During the years of the civil war (1918 – 1924), the Red army operated many key important cities throughout Russia. For example Petrograd and Moscow. These cities mainly consisted of workers and peasants. The Red Army used this opportunity to gain electoral votes and to express their views and opinions. By occupying large and densely populated cities throughout Russia the Red Army gained many votes and a vast amount of electoral support. They used the strategic method of propaganda to do this.
As the Russian civil war became a reality, the Bolshevik hierarchy saw the need to replace the provisional Red guards with a stronger and permanent force.
The Red army was successful and victorious because they were heavily committed to lead the nation to Communism. They were also extremely well organised unlike the other armies which were undisciplined and lacked military structure.
Armies such as the Whites were scattered around the urban fringe (around city edges). This provoked bad communication. Messages had to be sent by horseback and there were also supply problems because of this. The Whites were forced into violent requisitioning. They found receiving supplies difficult, because all the armaments were in city centres which the Red’s occupied. This was not easily accessible from the outer – city edge.
The Red Army had also set their goals for political success and they knew the direction they had to take to gain success. Other armies did not know what they were always fighting for; they had not a real sense of direction. The White Army in particular, had their problems in that Generals and superior officials were not able to trust each other and decision making was therefore made difficult.
The leader of the Red Army, Leon Trotsky, was seen as an inspirational leader. He proved to ensure tough discipline within the army. This discipline was harsh but was necessary as lots of Russian officials at this period were corrupt.
The Red Army also targeted urban workers and peasants. They saw safety in numbers and they thought that if they had won the support of these people, then every thing else should fall into place. They used propaganda and public speeches to gain them on side.
The whites also lost many minorities and lost to all of its pre – 1917 borders such as Ukraine and Georgia.
The Reds also had supreme control of the railway networks in and around the majority of Russia cities. This worked in their favour in that communication and supplies were not a problem, and they were able to jeopardise other army’s communication systems. This led to the Red Army having excellent communication within such a huge county, in comparison with the other armi9es whose communications had failed miserably.
The Reds also signed the treaty of Brest – Litovsk which enabled the Reds to prepare for any on – going decisions that needed to be made. It signalled Russia’s exit from WW1 and the civil war was soon established after this.
In conclusion, these were the main factors and key important factors that helped the Red army to success and victory and the other armies to failure and defeat. Excellent Communication, Occupation of Large and popular cities, Superb Organisation and leadership skills, Discipline, and military structure. The other armies needed these key areas to secure the civil war. Unfortunately they did not and the Bolsheviks took this advantage and used it against their foes very successfully.
