Characteristic Study: Who was more influential in the success of the Reds in the Civil War? Lenin or Trotsky?

and foreignersLenin’s return from exile brought hope and new belief to the Reds.Trotsky had great military abilities that could spur on other Red soldiers.He brought the Bolsheviks into power and was the key figure in the Bolshevik seizure of power from the PG. Trotsky was a brilliant war leader better than Lenin. His tactics helped the Reds defeat the White army.As White forces approached, Lenin set up a ruthless emergency government, which sought to mobilize central Russia's total resources. This meant that the necessary resources were available to the Reds army.Kept the morale of the Red army high and gave support to his fellow soldiers.Trotsky's leadership qualities were brilliant but erratic and many believe that he needed the steadying influence and vision of Lenin to keep him on the right track.Trotsky raised uncertain Red Army morale by appearing in his famous armoured train at critical pointsLenin’s use of propaganda was brilliant. He knew exactly what the people wanted and was able to exploit this. He had previously done this with his ‘peace, land, bread’ slogan. He won the hearts of the people during the Civ. War.In August 1918 at Sviiashsk near Kazan he rallied dispirited Red troops and helped turn the tide against the SR’s.Lenin crucially was able to win the support of some Cossacks, who fought for the Reds. This provided them with extra soldiers.The Red army was originally an undisciplined volunteer force. However, Trotsky turned it into a well disciplined, regular army that was able to win the civil war.Trotsky tackled deep rooting problems by introducing conscription, experienced officers to be supervised by commissars and the death penalty for desertion or slacking on the job. It is my belief that both these men were equally essential to the Reds’ victory in the Civil War. Trotsky had first hand experience in the war, and was able to both lead and inspire his fellow soldiers to defeat the White army. His ability to command the Red army cannot be undermined or diminished. Trotsky was also able to tackle and deal with the underlying problems that lay within the Reds’ army. His introduction of conscription and of experienced officers to deal with the once indisciplined army, proved to be vital as the Reds came out on top. Ironically, it was Lenin who best summed up in his will, when he said, ‘Trotsky is brilliant but is not entirely suitable as a leader.’ Lenin, in contrast, was different from Trotsky. It is probably their difference in qualities that made them compliment each other. Lenin was arguably the better leader of the Bolsheviks. He knew what the people wanted and could exploit this fact to win the hearts of people and gain support for the Reds. Like I have written in the table (above), Trotsky was a magnificent leader, but was occasionally erratic in his decision-making. It was Lenin that acted as a steady influence to stop Trotsky making any uncharacteristic mistakes. Lenin was a figurehead for the Red army. His return from exile first lifted the Bolsheviks and inspired them to revolt and seize power from the Provisional government. As long as he was there, it seemed as if the Reds’ soldiers had something or someone to fight for. These two men both played pivotal roles in the Reds’ defeat of the Whites in 1918.