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To what extent was the Communist victory in the Civil War dependent on the…
To what extent was the Communist victory in the Civil War dependent on the skillful leadership of Trotsky?
Trotsky
He did not have military background, however, he proved himself to be a skillful organiser and propagandist
Lenin gave trotsky a free hand to mould the red army into an effective army of over three million men.
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Dmitri Volkogonov (Red Army general)- “Trotsky was not a great general and made few important strategic decisions”
There was no leader amongst the Whites to match his effectiveness. Trotsky directed the war from a special train
He travelled with his own elite force (kitted out in black leather uniforms), visiting the various fronts and meeting commanders and their troops.
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He travelled 65,000 miles during the war
Trotsky could inspire and helped to boost the morale not only of the troops but of other Bolshevik leaders who were not as convinced as he was that the Reds could win.
White Weaknesses
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They had support from foreign capitalist powers which gave the Reds a propaganda platform and the help given to the whites was insufficient and sporadic and withdrawn after WWI ended
Their slogan was ‘Russia One and Indivisible’, which made them less popular with national minorities
After the murder of the Tsar in July 1918 the Whites' lost their potential figure head however this is not as important since only a few wanted the Tsar back
Red Strengths
The Reds had control of the most densely populated regions in Central Russia such as, Petrograd and Moscow
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The Reds were ideologically committed and united with the 'do or die' mentality which the Whites did not have
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The Reds land policies were more popular with the peasants than the Whites' who associated with more traditional tsarist policies
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