Trotsky

Question 1

Trotsky 2 key roles

Answer 1

Commissar of foreign affairs
commissar of war (led red army)

Question 2

Trotsky 2 key ideals

Answer 2

strong and permanent revolution
military success

Question 3

When did Trotsky sign Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?

Russian loses from withdrawing from WW1?
(2 points)

Answer 3

3rd March 1918

significant territorial losses (Ukraine, Finland, Poland)
lost 34% of population, 40% of food production, 89% of coal production

Question 4

Significance of Trotsky signing Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?

(3 points)

Answer 4

ended Russia’s involvement in WW1

forced to accept humiliating peace terms

compromised in order to prevent losing more resources to Germany

Question 5

When was the Red Army created?

When was Trotsky appointed Commissar of War?

Answer 5

January 1918

March 1918

Question 6

How did Trotsky recruit people to the Red Army?

How did he recruit peasants unwilling to serve?

Answer 6

mass conscription of peasant men aged 18-40 introduced (May 1918)

death penalty reintroduced for disobedience, circulated propaganda to convince peasants they were fighting for their land and rights against whites

Question 7

How does the Red Army reflect Tsar’s Imperial Army?

2 points

Answer 7

abandoned ideals of democratic volunteer army, reformed Red Army along lines of old Imperial Army

Bolsheviks relied on combination of propaganda and terror to maintain control

Question 8

Red Army strengths

2 points

Answer 8

united, effective leadership allowed for disciplined, well trained military

outnumbered Whites 2:1 in major battles in 1919 (Battle of Omsk)

Question 9

When was the Kronstadt Revolt?

What caused it?

What happened?

Answer 9

March 1921

1921 famine - killed 5 million

Kronstadt sailors issued manifesto demanding end to War Communism and democratic reforms

Question 10

How did Trotsky use the Red Army to crush the Kronstadt Revolt?

Effect of this?
(2 points)

Answer 10

50,000 soldiers successfully overwhelmed mutineers on night of 16-17 1921

rebellion neutralised, Bolshevik control consolidated
increased pressure to abandon War Communism