How far do you agree that Trotsky’s leadership of the Red Army was responsible for the survival of the Bolshevik government? (30 marks)
There were many factors that contributed to the survival of the Bolshevik Government, ranging from Trotsky’s leadership of the Red Army to the failings of the Bolsheviks’ rivals for power. This essay shows that the main reason for the Bolsheviks’ continued survival through the period was not Trotsky’s great leadership of the Red Army, but the opposition’s mistakes and failings. This will be demonstrated by analysing the key factors leading to the survival of the Bolshevik Government: Trotsky’s leadership; Lenin’s leadership; The Bolsheviks’ geographical advantage; and finally the Bolsheviks’ enemies’ misunderstandings.
The first key factor that contributed to the Bolshevik Governments’ survival was Trotsky’s great leadership of the Red Army. Trotsky created the Red Army from nothing and by 1919 it contained roughly 400,000 troops rising to 5 million troops by 1921. The Red Army outnumbered all opposition and when directed effectively by Trotsky they were easily able to crush any opposition. Furthermore, all enemy attacks came at different times and so could be put down individually and therefore more easily. Another way that Trotsky showed his good leadership qualities was through his forward thinking: for example, many of the troops in the Red Army were inexperienced and so Trotsky “recruited” officers from the Tsar’s army and kept them in line by kidnapping their families and assigning Political Officers to each unit. This tactic quickly boosted the effectiveness with which the Red Army fought and therefore helped to put down enemy attacks and prolong the survival of the Bolshevik Government.
Trotsky also showed his leadership qualities by inspiring his army and keeping morale high; he did this by touring every front in his