History
The Russian Civil War Explained
A brief overview of the brutal conflict following the 1917 Russian Revolution that led to the formation of the Soviet Union.
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What is it?
The Russian Civil War (1918–1922) was a multi-party war in the former Russian Empire that erupted after the Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, seized power in the October Revolution of 1917. The primary struggle was between the Bolsheviks' Red Army and the loosely allied anti-Bolshevik forces known as the White Army. The White Army was a diverse coalition, including monarchists, liberals, and moderate socialists, united in their opposition to the Bolshevik dictatorship. The conflict was ignited by widespread resistance to the Bolsheviks' radical policies and their dissolution of the democratically elected Constituent Assembly.
Why is it trending?
This conflict remains a pivotal event in world history because its outcome shaped the 20th century. The victory of the Red Army led to the formation of the Soviet Union in 1922, establishing the world's first communist state and a new global superpower. This fundamentally altered international relations, creating an ideological divide that would culminate in the Cold War. The war concluded the Russian Revolution, cementing a one-party state and serving as a brutal example of a society remade by internal conflict, making it a key topic in historical and political studies.
How does it affect people?
The war was a national catastrophe with devastating human costs. An estimated 7 to 12 million people died, the vast majority being civilians who succumbed to famine, disease, and mass executions by both sides. The conflict shattered Russia's economy and infrastructure, leading to widespread ruin and the depopulation of cities. Politically, it eliminated democratic movements within Russia, consolidated a totalitarian regime, and triggered a massive wave of emigration as up to two million "White émigrés" fled the country, scattering a generation of Russians across the globe.