

You are a cartoonist. You are going to You are a cartoonist. You are going to produce a satirical cartoon, produce a satirical cartoon, lampooning the aims and membership lampooning the aims and membership of one of the 3 main groups in the of one of the 3 main groups in the Russian civil war. Write some notes for Russian civil war. Write some notes for your paper’s editor describing the your paper’s editor describing the cartoon you intend to draw in order to cartoon you intend to draw in order to get his approval. If you are feeling get his approval. If you are feeling artistic you could even have a go at artistic you could even have a go at drawing the cartoon.drawing the cartoon.

What were the key What were the key events of the events of the

Russian Civil War?Russian Civil War?1918-201918-20

Your taskYour task

Watch the video clip and answer the Watch the video clip and answer the questions in pairs. Student a answer all the questions in pairs. Student a answer all the odd numbers and student b the even number odd numbers and student b the even number ones.ones.

Imagine you are a propagandist for the Imagine you are a propagandist for the Bolsheviks. Write a short press release to Bolsheviks. Write a short press release to justify the reasons why it is important for the justify the reasons why it is important for the Red Army to win the Civil War. You may wish Red Army to win the Civil War. You may wish to refer to the aims of the Reds, the role of to refer to the aims of the Reds, the role of key individuals and groups, and the key individuals and groups, and the treatment of Bolsheviks by the White Army. treatment of Bolsheviks by the White Army.

Your taskYour task

Read p.81. Identify the different Read p.81. Identify the different causes of the war:causes of the war:

Long term factors (events, changes Long term factors (events, changes that had been increasing tensions in that had been increasing tensions in Russia)Russia)

Short term factors (events that Short term factors (events that sparked the Civil War)sparked the Civil War)

Long term factorsLong term factors (events, changes that (events, changes that had been increasing had been increasing tensions in Russia)tensions in Russia)

Bolshevik policies to Bolshevik policies to create one-party state create one-party state alienate allies (e.g. Soc alienate allies (e.g. Soc Revs & Mensheviks)Revs & Mensheviks)

Liberals & Liberals & Conservatives opposed Conservatives opposed closure of Const. closure of Const. Assembly & SovnakomAssembly & Sovnakom

Short term factorsShort term factors (events that sparked (events that sparked the Civil War)the Civil War)

Clashes between Clashes between Bolsheviks & Czech Bolsheviks & Czech Nationalists who were Nationalists who were suspicious of suspicious of Bolsheviks & Bolsheviks & attracted White attracted White supportsupport

Your taskYour task

Study chart 6B, on p. 81, 6C on p. Study chart 6B, on p. 81, 6C on p. 82-3 and the information on p. 84 to 82-3 and the information on p. 84 to plot the changing fortunes of the plot the changing fortunes of the Red Army on a timeline. Annotate Red Army on a timeline. Annotate your timeline with key events that your timeline with key events that mark advances or declines in the mark advances or declines in the fortunes of the Reds.fortunes of the Reds.

Your taskYour task

You each have 100 roubles. Read the You each have 100 roubles. Read the statements on the Russian Civil War. If you statements on the Russian Civil War. If you think they are accurate and think they are think they are accurate and think they are worth keeping, you may decide to bid for them. worth keeping, you may decide to bid for them. If you bid successfully and the statement is If you bid successfully and the statement is correct you keep the sentence but of course correct you keep the sentence but of course you will have spend some of your money. If the you will have spend some of your money. If the sentence is incorrect you don’t get the sentence is incorrect you don’t get the sentence and you still lose your money. The sentence and you still lose your money. The winning team is the one with the most correct winning team is the one with the most correct statements and the most money left in the statements and the most money left in the bank.bank.

Why were the Why were the Reds successful?Reds successful?

The Russian Civil War, 1918-The Russian Civil War, 1918-19201920

Your taskYour task

Read p.84-88 and complete a table similar Read p.84-88 and complete a table similar to the one below:to the one below:

Factors Factors favouring favouring RedsReds

Factors Factors against against RedsReds

Factors Factors favouring favouring WhitesWhites

Factors Factors against against WhitesWhites

Factors favouring RedsFactors favouring Reds Support from abroad, e.g. Germany some cities set up Support from abroad, e.g. Germany some cities set up

Communist govt. e.g. MunichCommunist govt. e.g. Munich Russo-Polish War (1919-21) enabled Bolsheviks to portray Russo-Polish War (1919-21) enabled Bolsheviks to portray

themselves as defenders of nationthemselves as defenders of nation Personality of Trotsky – reorganised the Red Army along Personality of Trotsky – reorganised the Red Army along

hierarchical lines, brought back Tsarist officers; political hierarchical lines, brought back Tsarist officers; political commissars attached to each unit; labour battalions of ‘former commissars attached to each unit; labour battalions of ‘former people’ formed; inspirational figure; use of technology – e.g. war people’ formed; inspirational figure; use of technology – e.g. war traintrain

Red Army – drew on workers & peasant conscripts; 5 million Red Army – drew on workers & peasant conscripts; 5 million troops by 1921; strict discipline, e.g. death penalty for desertingtroops by 1921; strict discipline, e.g. death penalty for deserting

Geography – Reds controlled key cities, & moved capital to Geography – Reds controlled key cities, & moved capital to Moscow at centre of railway network; centre of industrial Moscow at centre of railway network; centre of industrial production; heavily populatedproduction; heavily populated

Propaganda – Reds won propaganda war as defenders of Propaganda – Reds won propaganda war as defenders of Russian territory, defenders of peasant land, prospect of new Russian territory, defenders of peasant land, prospect of new societysociety

War Communism – provided food supplies War Communism – provided food supplies

Factors against the RedsFactors against the Reds Terms of the Treaty of Riga very harsh – Terms of the Treaty of Riga very harsh –

surrendered large areas of White Russia & Ukraine surrendered large areas of White Russia & Ukraine to Polesto Poles

Personality of Trotsky – imprisoned families of White Personality of Trotsky – imprisoned families of White officers to ensure their loyalty; betrayal of Bolshevik officers to ensure their loyalty; betrayal of Bolshevik ideals – return of hierarchy, use of Tsarist officers, ideals – return of hierarchy, use of Tsarist officers, ending of soldiers committeesending of soldiers committees

Red Army – peasant conscripts were uncommitted, Red Army – peasant conscripts were uncommitted, regular uprisings or joined Greens; 1 million desert regular uprisings or joined Greens; 1 million desert in 1918, 4 million deserted by 1921; resentment of in 1918, 4 million deserted by 1921; resentment of burzhui officers and anti-Semitism; strict discipline burzhui officers and anti-Semitism; strict discipline led to poor moraleled to poor morale

War Communism – favoured army, peasants War Communism – favoured army, peasants resented requisitioning resented requisitioning

Factors favouring WhitesFactors favouring Whites

Allied troops based in Russia in Allied troops based in Russia in theory to reopen E front against theory to reopen E front against GermanyGermany

Churchill sent £100 supplies to help Churchill sent £100 supplies to help WhitesWhites

Expertise of military generals, e.g. Expertise of military generals, e.g. Deniken & Yudenich & Admiral Deniken & Yudenich & Admiral KolchakKolchak

Factors going against Factors going against themthem

Opposition abroad, e.g. Lloyd-George PM & British Labour PartyOpposition abroad, e.g. Lloyd-George PM & British Labour Party French were anti-Bolshevik, but troops lacked commitment & French were anti-Bolshevik, but troops lacked commitment &

French fleet mutinied on Black SeaFrench fleet mutinied on Black Sea Japanese interested in gaining territory on Pacific coastlineJapanese interested in gaining territory on Pacific coastline US troops preoccupied with stopping Japan annexing territoriesUS troops preoccupied with stopping Japan annexing territories Divisions – Soc Revs who set up Komuch (Comm. Of Membs. Of Divisions – Soc Revs who set up Komuch (Comm. Of Membs. Of

Const. assemb.) formed an unhappy alliance with Omsk govt. of Const. assemb.) formed an unhappy alliance with Omsk govt. of conservatives & appointed Kolchak as C-in-C, who then executed conservatives & appointed Kolchak as C-in-C, who then executed leading Soc Revs.; Souther Volunteer Army fought with Cossacks, leading Soc Revs.; Souther Volunteer Army fought with Cossacks, but in separate units and Cossacks unwilling to fight outside their but in separate units and Cossacks unwilling to fight outside their territoryterritory

Brutality – ethnic cleansing, esp. by Cossacks & pogroms against Brutality – ethnic cleansing, esp. by Cossacks & pogroms against JewsJews

White Army – peasant conscripts uncommitted since Whites White Army – peasant conscripts uncommitted since Whites wished to restore land to landowners; poor disciple, e.g. uniforms wished to restore land to landowners; poor disciple, e.g. uniforms & equipment sold on black market, alcoholism rife amongst & equipment sold on black market, alcoholism rife amongst officersofficers

Geography – large distances between armies; v. poor Geography – large distances between armies; v. poor communications communications

Your taskYour task

What do you think were the most What do you think were the most important reasons why the Red important reasons why the Red Army eventually won the Civil War? Army eventually won the Civil War? Discuss them with your partner and Discuss them with your partner and write down your choice. Be prepared write down your choice. Be prepared to justify your reasons.to justify your reasons.

Write a judgement paragraph Write a judgement paragraph explaining your decision.explaining your decision.

What effect did the What effect did the Civil War have on Civil War have on

life in Russia?life in Russia?

Can you spot two famous faces in this

crowd?

Do you think this

is propagan

da?

starter activity

Your taskYour task

Read p.94-99 and note down the impact of Read p.94-99 and note down the impact of Civil War & War Communism on the Civil War & War Communism on the following groups:following groups: Minority groupsMinority groups Factory workersFactory workers Farmers & peasantsFarmers & peasants Political opposition groupsPolitical opposition groups Tsar & his familyTsar & his family Middle-classesMiddle-classes

Which group suffered the most?Which group suffered the most?

Minority groupsMinority groups

Cossacks raped & murdered Jewish Cossacks raped & murdered Jewish villages; 115,000 died in Ukraine alonevillages; 115,000 died in Ukraine alone

Whites challenged right of national & Whites challenged right of national & ethnic minorities to independenceethnic minorities to independence

Anti-Jewish propaganda poster produced by Whites

Factory workersFactory workers Worker’s committees incapable of running factories – Worker’s committees incapable of running factories –

often voted themselves pay rises & stole goodsoften voted themselves pay rises & stole goods Industrial output shrank, esp. consumer goods leading to Industrial output shrank, esp. consumer goods leading to

price inflationprice inflation Food prices increased, bread shortages – Feb 1918 bread Food prices increased, bread shortages – Feb 1918 bread

ration in Petrograd reached 50 grams per person per dayration in Petrograd reached 50 grams per person per day Food riotsFood riots Workers fled from cities increasing problems with Workers fled from cities increasing problems with

manufacturing & industrial output – Petrograd lost 60% of manufacturing & industrial output – Petrograd lost 60% of workforce by April 1918workforce by April 1918

All industry nationalised and managed by All industry nationalised and managed by VesenkhaVesenkha (Supreme Council of National Economy)(Supreme Council of National Economy)

New laws on labour discipline, e.g. fines for lateness & New laws on labour discipline, e.g. fines for lateness & absenteeism, internal passports, piece-work rates absenteeism, internal passports, piece-work rates reintroduced, bonuses & workbooks for rationsreintroduced, bonuses & workbooks for rations

Working class & army members given priority over rationsWorking class & army members given priority over rations

Farmers & peasantsFarmers & peasants May 1918, May 1918, Food Supplies DictatorshipFood Supplies Dictatorship estd. estd.

to forcibly requisition grainto forcibly requisition grain Cheka helped enforce grain requisitioningCheka helped enforce grain requisitioning Resistance to Resistance to requisitionrequisition – brutal attacks – brutal attacks

on Cheka & grain collectorson Cheka & grain collectors Class warfare – Lenin encouraged Cheka to Class warfare – Lenin encouraged Cheka to

conduct public hangings of conduct public hangings of kulakskulaks Many peasants stop planting seed in Many peasants stop planting seed in

protest, agricultural production fell backprotest, agricultural production fell back

Political opposition Political opposition groupsgroups

Socialist Revolutionaries responsible for Socialist Revolutionaries responsible for assassination attempt on Lenin & assassination attempt on Lenin & kidnapping of Dzerzhinskykidnapping of Dzerzhinsky

Summer 1918, Red Terror – SRs arrested, Summer 1918, Red Terror – SRs arrested, Mensheviks & SRs excluded from soviets, Mensheviks & SRs excluded from soviets, KadetsKadets imprisoned or went into exile imprisoned or went into exile

1918-20 13,000 prisoners executed 1918-20 13,000 prisoners executed (official records) – unofficial records (official records) – unofficial records 300,000300,000

Concentration & labour camps establishedConcentration & labour camps established

Tsar & his familyTsar & his family

17 July 1918 Tsar & family shot despite 17 July 1918 Tsar & family shot despite fears of antagonising Germany (Tsar fears of antagonising Germany (Tsar cousin of Kaiser, Tsarina was German)cousin of Kaiser, Tsarina was German)

Anastasia

Room in which the family were killed

Why do you think each side

deliberately fostered the

myth that some of the Tsar’s

children survived?

Middle classesMiddle classes All private trade & manufacture bannedAll private trade & manufacture banned Black market developed to meet demandBlack market developed to meet demand Former factory managers were put in Former factory managers were put in

charge of state-run factories instead of charge of state-run factories instead of workers’ committeesworkers’ committees

Middle-class professionals below lower class Middle-class professionals below lower class workers in terms of rationing prioritiesworkers in terms of rationing priorities

Burzhui referred to as ‘former people’Burzhui referred to as ‘former people’ Red Terror deliberately provoked class Red Terror deliberately provoked class

warfare, e.g. - some arrested for being near warfare, e.g. - some arrested for being near scenes of ‘bourgeois provocation)scenes of ‘bourgeois provocation)

Victims of personal vendettasVictims of personal vendettas

DiscussionDiscussion

Hold a mini debate on the issue of Hold a mini debate on the issue of which group suffered the most? which group suffered the most? Explain your opinions with detailed Explain your opinions with detailed factual evidence.factual evidence.

Role playRole play

The Communist (Bolshevik) Party has decided The Communist (Bolshevik) Party has decided to hold an enquiry into whether War to hold an enquiry into whether War Communism is justified in view of the impact it Communism is justified in view of the impact it is having on Russian society. Nominate 3 is having on Russian society. Nominate 3 people to be committee members whose job it people to be committee members whose job it is to question individuals summoned to speak. is to question individuals summoned to speak. The rest of the class must imagine they are one The rest of the class must imagine they are one of the individuals your teacher will assign you of the individuals your teacher will assign you and prepare notes to help you answer any and prepare notes to help you answer any questions the committee members may pose. At questions the committee members may pose. At the end of the enquiry the committee must the end of the enquiry the committee must reach a verdict on whether they think War reach a verdict on whether they think War Communism is justified. Communism is justified.