Which of the following best explains why Red Army won the Russian Civil War
A) The Red Army had stronger leadership and superior military tactics.
B) The Red Army had the support of the majority of the Russian population.
C) The Red Army received significant military and financial aid from foreign countries.
D) The White Army lacked cohesion and coordination among its various factions.
E) The Red Army successfully exploited political divisions among the White Army.
The correct answer is a combination of B) The Red Army had the support of the majority of the Russian population, D) The White Army lacked cohesion and coordination among its various factions, and E) The Red Army successfully exploited political divisions among the White Army.
During the Russian Civil War, the Red Army, led by the Bolsheviks, was able to rally more popular support compared to the White Army, which was composed of various anti-Bolshevik factions. The Red Army had strong ideological appeal and promised land redistribution and an end to the war, resonating with the predominantly peasant population who had suffered under the tsarist regime.
The White Army, on the other hand, lacked unity and coordination among its various factions, making it difficult to mount a cohesive and effective resistance against the Red Army. Different anti-Bolshevik leaders had differing goals and strategies, which weakened their overall military effort.
Additionally, the Red Army successfully exploited political divisions among the White Army, sowing discord and promoting infighting within the anti-Bolshevik forces. This further weakened their overall resistance and allowed the Red Army to gain an advantage.
While some foreign countries, such as Britain, France, and the United States, provided military and financial aid to the White Army, it was not significant enough to tilt the overall balance of power in their favor. Ultimately, the Red Army's popular support, better organization, and exploitation of political divisions among their opponents were key factors in their victory.