Trotsky played a very significant role in the successful Bolshevik revolution in the 1918 Civil War; this was not only because he was an extremely effective leader who built up and maintained a strong, disciplined army for the Bolshevik’s success in the civil war and the securing of power in Russia, but because of the tactics he put in place to secure and hold power in Russia: use of the Cheka, War Communism and Propaganda; despite all this, the failings of the White Army also furthered his chances of success.
Trotsky played a very significant part in the Red Army’s victory in the Russian civil war and played a paramount role in the leading of the Red Army. Trotsky built up the Red Army from nothing, introducing conscription for men over 18 years old, he then brought in about 50000 officers from the old Tsarist Army to lead his men as effectively as possible; Trotsky kept these officers in line by having Commissars making sure the soldiers do their duty, otherwise the Tsar’s officers would be killed, as would their families. Trotsky would use great leadership skills to keep his men and the Bolshevik uprising going, one example would be the use of his armoured train. Trotsky’s armoured train was used to great effect during the Bolshevik revolution, Trotsky would travel across Russia to inspect his men, give speeches to them and the people in main cities, like Moscow or Petrograd, and deliver munitions for his army to keep them fighting efficiently. But he would also have deserters, cowards and traitors killed; or the use of decimation (the killing of every 10th man) to keep his men in line. These tactics were very effective; Trotsky said when he addressed his troops: “I issue this warning. If any detachment retreats without orders, the first to be shot will be the Commissar, the second the commander”. (Page 57-Source 1: Russia and the USSR [1905-1941] by Terry Fiehn, Hodder, London 1996).
The Essay on Civil War Russia Bolsheviks Russian
By early 1918 in Russia, the Bolsheviks controlled only the north-western area of the Russian Empire (Petrograd and Moscow) together with the areas between and around them. Various opposition groups were formed against the Bolsheviks, under the new Provisional Government. The provisional government had proposed elections for a new assembly in late 1917; Lenin had seen that the Bolsheviks must act ...
This shows that he did have a forceful hold on his men, and would not allow cowardice or failure in his army; his determination to succeed strengthened his brutal hold on power and his troops, using whatever measures possible to secure and maintain power for the Bolsheviks. He also said: “Where force is necessary, there it must be applied boldly, decisively and completely.” (http://www.ranker.com/list/a-list-of-famous-leon-trotsky-quotes/reference).
This also clearly indicates his willingness to use force to succeed in his aims ‘boldly, decisively and completely’, so he wouldn’t take no for an answer, his determination was strong, and a leading factor for the success of the Bolsheviks in the Civil War.
