Russian Civil War
The war was between the newly elected Bolshevik party (the Bolshevik Red Army) and the anti-Bolshevik forces (the White Army) in 1917. Many foreign nations joined the White Army who were: the Czechoslovak Legion, the Empire of Japan, France, Greece, Italy, Poland, Romania, Serbia, the United States, the Republic of China and the British Empire (which consisted of Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom).
The foreign allies to the White Army joined because of Russia’s withdrawal from the Triple Entente (an alliance between the UK, France and Russia to counter the Triple Alliance of Austria-Hungary and Germany), who feared a possible Russia and German alliance. Another reason was the prospect of the Bolsheviks taking no responsibility for Russia’s huge foreign loans.
In 1923 the Red Army completely resisted the attacks from the White Army and regained control of the Russian Empire, which, however, came at great costs. An estimated 15,000,000 people were killed during the Civil War, and the Russian Soviet republics suffered droughts and famine, with disease taking 3,000,000 lives in 1920, and widespread starvation also taking millions of lives. There were also several million people emigrating, who opposed to the Russian political climate.
The Russian economy was also ravaged by the war, industrial production value was reduced to 1/7th and agriculture 1/3rd compared to 1913. The exchange rate with the U.S dollar declined from two rubles (the Russian currency) in 1914 to 1,200 in 1920.
Tuesday 2 December 2008
the russian revolution 1917
As my project focuses on the work of Alexander Rodchenko, it is important that I research events that happened during and prior the artist movement.
Russian Revolution
In 1917 the Russian country was ready for a revolution, growing numbers of middle-class employees and evolving social groups led people to uncertainty and the need for a re-form. Many citizens felt that the Tsar, Nicholas II, was out of touch with the demands and potential of the Russian public. An economical crisis during World War 1 led to widespread inflation and food shortages, coupled with the loss of military and the loss of the war led to the Russian people being convinced that Nicholas II was unfit to rule, which started the Russian Revolution.
Conscription for World War 1 took the skilled workers from the Russian cities who were replaced by unskilled peasants, this led to famine in Russia with poor supplies and a suffered railway system forcing many people to leave the cities to look for food and supplies. The soldiers were also affected and began to turn on the Tsar due to a lack of supplies and equipment.
Strikes followed in Petrograd, the capital of Russia, where virtually every factory was closed. Public meetings were held in Russian parliament, the Duma, where the citizens demanded ‘a responsible cabinet of ministers’. The Duma then encouraged the Tsar to stand-down to prevent a revolution.
The Tsar refused and sent a telegram informing the military to stop the strikes. Most of the soldiers followed the order, but a few mutinies joined the protesters. The police also sided with the strikers, rendering civil authority useless.
Nicholas II abdicated on the 13th March 1917, after Russia’s defeat in World War 1, hoping to bring unity to Russia. This is known as the February revolution.
There was also an October revolution, led by Vladimir Lenin, leader of the Bolshevik part who had communist ideology. Lenin wanted to overthrow the Provisional Government, which he successfully did. The October revolution ended the revolution that was started in February.
Russian Revolution
In 1917 the Russian country was ready for a revolution, growing numbers of middle-class employees and evolving social groups led people to uncertainty and the need for a re-form. Many citizens felt that the Tsar, Nicholas II, was out of touch with the demands and potential of the Russian public. An economical crisis during World War 1 led to widespread inflation and food shortages, coupled with the loss of military and the loss of the war led to the Russian people being convinced that Nicholas II was unfit to rule, which started the Russian Revolution.
Conscription for World War 1 took the skilled workers from the Russian cities who were replaced by unskilled peasants, this led to famine in Russia with poor supplies and a suffered railway system forcing many people to leave the cities to look for food and supplies. The soldiers were also affected and began to turn on the Tsar due to a lack of supplies and equipment.
Strikes followed in Petrograd, the capital of Russia, where virtually every factory was closed. Public meetings were held in Russian parliament, the Duma, where the citizens demanded ‘a responsible cabinet of ministers’. The Duma then encouraged the Tsar to stand-down to prevent a revolution.
The Tsar refused and sent a telegram informing the military to stop the strikes. Most of the soldiers followed the order, but a few mutinies joined the protesters. The police also sided with the strikers, rendering civil authority useless.
Nicholas II abdicated on the 13th March 1917, after Russia’s defeat in World War 1, hoping to bring unity to Russia. This is known as the February revolution.
There was also an October revolution, led by Vladimir Lenin, leader of the Bolshevik part who had communist ideology. Lenin wanted to overthrow the Provisional Government, which he successfully did. The October revolution ended the revolution that was started in February.
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