The Aftermath of Civil War in Russia

1. The Aftermath of Civil War in Russia Mikayla, Jana and Saskia

2. What effect did Civil War have on Russia?

3. Political and Economic Issues • War communism left many Russia individuals starving and discontent • In 1921 train fares were one million times what they were in 1917 • Famine lead to 4 million deaths

4. Decline in Industrial output from 1913-1921

5. “parties which were sent into the countryside to obtain grain by requisition might be driven away by peasants with pitchforks. Savage peasants would slit open Commissar’s belly, pack it with grain, and leave him by the roadside as a lesson to all.” From V. Serge’s Memoirs of a Revolutionary-

6. Kronstadt Rebellion • The Kronstadt Sailors were discontent with the Bolshevik reign due to broken promises and the economic issues • Issued 15 demands and rebelled • Trotsky ordered them to stop • They didn’t and consequently Trotsky order the Red army to attack.

7. Brief outlines of the 15 The Kronstadt demands: • New elections for the soviet • Freedom of speech • The right to assemble • The release of political prisoners • Abolishment of militia • Equal rationing

8. “I order all those who have raised a hand against the Socialist Fatherland, immediately to lay down their weapons. Those who resist will be disarmed and put at the disposal of the Soviet Command. The arrested commissars and other representatives of the Government must be freed immediately. Only those who surrender unconditionally will be able to count on the clemency of the Soviet Republic.” Trotsky

9. “The suppression of the Kronstadt rebellion had a shattering effect on the socialists of the world. There could be no more conclusive proof that the Bolsheviks had turned into tyrants.” Orlando Figes, Western Historiographer

10. Kronstadt was the ‘flash that lit up reality better than anything.’ Lenin

11. The NEP • 1921 had brought about extremely poor harvest- lack of available resources • Lenin saw the need for economic reform • New policy was adopted in 1921 • NEP decreased the discontent of the people as well as an increase of production of food

13. “One step backwards, two steps forwards” Lenin

15. Comparison to War Communism NEP • Encouraged to use money • Private trading legalized • Ceased requisition • Private enterprise leagalised WAR COMMUNISM • Bartering of goods • Private trading outlawed • Food requisitioned by state • Production controlled by state

17. NEP was inherently unstable, if not a blind ally, and had to be replaced by something else.’ ~ E.H. Carr  ‘NEP had room to grow but was unsuited for rapid industrialization.’ R.W. Davies

18. The following slides show some propaganda posters from the specific areas we have discussed, as to give you some indication of how people were feeling during this time. We would love some class involvement so please feel free to share any thoughts.

19. Economic and Political Issues: “Way to Communism” What we thought the source showed: • Man on a red horse, with a red flame, wearing red clothes. Red for communism • Flying above the ‘white’ city –showing them as greater • Sun behind makes them seem majestic • The title and image seem to insinuate that they are paving the way for a better Russia • The man seems to be pushing the dark clouds away. The fact that this poster had to be made shows us that people were doubting the new reign and needed to know ‘what they were fighting for’.

20. Kronstadt Rebellion: What we thought the source showed: • Holding his gun, ready to fight • He is larger than Petrograd, could be symbolic of the sailors joint might is larger than Lenin • The sailor seems to be beckoning the people to join him in his rebellion • Sailor is young, fit and healthy. Showing an idealistic image of sailors This shows us that the Kronstadt sailors wanted support and believed in their cause. It also show that many other people were probably feeling the same way about the Bolsheviks.

21. NEP “From the NEP Russia will come the socialist Russia” http://mises.org/daily/3345 What we thought the source showed: • Industry behind him, insunating that the NEP will aid in this department • People working behind Lenin, to make Russia great. All seem to be happy, contributing and EQUAL • Lenin appears friendly, no military weapons or army, he seems common and relatable • Red for communism This shows us that Lenin was trying to encourage his new policy and get the people behind him.

22. So, how did these event’s help consolidate the Bolsheviks power? • After the civil war the Bolsheviks were hardly popular • There decrees had turned the people against them and many rebelled • Upon seeing this issue the Bolsheviks were able to fix these issues and in total POWER WAS CONSOLIDATED

23. So how did the Civil War Help the Bolsheviks consolidate power?

24. Answers • During what year was the Russian famine? 1921 • How many died during that time? 4 million • How many demands did the Kronstadt sailors create? 15 • According to Orlando Figes, what did the Kronstadt rebellion show the Bolsheviks to be? Tyrants • How many died in total during the Kronstadt Rebellion? 20, 000 • According to the Marxist theory, what two stages was Russia ‘stuck in between’? Capitalism and Socialism • Why were some people discontent with the NEP? Many wanted Russia to move strait into Communism. • In total how did the Bolsheviks consolidate their power after the civil war? They consolidated their power by listening to the people and changing their policies.