How Mighty is the Red Army? - WW2 Special
World War Two・8 minutes read
The Red Army was formed in 1918 after the October 1917 Revolution, with Leon Trotsky playing a key role in professionalizing the army by recruiting officers from the old Tsarist Army, expanding it during the Civil War era and facing challenges in 1941 due to the Great Purges of 1936-38. Semyon Timoshenko introduces reforms to rebuild and professionalize the Red Army, emphasizing hierarchical ranks, training programs, and a new Disciplinary Code.
Insights
- The Workers and Peasants Red Army was initially formed after the October 1917 Revolution to create a new army separate from the old Tsarist military, with soldiers electing committees to lead their units instead of officers.
- Lenin and Trotsky played crucial roles in professionalizing and expanding the Red Army during the Civil War era, recruiting Tsarist officers and implementing reforms to address challenges such as the shortage of capable commanders caused by the Great Purges.
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What was the Workers and Peasants Red Army?
A new standing army post-October 1917 Revolution.
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Summary
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Formation and Evolution of the Red Army
- The Workers and Peasants Red Army is formed in January 1918 after the October 1917 Revolution, aiming to be a new standing army distinct from the old Tsarist military.
- Initially following utopian ideals, soldiers in the collapsing Tsarist Army elect committees to run their units instead of officers, encouraged by the Petrograd Soviet.
- Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin appoints Leon Trotsky as People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs in March 1918 to professionalize the Red Army, recruiting officers from the old Tsarist Army.
- The Red Army is expanded during the Civil War era with the help of 300,000 Tsarist commanders, kept in place by Political Commissars at various levels.
- Lenin and Trotsky begin a conscription drive in June 1918, maintaining the army's focus on politically conscious peasants and workers.
- The Red Army faces challenges in 1941 due to the Great Purges of 1936-38, which decapitated the army's command structure and led to a shortage of capable commanders.
- Semyon Timoshenko, appointed as People's Commissar for Defence in May 1940, introduces reforms emphasizing hierarchical ranks, training programs, and a new Disciplinary Code to rebuild and professionalize the Red Army.
