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Bolshevik Consolidation
Bolshevik Consolidation
1. The Situation of Russia’s foreign relations 3. The Russo-Polish War 6. The Zinoviev letter
1 What was 1. Russia’s former allies felt 1 How did 1. The Bolsheviks attempted to export the revolution and in 1 What was the 1. The USSR had an improved
Russia’s betrayed by the peace fighting begin? 1920 the Red Army invaded Poland. USSR’s relationship with Britain
relationship negotiations with Germany 2. The Bolsheviks expected the Polish working class to relationship 2. Signed the Anglo-Soviet Trade
like with 2. Russia was not invited to the support the Red Army and revolt against the Polish with Britain Agreement in March 1921, which
Western Paris Peace Conference nor Government. like? facilitated greater trade
powers? involved with the formation of Was it a 1. The invasion failed as the Poles resisted what they saw as
2
the League of Nations success? traditional Russian expansionist aggression. 2 What was the 1. The British Communist Party was
2. Conflict lasted from Feb 1919 to Oct 1921 Zinoviev letter formed with the support of the
2. Foreign intervention in the Civil War 3. The Treaty of Riga was signed in March 1921 incident? Comintern,
4. This event represented a failure to spread communism 2. They sought to influence the British
1 Why? 1. Countries like Britain, France and the Labour Party.
USA wanted to help the whites win so 3. On 25th October 1924, the Daily Mail
4. Spreading Communism published a letter allegedly written
Russia could be kept in WW1
2. The Allies had sent large amounts of by Zinoviev, the then head of the
1 What was 1. The Comintern was an international organisation
ammunition to Russia for WW1 and they Comintern.
the that aimed to promote Marxism and the spread 4. The letter called for the British
didn’t want the Bolsheviks to control
Comintern? of communism around the world. Communist Part to infiltrate the
them
3. After the end of WW1, the foreign Labour Party
2 What 1. At the first Comintern Congress in March 1919 there was
powers aimed to combat Bolshevism initial positivity with delegates from all over the world. Impact of the 1. The Zinoviev Letter reinforced the
happened 3
4. But for all countries there was mixed 2. As the congresses continued in 1920 and 1921 Lenin letter view that the British Labour Party
opinion on how much to get involved at it’s began to dominate the conversation with his ideas. This was too closely linked to Soviet
meetings? alienated some parties broke away Russia.
2 How? 1. The Allies sent troops to help the Whites 2. Zinoviev claimed the letter had been
– although they were spread across 3 Was it 1. By 1921, there was only limited support for world forged, but the Conservatives won
Russia and the numbers were small successful? revolution as support for ‘bourgeois democracies’ the election 4 days later.
2. North – British forces attacked at increased – like the Weimar Republic in Germany. 3. The new Conservative government
Murmansk, British Navy blockaded trade 2. After the Third Comintern Congress Lenin shifted focus to was much more hostile to Soviet
to Russia through the Baltic Sea protecting Russia. relations.
3. East – 11,000 US troops landed at
Vladivostock and Japanese troops 4. Relations with Germany 7. Summary of Lenin’s Rule by 1924
invaded Eastern Siberia
4. South – Baku (oil region) was occupied 1 Why ally with 1. Both Russia and Germany had been isolated by the West 1 Social 1. Despite having promised peace, land and
by the British & British and French forces Germany? since the end of WW1 bread, he had led Russia into a brutal civil
blockaded trade through the Black Sea war and his policies had created a famine.
and the Caspian Sea 2 Who signed 1. In 1922, the Soviet Union’s foreign minister Georgy
the treaty of Chicherin met with representatives from Weimar Germany 2 Political 1. Lenin had succeeded in his prime goal: the
Rapallo? after a conference in Genoa. Communists had seized and retained
3 Impact 1. Some early impact, helping the Whites power.
achieve initial advances What did it 1. Both nations promised to ‘co-operate in a spirit of mutual 2. Soviet democracy had been usurped by
3
2. Foreign intervention did not significantly agree? goodwill in meeting the economic needs of both the party.
impact the outcome of the Civil War countries’.
3 Ideology 1. The NEP was unpopular within the
3. Most foreign intervention was too small 2. The re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Communist Party because it was a
scale to impact the Bolshevik control Russia and Germany. compromise with capitalism
4. The most significant impact was that the 3. Russia provided Germany’s military training grounds and 2. Lenin hoped that, in the fullness of time,
foreign powers isolated Russia resources. the party would lead Russia and the world
4. Russia would be allowed special trading rights in Germany. to communism.