The "Russian" Civil Wars, 1916-1926: Ten Years That Shook the World [Paperback]

This volume offers a comprehensive and original analysis and reconceptualization of the compendium of struggles that wracked the collapsing Tsarist empire and the emergent USSR, profoundly affecting the history of the twentieth century. Indeed, the reverberations of those decade-long wars echo to the present day - not despite, but because of the collapse of the Soviet Union, which re-opened many old wounds, from the Baltic to the Caucasus. Contemporary memorializing and 'de-memorializing' of these wars, therefore form part of the book's focus, but at its heart lie the struggles between various Russian political and military forces which sought to inherit and preserve, or even expand, the territory of the tsars, overlain with examinations of the attempts of many non-Russian national and religious groups to divide the former empire. The reasons why some of the latter were successful (Poland and Finland, for example), while others (Ukraine, Georgia and the Muslim Basmachi) were not, are as much the author's concern as are explanations as to why the chief victors of the 'Russian' Civil Wars were the Bolsheviks. Tellingly, the work begins and ends with battles in Central Asia - a theatre of the 'Russian' Civil Wars that was closer to Mumbai than it was to Moscow.

Introduction: A World War Condensed

1. 1916-18: The Beginnings of the Russian Civil Wars
2. 1918-19: The Triumphal March of Reaction
3. 1919-20: White Thrusts, Red Ripostes
4. 1920-1: Battles in the Marchlands
5. 1917-21: On the Internal Fronts
6. 1921-6: The Ends of the Russian Civil Wars

Conclusion: Red Victories, Red Defeats

There are many major strengths to this book. First, one cannot but be impressed by the depth of the research. There are over 100 pages of footnotes. Smele is undoubtedly one of the world's leading authorities of this period. Second, the analysis is thorough and convincing on a case by case basis. Readers will be grateful for Smele's mastery lc"