War Communism

Definition

War Communism was an economic and political system implemented by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War from 1918 to 1921. It aimed to centralize control over the economy and eliminate private enterprise in order to ensure that the Red Army was adequately supplied and to maintain the state during wartime. This approach led to widespread nationalization of industry and requisitioning of agricultural products from peasants, which resulted in significant economic hardship and social unrest.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. War Communism was characterized by the nationalization of industries, where the government took control of factories, banks, and railways.
2. The policy included grain requisitioning, which involved taking surplus crops from peasants to feed the urban population and support the Red Army.
3. This system led to severe food shortages, famine, and widespread discontent among peasants who resented losing their produce without compensation.
4. War Communism also eliminated money as a medium of exchange in many instances, replacing it with direct distribution based on needs and contributions to the state.
5. By 1921, War Communism faced significant opposition and economic collapse, prompting Lenin to implement the New Economic Policy as a response to restore stability.

Review Questions

• How did War Communism impact the economic structure of Russia during the Civil War?
  • War Communism fundamentally transformed Russia's economic structure by nationalizing key industries and eliminating private ownership. This centralization aimed to prioritize military needs and supply the Red Army during a time of crisis. However, this shift led to severe disruptions in agricultural production, as farmers were forced to give up their surplus without compensation, ultimately resulting in widespread famine and economic instability.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of War Communism as a strategy for sustaining the Bolshevik government during the Russian Civil War.
  • While War Communism succeeded in meeting immediate military needs by supplying resources to the Red Army, its long-term effectiveness was questionable. The harsh policies alienated many peasants and urban workers, resulting in strikes and revolts. Ultimately, while it helped sustain Bolshevik control during critical phases of the Civil War, it also sowed seeds of discontent that necessitated a shift to more lenient policies like the New Economic Policy for recovery.
• Analyze how War Communism set the stage for subsequent economic policies in the Soviet Union following the Civil War.
  • War Communism created a crisis situation that directly influenced Lenin's decision to introduce the New Economic Policy (NEP) in 1921. The failures of War Communism highlighted the unsustainability of strict state control over every aspect of production and distribution. By experiencing widespread famine and social unrest due to its repressive measures, Lenin recognized the need for a mixed economy that could revitalize agriculture and industry while still maintaining overall state authority. This transition marked a significant shift in Soviet economic strategy toward accommodating some market mechanisms.

Related terms

Bolsheviks: A faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party that, led by Vladimir Lenin, seized power during the October Revolution in 1917 and established a one-party state.

New Economic Policy (NEP): A policy introduced by Lenin in 1921 that replaced War Communism, allowing for some degree of private enterprise and small-scale capitalism to help revive the economy after the civil war.

Russian Civil War: A multi-party conflict from 1917 to 1922 in which the Bolshevik Red Army fought against a coalition of anti-Bolshevik forces known as the White Army, leading to the establishment of the Soviet Union.