Red Army facts for kids

Red Army flag

A joint parade of the Wehrmacht and Red Army in Brest, 1939. Major General Heinz Guderian and Brigadier Semyon Krivoshein are in the center.

The Red Army was the army of the Bolsheviks. The Bolsheviks were a political group in Russia. This army was first led by Leon Trotsky during the Russian Civil War. This war happened after the Russian Revolution.

Later, the Red Army became the main army of the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union was a large country that existed from 1922 to 1991. The name "Red Army" was used mostly before and during World War II. After the war, its name changed to the Soviet Army. However, many people still called it the Red Army. Even today, some people still use this nickname for the modern Russian Army.

What Was the Red Army?

The Red Army was formed in 1918. It was created to protect the new Soviet government. This government was based on communism. Communism is a political idea where the government controls everything. It aims to create a society where everyone is equal.

The Red Army fought many battles. It helped the Bolsheviks win the Russian Civil War. This war lasted from 1917 to 1922. The Red Army fought against groups who did not support the Bolsheviks.

The Red Army in World War II

The Red Army played a very important part in World War II. This war happened from 1939 to 1945. The Soviet Union fought against Nazi Germany. Millions of soldiers were part of the Red Army during this time.

The Red Army stopped the German army from taking over the Soviet Union. They pushed the German forces back. They helped to defeat Nazi Germany in 1945. This was a huge victory. It cost many lives.

Life as a Red Army Soldier

Life for soldiers in the Red Army was very tough. They faced harsh weather, especially cold winters. They often had limited supplies. Soldiers were trained to be very loyal to the Soviet Union.

Many different people joined the Red Army. They came from all parts of the Soviet Union. They fought bravely for their country. Women also played a role. Some served as snipers or medics.

After World War II

After World War II, the Red Army was renamed the Soviet Army. It continued to be a very large and powerful military force. It was one of the two biggest armies in the world. The other was the United States military.

The Soviet Army existed until 1991. In 1991, the Soviet Union broke apart. The different countries that were once part of the Soviet Union formed their own armies.

Images for kids

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  Red Guards unit of the Vulkan factory

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  Leon Trotsky and Demyan Bedny in 1918

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  Vladimir Lenin, Kliment Voroshilov, Leon Trotsky and soldiers in Petrograd, 1921

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  Soviet officers, 1938

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  Soviet tanks during the Battle of Khalkhin Gol, August 1939

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  Red Army soldiers display a captured Finnish banner, March 1940

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  Soviet gun crew in action during the Siege of Odessa, July 1941

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  Salute to the Red Army at the Royal Albert Hall, London in February 1943

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  Ivan Konev at the liberation of Prague by the Red Army in May 1945

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  Marshals Zhukov and Rokossovsky with General Sokolovsky leave the Brandenburg Gate after being decorated by Field Marshal Montgomery

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  Monument to the Red Army, Berlin

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  Roza Shanina was a graduate of the Central Women's Sniper Training School credited with 59 confirmed kills.

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  People in Saint Petersburg at «Immortal regiment», carrying portraits of their ancestors who fought in World War II.

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  Benjamin Netanyahu and Red Army's Jewish veterans, Victory Day in Jerusalem, 9 May 2017

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  Kursants (cadets) of the Red Army Artillery School in Chuhuyiv, Ukraine, 1933

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  Red Army Marshal Mikhail Tukhachevsky, who was executed during the Great Purge in June 1937. Here in 1920 wearing the budenovka

See also

In Spanish: Ejército Rojo para niños