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Home , Cheka, March 1918, Red Army, Russian Civil War, Volunteer Army, Zinoviev letter

Subject: History Topic: 2.1 Bolshevik Consolidation Year Group: 12

Key word Definition 1. How did the consolidate their control? 2. Ending involvement in WWI All Russian A group of deputies elected from local soviets 1 Creating a 1. The Bolsheviks replaced the Cabinet with who would meet and organise the running of 1 Congress of Soviets one-party the Sovknarkom Why 1. The Bolsheviks promised peace and much the country withdraw of their support came from tired soldiers state 2. The Bolsheviks abandoned the title Central Executive Congress deputies elected the Central ? 2. Lenin was worried about civil – he ‘Minister’ and replaced it with ‘People’s Committee Committee. ’ could recall troops and get ready to fight the Bolshevik opponents. Constitution A set of laws a country is run by Electing 1. The Provisional Government had 2 3. ’s military was exhausted and could Replaced the Red Guard – the Bolshevik the organised elections for the Constituent not continue to fight. Constitue Assembly for November 4. Lenin was convinced was about Sovnarkom The government of the new nt 2. Lenin had to honour this arrangement to have its own regime Assembly 3. The SRs won with 53% of the vote. 2 Why was 1. Ceasefire was agreed in December but 4. Consolidating the one party state 3 How did 1. Lenin demanded that the Assembly were it negotiating a treaty took several months Lenin subservient to the Sovnarkom and the difficult? 2. Germany was already occupying large 1 How did 1. Nationalisation of industry and land control soviets. areas of Russia and demanded major they ownership increased the Bolsheviks’ the 2. When the Assembly met in January and concessions increase power Constitue rejected this condition, Lenin brought the 3. Trotsky did not support Lenin’s mantra of their 2. In , Trotsky was made head nt Red Guard to block the elected ‘peace at any cost’ power of the new Red Army to control Assembly? representatives entry further? growing unrest 3. This effectively closed the Assembly 3 What was 1. The treaty caused major splits in the the Bolsheviks: Bukharin led the 2 What was 1. In the Bolsheviks set out a 4 How did 1. He said that the election didn’t reflect the impact of ‘revolutionary war group’ that argued the new Soviet Constitution. It appeared Lenin will of the people signing? against peace at all costs. Constituti democratic but in reality, power rested justify 2. He said the Soviets were a better form of 2. Trotsky delayed negotiations hoping for a on? with Lenin closing the while the Assembly was a German revolution, but this angered the 3 Expectation: The Congress of Soviets would Assembly? form of bourgeois democracy Germans who continued their military What did it say represent the interests of Local Soviets and be 3. He claimed “dictatorship of the advance into Russia. elected from local soviets proletariat” was the way forward to 3. The resulting treaty was extremely about the Congress Reality: benefit the workers and . unpopular: The Left SRs resigned from 1. The Congress didn’t meet often the Government in protest. of 2. The Congress was only elected from Soviets? Key dates 4. The treaty led to a significant decline in Bolshevik candidates support for the Bolsheviks and increase in 4 What did Expectation: The Sovnarkom should be Oct 1917 First Decrees (Peace, Land, Press) & Sovnarkom support for the SRs and 1 it say appointed by the Congress created 5. The Bolsheviks lost the elections to the about the Reality: soviets across Russia in April and May 2 Dec 1917 Further decrees (Bank & Military) & created Sovnarko 1. The Sovnarkom was chosen by the Central 1918. Committee rather than the Congress m? 2. The Sovnarkom consisted of only Bolsheviks 3 Jan 1918 Constituent Assembly dissolved 4 Losses 1. 62 million people (1/6 Russia’s from the population) 5 What did Expectation: Soviets should represent the treaty 2. 2 million km2 of land it say masses Reality: 4 Feb 1918 Nationalisation of industry 3. 1/3 Russia’s agricultural production land about 1. From July 1918, members of the former 4. ¼ of Russia’s railway lines Soviets? 5 Mar 1918 Treaty of Brest-Litovsk ‘exploiting classes’ were banned from 5. ¾ of Russia’s iron and coal supplies voting or holding office 6 July 1918 Soviet Constitution established 6. 3 billion roubles in war reparations 2. Worker votes were worth 5x votes Subject: History Topic: 2.2 Bolshevik Consolidation Year Group: 12

1. Causes of the Russian 3. The murder of the Tsar Key people Led a army in and proclaimed Kolchak 1 How did the 1. Their political opponents were not 1 What 1. On 16th-17thJuly 1918, a local Cheka himself ‘Supreme Ruler of Russia’. happened? detachment executed Nicholas II and his Bolsheviks prepared to accept their absolute rule. Yudenich Formed a in the north west create 2. Their policies and actions resulted in them family enemies? having many more enemies. 2. It is almost certain that Lenin authorised Makhno An anarchist Green leader in the this killing 2 Why else did 1. Some fought the Civil War to achieve Denikin Led the White army Southern 2 Why was it 1. The Tsar and his family were important people fight? independence from the , but Led a ‘ Volunteer Army’ against the important? figureheads for the Wrangel others fought to prevent it Bolsheviks during the civil war. 2. Their murder was a big blow for White 3 How did the 1. Russia’s old allies called for direct military morale Dzerzhinsky Head of the Cheka Allies action against the Bolsheviks encourage 2. They were angry with the Russian 4. Why did the Reds win? 5. Government control war? withdrawal from the war and the 1 Geo- 1. The Reds commanded the hub of 1 cancellation of the Tsar’s debts How did 1. Half a million Party members fought graphy communications, the factories and mostly the war for the Red Army - used to obeying 4 Why did Lenin 1. Lenin wanted a conflict to destroy his densely populated areas. increase orders and acting with extreme force fight? opponents in a short war rather than be 2. The Whites were widely dispersed and in less Bolshevik 2. In wartime it was essential that challenged by them throughout Bolshevik developed areas control? orders from the centre were rule. communicated quickly –this 2 Leader- 1. The Red Army was well disciplined under centralisation stayed after the war ship Trotsky, who ensured they were fed and 3. Central controls were brought in to 2. Who fought in the ? supplied. deal with food shortages. 2. The White leadership was disorganized with 1 Reds 1. The Bolshevik Red Army, led by Trotsky little discipline 2 How did 1. To organise the war the Soviet 2 Whites 1. The various and groups made up of the the war bureaucracy grew larger –there were 3 Bolsheviks’ opponents The 1. He ensured loyalty by shooting deserters. change more bureaucrats than workers 2. Reintroduced traditional ranks in the army and how the 2. In 1919 the was created– 2. Led by former Tsarist officers. Role of recruited 50,000 former tsarist officers, country they took over the running of the 3. Had very little in common with except their hatred Trotsky 3. He set up political to ensure their was run? country and replaced the Sovnarkom of the Bolsheviks loyalty 3 What 1. After two assassination attempts on 3 Greens 1. A largely peasant army fighting for independence 4 Unity 1. The Reds were united in their aims and was the , the started 2. Fought a guerrilla campaign in the Ukraine. ideology. Red to emerge 3. They sided with, and fought against, both Reds and 2. White generals operated independently and Terror? 2. The Cheka grew from 120 employees Whites at different points in the Civil War fought for different objectives in March 1918 to 143,000 by 1921 4 The 1. Britain, and the USA all sent troops to help 4 What did 1. Round up political opposition and 5 Support 1. Although peasant support varied, generally Allies the Whites the Reds’ land policies were more popular the enforced the central government than the White Cheka commands 5 The 1. Formed from Czech nationalists who had arrived in do? 2. Official records put Cheka executions Czech Russia during the war against Germany. 6 Propa- 1. The Bolsheviks took advantage of the foreign at 13,000 between 1918 & 1920 but Legion 2. Joined forces with the Whites after the Bolsheviks ganda and sloppy discipline of the Whites to the real figure was mire likely around tried to block and arrest some of the Czech show them as degenerate and encouraging 300,000 soldiers foreign invasion. 3. To house all their victims, the 2. Trotsky also travelled spreading Bolsheviks set up concentration and 6 The 1. Fought to gain control of on his train. labour camps. Poles Subject: History Topic: 2.3 Bolshevik Consolidation Year Group: 12

Key word Definition 1. State 3. War GOELRO Organisation formed in 1920 to organise the production and 1 Why? 1. Lenin’s policy was a pragmatic response to the 1 Why? 1. By , the country was in a state of distribution of electricity problems facing Russia in 1918. economic collapse The state general planning commission which helped coordinate 2. It was a middle way between capitalism and 2. Reorganisation of the economy was important to economic developments from 1921 until the USSR was ready to fully embrace the survival of the Bolsheviks Kulak A rich, land owning peasant socialism. 2 What were 1. Grain requisitioning: The Cheka could seize grain Nationalisation When the state takes over control of an industry or service 2 What were 1. Nationalisation was introduced to create greater the features and other food without payment. of War 2. Rationing: the Supply Commissariat rationed the Speculative traders who bought up produce form peasants to sell the features efficiency Nepmen of State 2. All nationalised industries were run by the Vesenkha Communism? seized foods. The largest rations went to workers on for their own profit Capitalism? 3. Small factories were not nationalised. They were and soldiers, and smallest rations given to A system where influential posts in government and industry were controlled by workers or handed back to capitalists. members of the . filled from a pre-approved list 3. The abolition of money: Workers were being paid When the government demand the use or supply of a resource or Requisitioning through their rations and many public services, service by official order. such as tram services. 3 What did 1. Re-established worker discipline by offering higher The Council of the National Economy was responsible for state 4. Private trade was made illegal. Veshenka the pay to productive workers industry from 1917-1932 Vesenkha 2. Ensured factories were properly managed by placing 5. Complete 6. : workers were assigned either to do? them under the control of well-paid specialists 4. The 3. Co-ordinated economic production to meet the work in factories, or fight in the army. needs of the new society. 3 What was the 1. Kulaks were the worst hit with their land and 1 Why? 1. In response to the civil unrest, a new direction was needed impact of War produce requisitioned to ensure the government’s survival Communism? 2. Food shortages led peasants to eat the animals 4 What were 1. Many Bolsheviks didn’t want a middle way and they used for ploughing, further reducing food 2 What 1. Gosplan was set up to advise on the NEP the demanded full state control production. were 2. Farming was left to the free market. Peasants could buy, problems of 2. Allowing factories to be taken over by their workers 3. There were even reports of cannibalism. the sell and produce freely. State causes a sharp drop in production due to poor 4. Industrial output also slowed – by 1921, industrial features 3. Requisitioning ended and was replaced by a tax in kind. Capitalism? management skills output was only 20% of pre-war levels of the 4. Small factories and workshops were denationalised and 3. Letting peasants have control over the selling of 5. Some workers welcomed state control as it meant NEP? many were returned to their former capitalist owners. grain meant higher prices but state controlled their factories stayed open, while others went on 5. Large factories and major industries remained nationalised. industries needed cheap grain so workers didn’t strike and fled to the countryside. 6. Money was reintroduced. have to be paid higher wage 6. Droughts in 1920 and 1921 made the situation 3 Was the 1. The NEP and the end of the Civil War helped to stabilise the worse, threatening further . NEP Russian economy 2. Economic problems during the Civil War 4 What was the 1. Autumn 1920, peasants in , led by effective 2. Private businesses reopened and grew quickly. Cities Tambov Aleksandr Antonov, rebelled against requisitioning ? regained services like shops and restaurants 1 Falling 1. Factory supplies were disrupted by fighting Revolt? and Cheka brutality. 3. Agriculture recovered as peasants grew more to earn industrial 2. Workers left to join the Red Army or return to the 2. By , Antonov had a force of 50,000 money production country – urban population fell from 3.6 million to 1.4 anti-Communist fighters. 4. However this created a scissor crisis – food prices dropped, million between Jan 1917 & Jan 1919 3. Revolt lasted until while industrial goods prices remained high as the 3. Drop in production led to inflation 4. 100,000 Red Army soldiers put down the revolt production was slow 4. With no products to buy, peasants stopped selling brutally, destroying whole villages 5. The Bolsheviks introduced money tax forcing peasants to their grain sell grain to pay and the industrial goods price was capped. 6. Nepmen helped the economy but were seen as 2 Food 1. Important agricultural regions were lost in the Treaty 5 What was the 1. In 1921, further reductions in food rationing led to representatives of capitalism. shortages of Brest-Litovsk strikes and riots in the cities in the cities 2. Trade blockades by the allies meant a lack of imports Uprising? 2. In March, Sailors at the Kronstadt naval bas 4 What 1. To many Bolsheviks the NEP was seen as a step backwards 3. Peasant hoarding let to food shortages rebelled against the suppression of the Petrograd was the 2. To combat opposition, Lenin introduced a ban on factions in 4. Early 1918 bread ration in Petrograd was only 50g per strikes political 1921 punishable by expulsion from the party. At the same person a day 3. The sailors demanded democratic reforms. impact? time Menshevik and SR parties were banned. 5. People bought food & traded it through the (‘Soviets without Communists’) 3. The Cheka (renamed the GPU in 1922) were given more market 4. Trotsky sent the Red Army to put down the power to root out counter- and repress uprising Nepmen. 3 Disease 1. Unsanitary living conditions, food shortages and lack of 5. 15,000 rebels were imprisoned and the ring 4. Censorship was increased and the Church came under more and medical supplies & doctors led to millions of deaths leaders were shot. pressure starvation 2. Around 5 million people died from starvation & 6. Some members of the party believed the 5. The nomenklatura system was introduced in 1923 which disease Bolsheviks were becoming to authoritarian. ensured complete loyalty from the party members Subject: History Topic: 2.4 Bolshevik Consolidation Year Group: 12

1. The Situation of Russia’s foreign relations 3. The Russo-Polish War 6. The

1 What was 1. Russia’s former allies felt 1 How did 1. The Bolsheviks attempted to export the revolution and in 1 What was the 1. The USSR had an improved Russia’s betrayed by the peace fighting begin? 1920 the Red Army invaded . USSR’s relationship with Britain relationship negotiations with Germany 2. The Bolsheviks expected the Polish working class to relationship 2. Signed the Anglo-Soviet Trade like with 2. Russia was not invited to the support the Red Army and revolt against the Polish with Britain Agreement in , which Western Peace Conference nor Government. like? facilitated greater trade powers? involved with the formation of 2 Was it a 1. The invasion failed as the Poles resisted what they saw as the success? traditional Russian expansionist aggression. 2 What was the 1. The British Communist Party was 2. Conflict lasted from Feb 1919 to Oct 1921 Zinoviev letter formed with the support of the 2. Foreign intervention in the Civil War 3. The Treaty of was signed in March 1921 incident? Comintern, 4. This event represented a failure to spread communism 2. They sought to influence the British 1 Why? 1. Countries like Britain, France and the Labour Party. 3. On 25th , the USA wanted to help the whites win so 4. Spreading Communism Russia could be kept in WW1 published a letter allegedly written by Zinoviev, the then head of the 2. The Allies had sent large amounts of 1 What was 1. The Comintern was an international organisation ammunition to Russia for WW1 and they Comintern. the that aimed to promote and the spread 4. The letter called for the British didn’t want the Bolsheviks to control Comintern? of communism around the world. them Communist Part to infiltrate the Labour Party 3. After the end of WW1, the foreign 2 What 1. At the first Comintern Congress in there was powers aimed to combat Bolshevism initial positivity with delegates from all over the world. 3 Impact of the 1. The Zinoviev Letter reinforced the 4. But for all countries there was mixed happened at it’s 2. As the congresses continued in 1920 and 1921 Lenin letter view that the British Labour Party opinion on how much to get involved began to dominate the conversation with his ideas. This was too closely linked to Soviet meetings? alienated some parties broke away Russia. 2 How? 1. The Allies sent troops to help the Whites 2. Zinoviev claimed the letter had been – although they were spread across 3 Was it 1. By 1921, there was only limited support for world forged, but the Conservatives won Russia and the numbers were small successful? revolution as support for ‘bourgeois ’ the election 4 days later. 2. North – British forces attacked at increased – like the in Germany. 3. The new Conservative government , British Navy blockaded trade 2. After the Third Comintern Congress Lenin shifted focus to was much more hostile to Soviet to Russia through the protecting Russia. relations. 3. East – 11,000 US troops landed at Vladivostock and Japanese troops 4. Relations with Germany 7. Summary of Lenin’s Rule by 1924 invaded Eastern Siberia 4. South – (oil region) was occupied 1 Why ally with 1. Both Russia and Germany had been isolated by the West 1 Social 1. Despite having promised peace, land and by the British & British and forces Germany? since the end of WW1 bread, he had led Russia into a brutal civil blockaded trade through the war and his policies had created a famine. and the 2 Who signed 1. In 1922, the ’s foreign minister Georgy the treaty of Chicherin met with representatives from Weimar Germany 2 Political 1. Lenin had succeeded in his prime goal: the Rapallo? after a conference in Genoa. Communists had seized and retained 3 Impact 1. Some early impact, helping the Whites power. achieve initial advances 3 What did it 1. Both nations promised to ‘co-operate in a spirit of mutual 2. Soviet democracy had been usurped by 2. Foreign intervention did not significantly agree? goodwill in meeting the economic needs of both the party. impact the outcome of the Civil War countries’. Ideology 1. The NEP was unpopular within the 3. Most foreign intervention was too small 3 2. The re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Communist Party because it was a scale to impact the Bolshevik control Russia and Germany. compromise with capitalism 4. The most significant impact was that the 3. Russia provided Germany’s military training grounds and 2. Lenin hoped that, in the fullness of time, foreign powers isolated Russia resources. the party would lead Russia and the world 4. Russia would be allowed special trading rights in Germany. to communism.