Russian Civil War

The Russian Civil War was a major war in Russia that followed the Russian Revolution of 1917. A civil war is a war fought within one country between groups of people from the same nation. This conflict lasted from 1917 to 1922. It happened during a time of political change, economic collapse, and social unrest. The war affected much of the former Russian Empire.

The main sides in the war were the Reds and the Whites. The Reds were led by the Bolsheviks, a political group that had taken power in the October Revolution of 1917. The Bolsheviks were led by Vladimir Lenin. They wanted to build a new government based on socialist ideas. Socialism is a system where the state controls major industries and resources.

The Whites were not one single group. They included former army officers, supporters of the old monarchy, liberals, and others who opposed the Bolsheviks. A monarchy is a system where a king or emperor rules. Some Whites wanted to restore the old system, while others simply wanted to remove the Bolsheviks from power. Because they had different goals, the Whites often did not work well together.

The war was fought across a very large area. Fighting took place in cities, villages, and countryside regions. Railways were important because Russia is large, and moving soldiers and supplies was difficult. Both sides used trains to move troops. The war caused great damage to farms, factories, and transport systems. Many civilians suffered from hunger and disease.

Other countries became involved in the conflict. Britain, France, Japan, and the United States sent troops or supplies to support the Whites. These countries were worried about the spread of Bolshevik ideas. This involvement is called foreign intervention, which means outside countries taking part in a conflict. However, foreign help was limited and often uncoordinated.

By 1922, the Red Army had defeated most White forces. The Bolsheviks gained control of most of the former Russian Empire. In the same year, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was formed. The Russian Civil War officially ended, but its effects lasted for many years. The war shaped the future government and society of the region.