Russian Civil War

The Russian Civil War took place in the aftermath of the fall of the Russian Empire and the two revolutions from 1917 to 1922. The war was largely fought between 'Reds' (composed of the Bolsheviks and their allies) and the 'Whites' (composed of various anti-Bolshevik groups, including monarchists, republicans, capitalists and even more moderate socialists). There were also more independent anarchist groups (like the Black Army) and 'Green Armies' who defended their towns and land from exploitation by others.

An estimated 7,000,000 to 12,000,000 were killed as a result of the war (compared to 15,000,000 to 19,000,000 deaths in World War I). Russia's economy was destroyed, it is estimated that the total output of mines and factories in 1921 had fallen to 20% of the pre-World War level, and many crucial items experienced an even more drastic decline. For example, cotton production fell to 5%, and iron to 2%, of pre-war levels.