Who are the "red" and "white"?

Where did the terms "red" and "white"?The civil war known as "green", "Cadets", "Socialist" and other formations.What is the fundamental difference between them?

In this article, we'll only respond to these questions, but briefly acquainted with the history of the Soviet regime in the country.Let's talk about the opposition of the White Guard and Red Army.

origin of the term "red" and "white»

today History of the Fatherland are fewer and fewer young people are concerned.According to surveys, many do not even have a clue who this Lenin, to say nothing of the War of 1812 ...

However, such words and phrases as "red" and "white", "civil war" and "Octoberrevolution ", even at the hearing.Most, however, do not know the details, but the terms are heard.

Let's look in more detail in this issue.We must start with, where there were two opposing camps - the "white" and "red" in the Civil War.Basically, it was just an ideological course of Soviet propaganda and nothing more.Now you understand yourself in this puzzle.

Referring to the textbooks and reference books of the Soviet Union, where it is explained that "white" - is the White Guards, supporters of the king and the enemies of the "red" of the Bolsheviks.

Like all it was.But in fact this is another enemy that fought the Soviets.

country after seventy years, lived in the confrontation fictitious enemies.These were the "white", fists decadent West, capitalists.Very often a vague definition of the enemy is the foundation for slander and terror.

Next, we will discuss the causes of the Civil War."White", according to Bolshevik ideology, were monarchists.But here's the catch, the monarchists in the war almost was not.They had no one to fight, and the honor does not suffer from this.Nicholas II abdicated and his brother did not take the crown.Thus, all the king's officers were free from the oath.

Where, then, did this "color" is the difference?If the Bolsheviks had indeed been a red flag, then their opponents were never white.The answer lies in the history of the century and a half ago.

The French Revolution gave the world two opposing camps.Royal troops wore white banner, a sign of the French dynasty rulers.Their opponents after seizing power red cloth hung in the town hall as a sign of the introduction of martial.In those days, any gathering of people were dispersed by soldiers.

Bolsheviks opposed not monarchists and supporters of the Constituent Assembly (constitutional democrats, the Cadets), anarchists (Makhnovists), "zelenoarmeytsy" (fought against the "red", "white", invaders) and those who wanted to branch its territoryFree State.

Thus, the term "white" has been cleverly used by ideologues to define a common enemy.His winning position was that any Red Army could briefly explain why he fights, unlike the rest of the rebels.This attracted the common people to the Bolsheviks, and enabled the latter to win the Civil War.

Background War

When we study the lessons of the Civil War, the table is a must for a good mastery of the material.Here are the stages of the armed conflict, which will help you to better navigate not only in paper but also in this period in the history of the Fatherland.

Now that we are with you decided who the "red" and "white", civil war, or rather its stages will be better understood.You can proceed to a deeper study of them.You should start with assumptions.

So, the main cause of the passions, which later turned into a five-year civil war, had accumulated contradictions and problems.

Firstly, part of the Russian Empire in World War destroyed the economy and depleted resources in the country.The majority of the male population was in the army, the decline came to agriculture and urban industry.Soldiers are tired to fight for someone else's ideals, when houses were hungry family.

second reason was the agricultural and industrial issues.There were too many peasants and workers who live in poverty and misery.The Bolsheviks took advantage of this to the fullest.

In order to make participation in the World War II in the struggle between classes, some steps have been made.

First was the first wave of nationalization of enterprises, banks and land.Next Brest Treaty was signed which plunged Russia into the abyss of complete ruin.Against the background of the general chaos the Red Army staged a terror to stay in power.

To justify their behavior they had built the ideology of the struggle against the White Guards and interventionists.

Background

Let's analyze in detail why the Civil War began.The table, which we cited earlier, illustrates the stages of the conflict.But we begin with the events that happened before the Great October Revolution.

Weak participation in World War I, the Russian empire in decline.Renounces the throne Nicholas II.More importantly, he does not appear successor.In light of these events are formed at the same time, two new forces - the Provisional Government and the Soviet of Workers' Deputies.

first begin to deal with the social and political crisis, the Bolsheviks also focused on increasing its influence in the army.This path led them subsequently to becoming the sole ruling power in the country.
That confusion in the government led to the fact that the formed "red" and "white."The Civil War was only the apotheosis of their differences.What is to be expected.

October Revolution

In fact, the tragedy of the Civil War begins with the October Revolution.The Bolsheviks gained strength and confidence came to power.In mid-October 1917 in Petrograd began to take shape very tense.

October 25 Alexander Kerensky, the head of the Provisional Government, leaving Petrograd to Pskov for help.He personally assess events in a city like rebellion.

In Pskov he asks General Dukhonin troops to help him.Kerensky like and receives support from the Cossacks, but suddenly out of the regular army cadets.Now the Democrats refuse to support the constitutional head of the government.

not find adequate support in Pskov, Alexander F. goes to the city island, where he met with General Krasnov.At the same time in Petrograd comes storming of the Winter Palace.In Soviet history is presented as a key event.But in fact it was no resistance on the part of MPs.After

blank shot from the cruiser "Aurora" sailors, soldiers and workers came to the palace and arrested all those present there are members of the Provisional Government.In addition, the Second Congress of Soviets was held, which adopted a series of key declarations and abolished the penalty at the front.

In view of what happened coup Krasnov decided to help Alexander Kerensky.October 26 in the direction of Petrograd detachment of cavalry out of seven hundred people.It was assumed that in the city they would support an uprising Junkers.But it was crushed by the Bolsheviks.

In this situation, it became clear that the Provisional Government no longer valid.Kerensky fled, General Krasnov bargained Bolsheviks to freely return to the squad in the Island.

Meanwhile Revolutionaries begin a radical fight against the Bolsheviks, who, in their opinion, have got a lot of power.The answer to the murder of some "red" leaders became the terror of the Bolsheviks, and started the Civil War (1917-1922).Now consider the subsequent events.

establishment of the "red" power

As we said above, the tragedy of the Civil War began long before the October Revolution.The common people, soldiers, workers and peasants were dissatisfied with the current situation.If the central regions of many paramilitary units were under the tight control of the Bids, in eastern squads dominated completely different mood.

The presence of a large number of reserve troops and their reluctance to go to war with Germany helped the Bolsheviks quickly and bloodlessly get support almost two-thirds of the army.Only 15 large cities resisted the "red" power 84 is switched on his own initiative into their hands.

unexpected surprise for the Bolsheviks in a stunning support from confused and tired soldier was declared a "red" as "the triumphal march of the Soviets."

Civil War (1917-1922) only worsened after the signing of ruinous for Russia Brest peace.Under the agreement, the former Empire lost more than a million square kilometers of territory.These included: the Baltic States, Belarus, Ukraine, the Caucasus, Romania, Don territory.In addition, they had to pay six billion German marks indemnity.

This decision caused protest both inside the country and on the side of the Entente.Along with the strengthening of various local conflicts begins military intervention of Western countries to Russia.

Enter Entente troops reinforce the revolt of the Czechoslovak Corps in Siberia and Kuban Cossacks rebellion under the leadership of General Krasnov.Broken forces Whites and interventionists some went to Central Asia and many more years of continued struggle against Soviet power.

second period of the Civil War

It is at this stage, the most active were the White Guard Heroes of the Civil War.History has preserved us such names as Kolchak, Yudenich, Denikin, Yuzefovich, Miller and others.

Each of these generals had their vision of the future for the state.Some have tried to communicate with the Entente troops to overthrow the Bolshevik regime and yet to convene a Constituent Assembly.Others wanted to become local warlords.These include such as Makhno, Grigoriev, and others.

complexity of this period is that once completed the first World War, German troops were to leave the territory of Russia only after the arrival of the Allies.But the secret agreement before they left, passing the city to the Bolsheviks.

As history shows us, the Civil War it was after this turn of events is included in the phase of cruelty and bloodshed.The failure of the commanders, focused on Western governments, aggravated by the fact that they lacked qualified officers.So, Miller Army, Yudenich and some other formations disbanded because the shortage of mid-level commanders of the main flow of forces came from Red Army prisoners.

reports in the newspapers of the period characterized by the headlines of this kind: "Two thousand soldiers from the three guns went over to the Red Army."

final stage

beginning of the last period of the war of 1917-1922, historians tend to associate with the Polish war.With western neighbors Pilsudski wanted to create a confederation with the territory from the Baltic to the Black Sea.But his desire not to be realized.Army Civil War led Yegorov and Tukhachevsky fought moved deeper into the Western Ukraine and came to the Polish border.

victory over this enemy was to raise the struggle of workers in Europe.But all the plans for the Red Army leaders have failed after the devastating defeat at the battle, which has been preserved under the name of "Miracle on the Vistula".

After the conclusion of a peace treaty between the Soviets and Poland in the camp of the Entente begin disagreements.As a result, decreased funding for the "white" movement, and the civil war in Russia is starting to go down.

In the early 1920s, similar changes in the foreign policy of Western countries led to the fact that the Soviet Union recognized the majority of countries.

Civil War hero of the final period fought against Wrangel in Ukraine, the invaders in the Caucasus and Central Asia, Siberia.Among the most distinguished commanders should be noted Tukhachevsky, Blucher, Frunze and others.

Thus, as a result of five years of bloody battles in the Russian Empire formed a new government.Subsequently, it has become the second superpower, the only rival that had the United States.

Reasons victory

Let's understand why the defeated "white" in the Civil War.We compare the assessment of the opposing camps and try to come to a common conclusion.

Soviet historians the main reason for his victory seen that provided the mass support of the oppressed sections of society.Particular emphasis was placed on those who have suffered as a result of the 1905 revolution.Because they unconditionally over to the Bolsheviks.

«White», on the contrary, have complained about the lack of human and material resources.In the occupied territories with a million people, they could not carry out even minimal mobilizing to join the ranks.

Particularly interesting statistics, which gave civil war."Red", "white" (table shown below) particularly suffered from desertion.Intolerable living conditions and the lack of clear objectives made themselves felt.The data relate only to the Bolshevik forces, as distinct digits White Guard records not kept.

The main point, which is marked by modern historians, was the political sphere of the conflict.

White Guards, first, did not have a centralized command and minimal cooperation between the parts.They fought locally, each for its own interests.The second feature was the lack of political workers and a clear program.These moments are often entrusted to the officers, who could only fight, but do not conduct diplomatic negotiations.

The soldiers also created a powerful ideological network.It developed a clear system of concepts, which are hammered into the heads of the workers and soldiers.Slogans allows us to understand even the most downtrodden peasants, for which he is fighting.

Such policy allowed the Bolsheviks to get the maximum support of the population.

Consequences

victory "red" in the Civil War was the state dearly.It was completely destroyed by the economy.The country lost territory with a population of over 135 million people.

agriculture and productivity, food production declined by 40-50 per cent.Requisitioning and "red-white" terror in different regions have led to the death of a huge number of people from starvation, torture and execution.

industry, according to experts, has slipped to the level of the Russian Empire during the reign of Peter the Great.As the researchers say, production figures dropped to 20 per cent in 1913, and in some areas, and up to 4 percent.

As a consequence, there was a massive outflow of workers from the cities to the villages.Since there was at least some hope does not die of hunger.