In the annals of history, few events have shimmered with such chaos and raw potential as the Russian Civil War. The mighty Russian Empire, a bastion of autocracy, collapsed under its own weight and societal upheavals, giving birth to a churning crucible from which the Soviet Union would emerge. From 1917 to 1922, this vast land was plunged into a bitter conflict between the Bolshevik 'Reds' and a coalition of anti-Bolshevik forces, the 'Whites'. Among the actors in this sprawling drama was Great Britain, a nation caught in the whirlwind of post-Great War geopolitics.
The roots of the war trace back to the October Revolution of 1917. The Bolsheviks, under the leadership of Vladimir Lenin, overthrew the Provisional Government, laying claim to Russia's destiny. Yet, vast swathes of the country resisted Bolshevik control. Former Imperial officers, Cossacks, regional leaders, and foreign powers combined to form the Whites. In this era of change, the very future of Russia seemed uncertain.
Britain, having just emerged victoriously yet scarred from the Great War, viewed the Bolsheviks with profound suspicion. The Bolsheviks' commitment to world revolution and their repudiation of Russia's war debts and nationalisation of industries with British investments made them a potential threat to British imperial and economic interests. Furthermore, the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk between the Central Powers and Bolshevik Russia was seen as a betrayal of the Allied cause. Thus, Britain, along with other Allies, embarked on an interventionist policy.
In 1918, British troops landed in Arkhangelsk and Murmansk, two key ports in North Russia. Major-General Frederick Poole, the British commander in the north, sought to rekindle the Eastern Front against Germany and to assist the Whites in their fight against the Reds. However, the end of the Great War in November 1918 shifted the focus solely against Bolshevism.
Another theatre was South Russia, where Britain provided significant aid to White generals such as Anton Denikin and later, Pyotr Wrangel. British materiel and advisors, albeit always in short supply and often inadequate, flowed to White armies. The Royal Navy also played a key role in the Black Sea, endeavouring to keep it out of Bolshevik hands.
Yet, for all the might and machinery, the British intervention was marred by indecision and ambiguity. Politically, there was no unified vision regarding the end goal of the intervention. While the soldiers on the ground grappled with the Reds, at home in Britain, the public grew weary, viewing the campaign as an unnecessary sequel to the Great War.
Despite initial successes, by 1919, the tide began to turn against the Whites. The vastness of Russia, coupled with the Bolsheviks' adept propaganda painting the Whites as tools of foreign imperialists, weighed heavily. The Red Army, growing in strength and coordination under the leadership of Leon Trotsky, began to reclaim lost territory.
By 1920, with the war's momentum clearly with the Reds, Britain and her Allies began to withdraw support to the White cause. British troops were evacuated from North Russia, and aid to the Whites in the south dwindled.
The curtain fell on the Russian Civil War by 1922. The Bolsheviks emerged as the masters of Russia, laying the foundation for the Soviet state. The British intervention, while significant, was but a footnote in this vast and complex war. It was a testament to the limits of power and the unpredictable nature of foreign entanglements. The aftermath of the war shaped the contours of international politics for the rest of the 20th century, with the USSR and Britain often on opposing sides of the global chessboard.
If you have a suggestion regarding additional topics you would like to see included - please let us know
Reference: Article by Greg Scott (Staff Historian), 2024