1918 in the history of Russia: major events

In the history of each country, there are years that are considered to be a turning point in the change of epochs. They are characterized by a rapid change of events at almost all levels of public life, an acute crisis, and often the beginning of hostilities. This was the year 1918 in the history of Russia. About the most outstanding personalities of this period, the events that were then unfolding on the territory of the country, and their significance for future generations, we now talk.

On the eve of 1918

Before fully plunging into the whirlpool of the twists and turns of 1918, in order to understand their depth and causes, it is necessary to briefly describe what events preceded it.

First it must be said that 1914-1918 in the history of Russia and the whole world is the period of the First World War. It was this event that served as the initial impetus for all the changes that took place in our country, as well as in most European states of that period. The Russian Empire, which began to rot, did not draw in military or economic terms long-term hostilities. Actually, it could be predicted by the results of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905.

The dynasty of the Romanovs, ruling more than 300 years, began to rapidly lose its former authority. The events of the unfinished revolution of 1905 were only forerunners of the impending storm. And she soon broke out.

Undoubtedly, the most significant events on the eve of the period described were the February and October 1917 revolutions . The first of them put an end to the autocracy of the Romanovs, and the second laid the foundation for a completely new model of statehood, based on principles that had not been used in practice before.

But how viable the new state was, was to show a turning point in 1918 in the history of Russia.

The First Steps of Soviet Power

Immediately after coming to power, the Bolshevik Party began carrying out a whole chain of reforms in the country.

On January 26, 1918, the Decree was issued, which announced the beginning of the calendar reform. Its essence consisted in the transition from the Julian calendar, used by the Orthodox Church, and until then it was considered official in the Russian Empire, the Gregorian, introduced into use in most countries of the world, more accurately answering the astronomical calendar. The reform was completed on February 14, when Soviet Russia officially switched to a new calendar calculus.

On January 28, the Decree of the Council of People's Commissars was issued on the formation of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army. This was the beginning of the future greatness of the armed forces of the Soviet Union.

On February 2, the Decree was declared, which separated the Orthodox Church from the state. Since that moment all religious trends in the country had formally equal rights, freedom of conscience and religion was declared.

Negotiations with Germany

The primary and vitally important task for the Soviet government was the withdrawal from the First World War, which by that time was for sure lost to Russia. But, naturally, there was no question of any complete surrender. It was necessary to conclude an agreement with the central powers, with which at that time Russia was at war, at the most favorable for the latter conditions, possible in the current difficult situation.

The importance of these negotiations for the Soviet authorities is evidenced by the fact that the beginning of it was laid still on December 22, 1917. They went through quite hard, since neither side wanted to make significant concessions.

To reconsider their positions on many issues, the Soviet delegation was forced to resume hostilities and the very successful advance of German troops on the Russian-German front. These events spurred the Bolsheviks to make significant concessions.

Brest-Litovsk Peace Treaty

On March 3, 1918, at last, the Brest-Lithuanian peace clause was signed. Soviet Russia agreed to significant territorial losses, including, Ukraine, Belorussia, the Baltic states, Finland, a number of Transcaucasian regions. In addition, it undertook to pay considerable sums of money in the form of reparations to the victorious powers, to stop military operations against them and in effect to dissolve the army.

The Soviet government could not fail to understand that by signing this particular treaty, it loses even illusive hopes of recognizing its legitimacy by the Entente countries, and is also getting involved in a direct confrontation with them. But there was no other way, since peace with Germany was a matter of survival.

The beginning of the formation of the White movement

From the very beginning of the coming to power, the Bolsheviks had many opponents within Russia itself. The main nucleus of their formation was the so-called White movement. It was joined not only by sincere monarchists, but also by supporters of republican models of statehood, more democratic than those that the Soviet government could offer, as well as other opponents of the Bolsheviks.

Nevertheless, the leadership of the White Movement, unlike the Soviet authorities, considered itself the successor of the Russian Empire and the Provisional Government dissolved during the October Revolution. The signing of separate Brest-Litovsk agreements with the delegations of the Central Powers promoted the de facto recognition of the leaders of the White Movement by the Entente countries as a legitimate government of Russia. Although they did not hurry with the legal formulation of this provision.

The Volunteer Army

The fighting wing of the White Movement was the Volunteer Army, which began to be formed at the end of 1917 under the leadership first of General Alexeev MV, and then - LG Kornilov. It is the latter that can be considered its real creator. The final formation of the Volunteer Army was completed on January 7, 1918.

But Kornilov was killed on April 13 of the same year during the liberation of Yekaterinodar from the Bolsheviks. To the leadership of the Volunteer Army, Anton Ivanovich Denikin, no less active, proceeded.

These events show the depth of the political crisis that has covered the country. Awareness of its seriousness was born in 1918 in the history of Russia. The war was inevitable.

Intervention of the Entente countries

As already mentioned above, the conclusion of a separate treaty with Germany and its allies placed the Soviet government in a state of direct confrontation with the Entente countries. And this conflict was not only purely political, but also turned into armed clashes. 1918 - 1920 in the history of Russia is characterized as the period of the most active phase of foreign military intervention.

The hostile actions of the Entente countries against Soviet Russia were caused by the landing of French troops in Murmansk in March 1918, as well as the blockade of the Arkhangelsk port by the British fleet.

Later, when the Civil War in Russia was in full swing, the objects of foreign aggression were Vladivostok, Odessa, Kherson, Sevastopol, Batumi and other cities. The geography of the invasion expanded.

British colonies and dominions joined the intervention, as well as countries outside the Entente (USA, Japan, and others).

Civil War

1918-1922 in the history of Russia is characterized as a period of the Civil War. Although many historians began its counting from 1917, and the completion date is considered 1924. But the most active actions, of course, begin to unfold precisely in the period under investigation.

By the spring of 1918, the Volunteer Army was fully formed as a battle-worthy force that could challenge the Red Army of the Bolsheviks.

Since March, active fighting has begun. The uprising against the power of the Soviets covers first the region of the Don Army, and then the Kuban. In particular, it was during the assassination of Ekaterinodar that the first commander of the Volunteer Army, Kornilov, Lavr Georgievich, was killed.

White movement in the east of Russia

In June, a committee of members of the All-Russian Constituent Assembly (KOMCHU) was established in Samara, which considered itself to be the successor to the Kerensky Provisional Government. The People's Army KOMUCH was created, which was the eastern front of the White Movement. She entered into military operations with the Red Army of the Bolsheviks, however, unsuccessful.

In September 1918 in Ufa on the basis of the KOMUCH was established the Provisional All-Russian Government (Ufa directory). In turn, after unsuccessful political and military actions, it was dissolved in November by Admiral Kolchak. Then in Omsk he was appointed the Supreme Ruler of Russia, and from that moment he was the recognized leader of the White movement in Russia. Immediately he showed himself to be a very active leader and an excellent commander, having won several important victories over the Bolsheviks. However, the peak of his political and military glory came in the following year, 1919.

All the new unexpected turns brought in 1918 in the history of Russia. Events rushed, not slowing down the pace.

Execution of the Romanovs

One of the most controversial events of those that marked 1918 in the history of Russia was the execution by the Bolsheviks on July 17 in Yekaterinburg of the royal family of Romanovs led by the former Emperor Nicholas II. Until now, historians did not agree on the extent to which this act of cruelty was appropriate, and whether members of the dynasty, which lost popularity, really represented a real threat to Soviet power.

National separatism

1918 in the history of Russia was also marked by the rise of national separatism in the regions that were part of the Romanov state. One state entity on the ruins of the empire managed to defend its independence (Poland, Finland, the Baltic countries), others were forced to cede their sovereignty in the course of a hard struggle (UNR, Georgia), the third in general were a fiction that never had real power instruments (BNR) The fourth, in fact, were satellites of Soviet Russia (the Far Eastern Republic, Donetsk-Krivoy Rog Republic, LitBel, etc.).

The most tragic year was 1918 in the history of Ukraine. Here a struggle broke out between the troops of the Ukrainian National State (UPR), which was replaced by Sketopadsky's hetman, the Denikin Volunteer Army, the Red Army of the Bolsheviks, and various anarchist and sometimes simply bandit armed groups.

Notable personalities

All of the above events could not happen without the actions of specific people. Let's figure out who influenced the situation most of all, which was formed in 1918 in the history of Russia, who ruled, led the troops, formed a political atmosphere.

Let's start with representatives of the Soviet government. Of course, the greatest influence on events from this side was provided by Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, who was also the leader of the Bolshevik Party and the Soviet state. It was he who largely influenced the events that made a turning point in 1918 in the history of Russia. Lenin's photo can be seen below.

In addition, a significant role played by party functionaries like Lev Trotsky, Lev Kamenev, Felix Dzerzhinsky, more and more weight began to recruit Joseph Stalin. In addition, in the specified period, such commanders of the Red Army as Vasily Chapayev, Mikhail Frunze, Grigory Kotovsky and others became famous.

The most active organizers of the White movement, as mentioned above, were Lavr Kornilov and Anton Denikin, and by the end of 1918 Admiral Alexander Kolchak was nominated.

Results

Thus, by the end of 1918, the young Soviet state was in the ring of enemies, which was formed from representatives of the White movement, local national formations and foreign interventionists. The struggle was just beginning, but the Soviet government did the main thing - it stayed on the first wave of the pressure of the enemies. This fact, as well as the disunity of the opponents of the Bolsheviks, passing into an open armed struggle between them, led to the fact that the fate of the country for the next 70 years was predetermined. However, the consequences of that significant year are palpable even now.