1st Russian Civil War

The first Russian Civil War was a civil conflict that occured from August 6th (August 26th is disputed) - December 6th 1901 between the Russian LIberation Army, the Russian Workers Union and the Russian Empire.

## Leading to the civil war

After long years of poor working conditions, high inflation and food shortage, major protests all throughout Russia occured more and more often, King Nicholas II felt threatened by the conditions and sent out soldiers to surpress the Protests. However, it didnt work to well, proven by the Minsk Protest, as that inspired civillians to take arms against the royal soldiers.

Viktor Petrov formed up his Russian Liberation Army (RLA) that was completely full of volounteers that were willing to fight for a democratic Russia.

On August 26th 1901, Viktor Petrov held the liberal speech in Smolensk. Many see this speech as the official date of the civil war as it was announced, but many see the announcement of the RLA on August 6th as the official date.

The RLA also officialy elected their President and vice president. The President elected was Viktor Petrov, a highly educated lawyer, and the vice president was military general Ivan Voronin.

#### Lenin joins the war

2 days after Viktor Petrov held his speech in smolensk, Vladimir Lenin held a speech in Yakutsk, announcing that him and the Russian Workers Union (RWU) would join the civil war against the Russian Empire and RLA.

## During the war

The RLA, RWU and Russian Empire were now at war with each other. The RLA quickly advenced into the Russian Empire's territory due to soldiers switching sides, and certain regions joining them, while the RWU had a harder time advancing since most of their land was useless siberian tundra. After a succesful naval invasion by the RLA into finnish territories, the Battle of Petrograd lasted for a little under a month, which ended in a victory for the RLA and the surrender of the Russian empire aswell as the surrender of the Russian Royal family.

The RLA and RWU quickly picked up land from the now surrendered monarchists, but it would do little to no help for the RWU. The RWU, still low on supplies, weapons, morale and manpower fell in just 2 months, marking the end of the civil war.

## Aftermath

After the Treaty of Warsaw was signed, The Russian empire turned into the Russian Republic, Nicholas II and his ffamily had to abdicate and live in house arrest as Viktor Petrov and Ivan Voronin stepped to power for a democratic Russia. Lenin was exiled to Switzerland for 2 years for his actions in the civil war.

The losses were massive, ending at ca 950'000 casualties combined, but the nature of Russia was also impacted, aswell as several russian cities were destroyed.

However, it would also have positive effects for the future of russia, such as decreased inflation, increased rights, multiplr parties, bigger russian industrilisation and increased working conditions. It gave a major morale boost for the russian people as it seemed democracy was the right way.

### Withdrawal from Manchuria

During the civil war, all soldiers that were stationed to occupy Manchuria were withdrawn and sent to the frontlines of the civil war, leading to the japanese occupation of manchuria

### Russian influence in The First Balkan war

Before the russian civil war, russia had already sent cannons and resources to help serbia to get rid of the Ottoman Empire's presence in the balkan region, but after the civil war was won, Russia set up a volounteer squad that ended up getting around 12'000 members to help in the first balkan war.