Notes on The Great War 1919 Episode

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Introduction to the Russian Civil War

• Spring 1919, discussions of peace in Paris
• Revolutionary Russia in turmoil with:
  • Counter-revolutionary forces attacking the Bolsheviks
  • Small nations arming for independence
  • Allied interventions
• Description of the Russian Civil War as multiple conflicts involved various factions
  • Bolsheviks
  • Counter-revolutionaries
  • Independence movements
  • Foreign forces
  • Peasant uprisings

Historical Context

• Post-October Revolution (1917), Bolsheviks quickly expanded
• Disintegration of Imperial army and flight of aristocracy
• Incorrect assessment by Lenin in April 1918 that the civil war had ended
• German and Austro-Hungarian occupation led to the rise of resistance
• Czech Legion mutinied and attacked Bolsheviks

Allied Dilemma

• Allies sent troops to Russia to intervene (30,000 British, French, American, Japanese)
• Dilemma faced by Allies:
  • Desire to stop Bolshevism vs. public pressure for peace
  • Debate on the effectiveness of military intervention
• Disagreements among Allies regarding strategies at the Paris Peace Conference

The Factions in the Civil War

Bolsheviks (Reds)

• Aimed to consolidate revolution and control the empire
• Implemented War Communism, forcibly seizing food from peasants
• Used Red Terror to impose control through violence
• Relied on industrial cities for support

Counter-Revolutionaries (Whites)

• Composed mainly of former Imperial army officers
• Lacked a cohesive strategy and coordination
• Benefited from Allied supplies and support
• Engaged in their own version of terror against suspected Red sympathizers

Other Factions

• Greens: Peasant groups revolting against Bolsheviks
• Blacks: Anarchist groups in eastern Ukraine
• Independence Movements: Small nations (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Poland) seeking independence amidst the chaos

Warfare Challenges

• Massive distances and poor communication
• Devastated economy with scarcity of food and resources
• Critical use of railways and armored trains for troop movement

Early 1919 Military Developments

• North: Small-scale skirmishes; largely difficult operations
• South:
  • Cossack and White forces initially overextended
  • Major White victory in the Caucasus against Red forces
• East:
  • Kolchak's forces advanced toward Bolshevik centers
• Western Russia:
  • Bolsheviks initially attacked but faced local resistance and foreign forces
  • Fighting escalated between Polish and Bolshevik troops

Summary of the Situation in Late Winter 1919

• The Whites established control in the South and East
• Reds struggled in the West
• Lenin acknowledged the dangerous situation for the Bolsheviks

Roundup of February 1919 Events

• Peace Conference developments:
  • Tensions between Italy and Yugoslavia over territory
  • Japan's proposal for racial equality rejected
• Other news:
  • New German Parliament convened in Weimar
  • French General in Constantinople
  • American delegation visit to Moscow for debt discussions

Sources

• Evan Mawdsley’s "The Russian Civil War"
• Orlando Figes "A People’s Tragedy"
• Encouragement to support the channel through merchandise and Patreon

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Note: This episode provides a detailed examination of the complexities and dynamics of the Russian Civil War, highlighting the various factions, their motives, and the geopolitical landscape in early 1919.