Red Army

Red Guard Vulkan factory

Soviet Red Army Hammer and Plough

Demyan Bedny and Leon Trotsky

Lenin, Trotsky and Voroshilov with Delegates of the 10th Congress of the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks)

Polish-soviet propaganda poster 1920

Blagoveshchensky, Rytov, Rychagov, Polynin

Red Army was the army and the air force of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, and after 1922, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union. It was established immediately after the October Revolution of 1917, and by 1920, it had grown considerably in size due to the Russian Civil War. The Red Army provided the main military opposition to the White Army during the civil war. The term "Red Army" is synonymous with the workers and peasants' Red Army.

History

The Red Army was formed on February 23, 1918, by a decree of the Soviet government. The decision to create a new revolutionary army was due to the disintegration of the old Tsarist army during the turmoil of the 1917 revolution. Initially, the Red Army was composed of volunteers who were dedicated to the Bolshevik cause, but as the civil war intensified, the Soviet government began to conscript men for service.

During the Russian Civil War, the Red Army fought against the White Army, which was composed of anti-Bolshevik groups, including monarchists, conservatives, and liberals, who were supported by foreign powers such as the United Kingdom, France, and the United States. Despite being poorly organized and equipped in its early days, the Red Army, under the leadership of Leon Trotsky, who was the Commissar for War, managed to defeat the White forces and consolidate Bolshevik power by 1922.

After the civil war, the Red Army underwent significant reorganization and modernization. It played a crucial role in the Soviet Union's defense and expansion during the 20th century, notably in World War II, where it was officially known as the Soviet Army. It was instrumental in the defeat of Nazi Germany, particularly in battles such as Stalingrad and Kursk.

Structure

The Red Army's structure evolved over time, from a ragtag force of volunteers to a highly organized and disciplined military machine. It was divided into several branches, including infantry, cavalry, artillery, and later, armored and air forces. The Red Army was known for its emphasis on political loyalty and its use of political commissars, who were responsible for ensuring the party's control over the military.

Legacy

The legacy of the Red Army is complex. It is celebrated for its role in defeating Nazi Germany and liberating Eastern Europe during World War II. However, its actions during the Russian Civil War, the Polish-Soviet War, the Winter War against Finland, and its occupation of Eastern Europe after World War II have been subjects of criticism.

The Red Army was officially renamed the Soviet Army in 1946 and continued to exist until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Its successor is the Russian Armed Forces.