Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War

Overview

The Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War consisted of a series of multi-national military expeditions that began in 1918. The initial impetus behind the interventions was to secure munitions and supply depots from falling into the German Empire's hands, particularly after the Bolsheviks signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, and to rescue the Allied forces that had become trapped within Russia after the 1917 October Revolution. After the Armistice of 11 November 1918, the Allied plan changed to helping the White forces in the Russian Civil War. After the Whites collapsed, the Allies withdrew their forces from Russia by 1925.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War unfolded across several years and involved forces from multiple nations operating under shifting strategic rationales. The initial motivation was to prevent munitions and supply depots from falling into German hands following the Bolshevik signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, and to extract Allied personnel trapped in Russia after the October Revolution of 1917. After the Armistice of November 1918 removed the German threat, the intervention's purpose shifted to supporting the White forces against the Bolsheviks. Allied forces numbered between 50,000 and 70,000 and sustained over 4,000 casualties. When the White forces collapsed, the Allies withdrew, completing their departure by 1925. The intervention ultimately failed to alter the outcome of the civil war; the Bolsheviks consolidated control, and the episode became a defining grievance in Soviet political memory, shaping the new state's posture toward the Western powers for decades.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (52)