Civil War was a terrible ordeal for Russia.This page of history, which for decades to make heroes, in fact, was shameful.Fratricide, numerous betrayals, looting and violence in it side by side with deeds and self-sacrifice.The army consisted of white people of different - people from all classes, representatives of various nationalities inhabiting the vast country and had a different education.Troops were red, too smooth.Both warring parties have experienced many of the same difficulties.In the end, after four years of red win.Why is that?
When the Civil War began
When it comes to the beginning of the Civil War, historians call the different dates.For example, Krasnov proposed subordinate units with the aim of taking control of Petrograd, October 25, 1917.Or another fact: General Alexeyev arrived at the Don for the organization of the Volunteer Army - this was November 2nd.And here's another declaration Milyukov published in the newspaper "Don it" for December 27.What is not a reason to consider it an official declaration of war against the Soviet regime?In a sense, these three versions, like many others, are true.In the last two months of 1917 it was formed (and it could not happen instantaneously) Volunteer White Army.In the Civil War, it was the only serious force capable of resisting the Bolsheviks.
Personnel and social section of the White Army
backbone of the White movement was Russian officers.Starting from 1862 the first of its socio-class structure underwent changes, but extreme rapidity of these processes reached during the First World War.If the middle of the XIX century, belonging to the senior military leadership was the lot of the aristocracy at the beginning of the next century it became increasingly allow commoners.An example is the famous team of the White Army.Alekseev - the son of a soldier, his father was Kornilov Cossack cornet, and Denikin - a serf.Despite being introduced into the mass consciousness propaganda stereotypes about some "blue blood" and the speech could not be.The officers of the White Army in its origin could represent the social section of the Russian Empire.Infantry School for the period from 1916 to 1917 released 60% of immigrants from peasant families.In the army, General Golovin of thousands warrant (junior lieutenants, according to the Soviet system of military ranks) the figure was 700. In addition to them, from the middle-class, working and merchant environment occurred 260 officers.The nobles were also - four dozen.
White Army was founded and formed the notorious "cooks children."Only five per cent of the organizers of the movement were wealthy and famous people, the income remaining before the revolution consisted only of officers' salaries.
modest debut
The officers intervened in the course of political events immediately after the February revolution.It is an organized military force, the main advantage of which was the presence of discipline and combat skills.Political opinion in the sense of belonging to a particular party officers usually do not have, but they had a desire to bring order to the country and to avoid the collapse of the state.As for the number, the whole army of white, as of January 1918 (the campaign of General Kaledin to Petrograd), consisted of seven hundred Cossacks.The demoralization of the troops has led to almost complete unwillingness to fight.Not only ordinary soldiers, but officers are extremely reluctant (about 1% of the total) are subject to a mobilization order.
By the beginning of full-scale hostilities white Volunteer Army numbered seven thousand soldiers and Cossacks, who commanded thousands of officers.No food supplies and weapons it did not have, as well as support from the population.It seemed imminent collapse is inevitable.
Siberia
After seizing power red Tomsk, Irkutsk and other Siberian cities, began to operate clandestine anti-Bolshevik centers by officers.The revolt of the Czechoslovak Corps was the signal for their open opposition to the Soviet government in May-June 1918.It was established West Siberian Army (commander - General AN Grishin-Diamonds), which began to be written by volunteers.Soon after its number exceeded 23 thousand.By August, the army of white, united with the forces of Captain G. Semenov, formed in two buildings (4th East Siberian and 5th Amur) and controlled a vast territory from the Urals to Lake Baikal.It has about 60 thousand. Bayonets, 114 thousand. Unarmed volunteers under the command of nearly 11 thousand. Officers.
North
White Army in the Civil War, apart from Siberia and the Far East, was fighting on three main fronts: South, North-West and North.Each had its own peculiarities in terms of the operational situation and on the contingent.On the northern theater of operations focused most professionally trained officers who have passed the German war.In addition, they have plenty of education, training and courage.Many commanders of the White Army came from Ukraine and owed their escape from the Bolshevik terror German troops, which explains their Germanophilism, others experienced the traditional sympathy for the Entente.This situation sometimes becomes a source of conflict.North White Army was relatively small.
North West White Army
formed at the support of the German armed forces in opposition to the Bolshevik Red Army.After the Germans left its membership numbered 7,000 infantry.It was the least prepared Whiteguard front, which, however, was accompanied by a temporary success.Sailors Chudskoy fleet, together with the cavalry detachment Balakhovich and Permykina, disillusioned with the communist idea, decided to move to the side of the Whites.A growing army of volunteers joined by peasants and then were forcibly mobilized high school students, high-school students.Northwest army fought with varying success and became one of the funniest examples of the war.With more 17 thousand. Soldiers, it was ruled by 34-bedroom generals and many colonels, among them were those whom are under twenty years.
South Russia
Events on this front were decisive in the destiny of the country.The population of over 35 million, the area is equal to the square a couple of major European countries, equipped with a developed transport infrastructure (ports, railroads) were controlled by the forces of Denikin's white.South Russia could exist separately from the rest of the former Russian Empire, he had all the stand-alone development, including agriculture and industry.The generals of the White Army, received an excellent military education and multifaceted experience of fighting with Austria-Hungary and Germany, have all chances to defeat the enemy commanders often poorly educated.However, the problems were the same.Fighting people do not want to create a common ideological platform and failed.Monarchists, democrats, liberals united by a desire to resist Bolshevism.
Deserters
and Red and White Army suffered the same disease: they do not want to volunteer representatives of the peasantry.Forced mobilization led to a decrease in the overall combat capability.Russian officers, regardless of social background, have traditionally constituted a special caste, far from the masses of soldiers, which caused internal contradictions.The extent of punitive measures applied to deserters were atrocious on both sides of the front, but Bolshevik executions practiced more frequently and decisively, including showing the cruelty and with respect to the families escaped.In addition, they were more courageous in the promises.As the number of force aimed at soldiers, "blurs" combat-ready officers shelves difficult to control combat missions.Reserves there was virtually no supply worsened.There were other problems that led to the defeat of the army in the south, which was the last stronghold of white.
Myths and Reality
image of the White Guard officer, dressed in immaculate tunic, certainly a gentleman with a sonorous name, conducting leisure time in drinking and singing of songs, far from the truth.Had to fight in conditions of constant shortage of weapons, ammunition, food, clothing and everything else, without which support the army in combat readiness is difficult, if not impossible.Allies support provided, but this does not help enough, plus there was a moral crisis, and expressed in the sense of fighting against his own people.
After the defeat in the Civil War found refuge abroad Wrangel and Denikin.Bolsheviks in 1920 was shot by Alexander Kolchak.Army (White) every bloody year loses all new territory.All this led to the forced evacuation from Sevastopol in 1922, the surviving parts of the once mighty army.A little later it was suppressed last pockets of resistance in the Far East.
Many of the songs of the White Army, after some adaptations of texts became Red Guard.The words for "Holy Russia" shall be replaced by "the power of the Soviets", a similar fate awaited other great musical works, to get new titles ("In the valleys and on the hills," "Kakhovka" and so forth.) Today, after decades of neglect, they are availablestudents interested in the history of the White movement.
