Red Army (Workers' and Peasants' Red Army)
The Red Army, formally known as the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, was the original military force of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), established in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution of 1917. Initially composed of volunteers and former imperial officers, the Red Army evolved to recruit and train its own officers and professional soldiers. Throughout its history, it played a crucial role in the Russian Civil War, ultimately defeating the anti-Communist White Army and solidifying the establishment of the Soviet government.
During World War II, the Red Army faced significant challenges, particularly in the early stages of the conflict against Nazi Germany. Despite early setbacks, it became instrumental in turning the tide of the war, culminating in the successful defense and recapture of Soviet territory, and eventually playing a key role in the fall of Berlin in 1945. After the war, the Red Army underwent a major reduction in size but continued to serve as a significant military force during the Cold War era.
By 1991, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Red Army transitioned into the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, maintaining a legacy that continues to influence modern Russian military structure and identity.
Red Army (Workers' and Peasants' Red Army)
The Red Army, or the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, was the original army of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). It was formed after the Russian Revolution of 1917. The army was first staffed by volunteers and former imperial officers. However, it later trained its own officers and professional soldiers. The Red Army successfully managed to repel the German army in World War II, then involved itself in Soviet political affairs. After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the army continued to serve Russia.
Background
Prior to 1917, the Russian government was ruled by nobles called tsars (also spelled czars). While the tsars had successfully ruled Russia since 1721, Tsar Nicholas II had become wildly unpopular. Corruption was common among government officials, food was scarce, and the people were upset with Russia's involvement in World War I. When the people felt there was no chance of their voices being heard, they revolted.
The Russian Revolution of 1917, also known as the February Revolution, forced Nicholas II out of power. When his brother Michael refused to take control of the nation, the Russian monarchy lost control of the country. The people quickly formed a provisional government to handle any affairs of the state while they looked for a long-term solution.
Later that year, revolutionaries led by the writer and politician Vladimir Lenin revolted against the provisional government. They quickly seized important government buildings and formed a new government. No blood was spilled during this coup, and Lenin was quickly installed as the head of the new government. The government followed a Marxist philosophy, opposing the rich and making many commodities publicly owned. By 1922, this government was called the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), or the Soviet Union.
Overview
Following the February Revolution, the entirety of the Russian imperial army and navy collapsed. Knowing the political situation throughout Europe was volatile, and that Russia could not allow itself to be defenseless for an extended period of time, the provisional government called for a volunteer army to be formed. They called this militia the Red Army, or the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army.
In 1918, tsar loyalists and anti-Communist protestors joined forces to oppose Lenin and his government. Tensions quickly boiled over, and violence erupted between the two sides. The anti-Communist, pro-royalist forces named themselves the White Army, because white is the traditional color of royalty. They fought against the Red Army, in a civil war that lasted three years. While the White Army had larger numbers and better financial backing, the Red Army was composed almost entirely of zealots willing to fight for the establishment of a Communist state. After a difficult civil war, the Red Army was victorious, and the Soviet Union was officially formed.
Following the devolution of the imperial army, the Red Army found itself lacking a solid officer core. To maintain discipline in the ranks, the Red Army resorted to recruiting former imperial army officers to lead its troops. The Communist government did not trust these officers and paired each one with a commissar. The commissars' job was to follow the officers everywhere they went, watching for signs of any anti-Communist actions. Orders issued by former imperial officers were not valid unless they were signed by the commissar. Once the Red Army had its own officer schools functioning, the former imperial officers were phased out of service.
In 1937, Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin instituted a purge of the Red Army. He accused many of his top generals and officers of plotting against him. He argued that they planned to betray the Soviet Union to Japan and Germany. All of the accused were executed. Years later, it was discovered that the generals had been innocent, and that Stalin had used these accusations as an excuse to have them removed from power. The purge greatly hurt the Red Army's morale and effectiveness, as many veteran commanders had been removed from power.
The outbreak of World War II brought sweeping change to the Soviet Union. Despite the advice of some of his top advisors, Stalin trusted the German government. For this reason, the Soviet Union was completely unprepared when more than three million German troops stormed its borders. Due to the element of surprise and the effects of Stalin's purge, the German army inflicted massive amounts of casualties on the Soviet forces. The Red Army and the Soviet air force were both devastated. After several days of retreating, Red Army reserves managed to hold the line against the Germans in the north. However, a second German attack in the south disrupted trade routes and stole control of Soviet oil fields.
After two years of defeats, the last remnants of the Red Army held against a huge German assault in the Battle of Kursk in 1943. The troops then managed to counterattack against the Germans, driving them back. Against all odds, the Red Army then managed to push the Germans out of the Soviet Union. They used force of numbers to overwhelm the German troops, moving forward despite staggering numbers of casualties. In the end, the Red Army pushed back into Germany, sacking Berlin and playing an essential part in the defeat of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party.
After the war, the Red Army was drastically downsized. At the end of World War II, the Red Army numbered more than eleven million soldiers. Over the next several years, its numbers were cut to less than three million.
In 1946, the word Red was removed from the Soviet army's name. During the Cold War, which was a nonviolent rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States from 1945 until 1991, military officers were glorified by both the government and the public. Toward the end of the Cold War, various army officials involved themselves in an attempted coup against Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev. When the coup failed, Gorbachev fired large numbers of military officers. When the Soviet Union officially fell in 1991, most members of the army remained loyal to their homeland, serving in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
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