War Communism

Definition

War communism was a political and economic system implemented by the Bolshevik government in Russia during the Russian Civil War (1917-1922). It aimed to maintain the Red Army and support the Soviet state by nationalizing industry, requisitioning agricultural produce from peasants, and abolishing private trade. This extreme approach was a response to the economic turmoil and food shortages caused by the civil war and was crucial in solidifying Bolshevik control.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. War communism was characterized by the nationalization of all industries, which meant that factories and businesses were taken over by the state to support the war effort.
2. The policy included forced requisitioning of grain from peasants, leading to widespread resistance and a decline in agricultural productivity.
3. Under war communism, private trade was banned, which resulted in shortages of goods and significant economic hardship for the population.
4. The policy was officially implemented in 1918 and lasted until 1921 when it was replaced by the New Economic Policy due to its failure to sustain the economy.
5. Despite its harshness, war communism was effective in providing resources for the Red Army, which played a vital role in securing Bolshevik victory in the civil war.

Review Questions

• How did war communism affect the Russian economy and society during the civil war?
  • War communism drastically altered both the economy and society in Russia by instituting strict government control over all industry and agriculture. This led to widespread famine due to forced grain requisitioning, causing many peasants to resist and hide their produce. Additionally, the banning of private trade caused severe shortages of everyday goods, impacting ordinary citizens’ lives and increasing dissatisfaction with the Bolshevik regime.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of war communism in achieving Bolshevik goals during the Russian Civil War.
  • War communism was effective in providing necessary resources for the Red Army, ultimately contributing to their victory over anti-Bolshevik forces. However, it also created significant economic hardships and resentment among peasants and urban workers, leading to social unrest. The harshness of this policy forced the Bolsheviks to reconsider their approach, which eventually culminated in the implementation of the New Economic Policy as a more moderate alternative.
• Assess the long-term implications of war communism on Soviet policies after the civil war.
  • The implementation of war communism had profound long-term implications for Soviet policies. It highlighted the challenges of centralized control over an economy that relied on agrarian outputs while fostering significant discontent among peasants. The failure of war communism led directly to Lenin's New Economic Policy, which reintroduced some market mechanisms. This shift marked a critical turning point for Soviet economic policy, establishing a balance between state control and limited private enterprise that shaped future governance under Stalin and beyond.

Related terms

Bolsheviks: A faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labor Party that seized power during the October Revolution of 1917, leading to the establishment of a one-party socialist state.

New Economic Policy (NEP): A temporary economic policy introduced by Vladimir Lenin in 1921 that allowed for a limited degree of private enterprise and small-scale private agriculture after the failures of war communism.

Red Army: The military force established by the Bolsheviks to defend their regime during the Russian Civil War and to fight against anti-Bolshevik forces.