War communism facts for kids
War communism was a special way the Soviet Russian government ran its economy and politics during the Russian Civil War. This system lasted from 1918 to 1921. It started in June 1918 and ended on March 21, 1921, when a new plan called the New Economic Policy began.
Many people describe war communism as a way for the rulers and military to keep power and control during the war. The government, led by the Bolsheviks, said they used these policies to make sure cities and the Red Army (their military) had enough food and weapons. They said it was necessary because of the difficult war conditions.
A terrible event called the Russian famine of 1921–22 happened, killing about five million people. This famine was partly caused by Vladimir Lenin's war communism policies, especially how they took food from farmers. However, the famine also happened because of bad harvests, a harsh winter, and a drought, especially in the Volga Valley. The war itself and the presence of the White Army also made things worse. Diseases like cholera and typhus also added to the number of deaths.
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How War Communism Worked
War communism included several key rules:
- The government took control of all factories and businesses. They managed everything very strictly from a central place.
- The government controlled all trade with other countries.
- Workers had to follow very strict rules, and they were not allowed to go on strike.
- People who did not work (like nobles or merchants) were forced to do labor.
- The government took extra food from farmers. This food was then given out to the rest of the population.
- Food and most goods were rationed, meaning people got only a certain amount. These were given out in cities.
- Private businesses were not allowed.
- The railways were controlled by the military.
Historians still debate if "war communism" was a real economic plan or just a set of rules to help win the civil war. Some, like Vladimir Lenin, said it was only for the war. Others, like Nikolai Bukharin, thought it was a step towards a communist society.
Why Did It Start?
Before the Bolsheviks came to power, other groups in Russia had also suggested taking food from farmers. The main goals of the Bolsheviks when they started war communism are still discussed today.
Some people, including some Bolsheviks, believed its only goal was to win the war. Lenin himself said that taking food from farmers was something they "were saddled by the imperative conditions of war-time."
However, other Bolsheviks, like Nikolai Bukharin, thought it was a step towards a socialist society. Some historians and economists also believe that war communism was an attempt to quickly get rid of private property and market trading. They thought it would immediately increase how much the economy produced. Bukharin shared this view, saying they saw war communism as the "normal" way for a victorious working class to run the economy, not just something for the war.
What Happened Because of It?
Military Success
War communism was mostly successful in its main goal: helping the Red Army stop the White Army. It also helped the Bolsheviks take back most of the land that used to be part of the Russian Empire.
Social Impact
People in cities and the countryside faced many difficulties because of the war. Farmers began to refuse to give food for the war effort because there was so little. Workers started moving from cities to the countryside, where it was easier to find food. This made it even harder to trade factory goods for food, hurting the people still in cities and weakening the economy.
Between 1918 and 1920, the city of Petrograd lost 70% of its people, and Moscow lost more than 50%. The government also used special troops to control food supplies in areas held by the Red Army.
Many workers went on strike, and farmers rebelled against war communism policies. One famous rebellion was the Tambov Rebellion (1920–1921), which the Red Army stopped. A major turning point was the Kronstadt rebellion in March 1921. This rebellion by sailors, whom the Bolsheviks considered very loyal, worried Lenin. These uprisings were often led by other left-wing groups, which created competition for the Bolsheviks. In February 1921, the secret police reported 118 farmer uprisings.
Historian David Christian described Russia in 1921 after years of war communism: "A government claiming to represent the people now found itself on the verge of being overthrown by that same working class." He noted that the crisis had made villages, towns, and parts of the army disloyal. It was as serious as the crises the old government faced in 1905 and February 1917.
The terrible Russian famine of 1921–22 killed about five million people in an already war-torn Russia. While war communism policies had harsh effects, they did help the Bolsheviks win the Civil War and bring some stability to the country.
Economic Impact
A black market appeared in Russia, even though selling goods illegally was against the law. The ruble currency lost its value. People started trading goods directly instead of using money. By 1921, the amount of goods made by heavy industry had dropped to only 20% of what it was in 1913.
About 90% of wages were paid with goods instead of money. Also, 70% of the trains needed repairs. Taking food from farmers, along with seven years of war and a severe drought, led to the famine that caused millions of deaths. Coal production fell greatly, from 27.5 million tons in 1913 to 7 million tons in 1920. Overall factory production also dropped from 10,000 million rubles to 1,000 million rubles. The grain harvest also went down from 80.1 million tons in 1913 to 46.5 million tons in 1920.
See also
- Barracks communism
- Council of Labor and Defense
- Family in the Soviet Union
- Left-wing uprisings against the Bolsheviks
