Russian civil war
The whites
broad term for any anti bolshevik group
Tsar supporters
Mensheviks
The Czech legion
Socialist revolutionaries
Foreign groups also supported, to force Russia back into the war
Japan
France
Britain
USA
They did this to keep Germany pre occupied, and to keep their borders safe.
The reds
Formed in 1918
Led the actual takeover of Petrograd and Moscow
Part of the Bolsheviks
Organised by Trosky
Most of the members were peasants keen to protect the new government
Commissar for war
Not united front
The whites caused more suffering to the peasants than the reds
Limited Russian support
How propaganda was used
Reds propaganda was better as the message was more consistent
Trotsky used the railway network, most of which was controlled by the Reds, to send out travelling cinemas which showed propaganda films local people as well as the red army
Fight to protect the rights of workers and fight to get rid of the foreign invaders who want to reestablish aristocratic rule
Trotsky himself toured around making frequent speeches to raise moral
How did the Bolsheviks win
Good propaganda
united front
Kept strict control over the heartlands in western Russia
they took over factories in Moscow and Petrograd so that they were able to supply their armies