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Why did the Bolsheviks win the Civil War - Coggle Diagram
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 organisation, called Agitprop
Agitprop was used to spread the Bolshevik message using art, posters and entertainment to influence the peoples thoughts.
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.
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 Russian 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 Red's military capabilities.
Millions of people died as a result of the Civil War, and the economy was severely weakens, with food shortages throughout the cities.