The geographical location is the most important factor in explaining why the Bolsheviks won the Civil War as it proves how successful communication and unity was amongst the Bolsheviks and their troops. Moscow was at the centre of the railway networks and this meant that the Bolsheviks remained in control of most of Russia’s railways. Having this control made it easier to send men and ammunition to the battle fronts but also made communication between the various battlefronts and coordinating attacks against the White Armies much easier. Seeing as the Bolsheviks held the central part of Russia, it meant that the Whites were scattered around this area, which obviously separated them by large distances. The large differences between the Whites and limited control over the railway network, meant communication was very difficult, especially the moving of men and weapons. With there being no telephone links, coordinating attacks on the Red Army would prove to be a hinderance to the Whites as they had to use officers on horseback to convey messages.
The success of the Bolsheviks coordinated attacks on the White Armies was also down to the qualities of their leaders, in particular, Lenin and Trotsky. Lenin had led the Bolsheviks to victory in the October Revolution and throughout the Civil War provided the energy and drive needed to inspire success, he had very definite aims and a sense of purpose about what he believed was best for Russia. One of the ways Lenin had enabled the Bolsheviks to win the war was by successfully supporting the Red Army; this was done by abandoning state capitalism and introducing War Communism as the new economic policy, which was done to meet the emergency situation.
Trotsky became Commissar for war in the Bolshevik government. He was a great improvisor and had excellent organisational skills. He created the Red Army from the Red Guards and from the remnants of the old Tsarist army; this army was much better organised than the White Armies who were made up of different groups, who had entirely different aims and beliefs and no one person was in charge of the White forces. Whereas the Bolsheviks had Lenin, the Whites had several rival people in charge, such as Yudenich, Kolchak and Denikin, who were all vying for control. They were all ambitious men and each was determined to take control for Russia for himself. Co-operation between these leaders was difficult as they could not agree on whether they were fighting for monarchism, republicanism or for the Constituent Assembly. These different opinions meant that the Whites had little chance of developing a coordinated military strategy, as often the White generals would not work together because they did not like or trust each other and they were all suspicious of each others motives. As a result, there was virtually no cooperation between the various White Armies as they fought independently, making it easier for the Red Army to defeat each of them individually.
Trotsky imposed a very tough system of discipline and control over the Red Army and the death penalty was used frequently for those officers who were found guilty of cowardice or treachery. This meant that conscripts knew what would happen to them if they retreated in a battle. However, men who showed initiative were promoted rapidly. At times of crisis Trotsky readily assumed personal command of areas under threat, taking his special forces to the parts of the front where the fighting was fiercest, was inspiring and encouraging the troops to greater efforts, and to eventual victory. White leaders did not match up to the success of Trotsky and often treated their men with contempt and were often cruel. This did nothing for their troops morale as it only reminded them of the worst aspects of the Russian army and Tsarist Rule. Little warmth or support was felt or given to the White leaders and they rarely felt encouraged to strive to do better. White army forces often behaved with great brutality and cruelty in areas they controlled. They burned down towns, destroyed property and took peasant farmers’ crop and livestock by force. However, people could not object, as they faced torture and execution if they did. Inevitably and the Whites became hated and feared because of this.
Bolsheviks propaganda homed in on this, as they organised a highly effective propaganda campaign in the areas they controlled. The propaganda was spread through newspapers, speeches, posters and leaflets. The propaganda was an added benefit that particularly the Bolsheviks used to help them gain support and win the Civil War. Through propaganda the people were continually told that it was in fact them that were in charge of Russia. They uses extremely powerful and imaginative images showing the Bolsheviks offering a wonderful new society for peasants and workers, where life would be better and wealth would be distributed more fairly. In addition, they portrayed that the White Armies and their leaders would destroy all the achievements of the Revolution, break up the Soviets and bring back the old system. In this way, support for the Bolsheviks was organised and built up successfully. The Bolsheviks were also handed a propaganda coup in the form of the intervention if foreign forces, which should’ve have worked in the Whites favour but didn’t because it allowed the Bolsheviks to portray themselves as defenders of Russian soil against foreign invaders.
Having a successful propaganda campaign enabled the Bolsheviks to receive large amounts of support from the peasants, which would be crucial since they supplied the main body of the soldiers. Lenin used successful propaganda to gain the support of the peasants who otherwise had little love for either side but the peasants would also have been more inclines to support the Bolsheviks as Lenin had legitimised their right to lands, whereas the Whites made it clear that the land would be restored to its former owners.
By the end of the Civil War in 1921 the Bolsheviks had succeeded in securing their grip on power in Russia and the White Armies and foreign powers fighting in Russia had been defeated. The Bolsheviks were able to win the Civil War because they were in a well placed located that enabled them to be organised in unity, under good leadership, which used propaganda to maintain large amounts of support.
