The Red Army was created, which is called, from scratch. Despite this, she managed to become a formidable force and defeat the civil war. The construction of the Red Army was the key to success using the experience of the old, pre-revolutionary army.

On the wreckage of the old army

By the beginning of 1918, Russia, who survived two revolutions, was finally out of World War II. Her army was a pitiful spectacle - soldiers were massively deserted and headed towards native places. From November 1917, the Armed Forces did not exist and de Jura - after the Bolsheviks issued a decree on the dissolution of the old army.

Meanwhile on the outskirts former Empire flared up new War - Civilian. In Moscow, just got raged the fights with Junkers, in St. Petersburg - with the Cossacks of General Krasnova. Events raised like a snowball.

The generals of Alekseev and Kornilov formed the Volunteer Army, the anti-communist uprising of Ataman Dutova, the Anti-Communist Rise of Ataman Dutova, was unfolded in the Orenburg steppe, in the Kharkov district, in Yekaterinoslav province, with the detachments of the Central Rada of the self-proclaimed Ukrainian Republic.

Working activists and revolutionary sailors

Not dreamed and external old enemy: Germans have activated an offensive on Eastern Front, capturing a number of territories of the former Russian Empire.

At that time, the Soviet government was at the disposal of the Red Guard detachments, created on the ground mainly from the activists of the working environment and revolutionary matros.

In the initial period of the common partisans in the Civil War, the Red Guards were supporting the Council, but gradually it became clear that the draft principle should come to the change of voluntariness.

This clearly showed, for example, events in Kiev in January 1918, where the uprising of the workers' units of the Red Guard against the authorities of the Central Rada were brutally suppressed by national units and officer squads.

First step to the creation of the RKKK

On January 15, 1918, Lenin issued a decree on the creation of the workers' and peasant Red Army. The document emphasized that access to its ranks was opened for all citizens of the Russian republic at least 18 years old, ready to "give their forces, their lives to protect the conquered by October Revolution and the authorities of the Soviet and socialism."

It was the first, but half step to the creation of the army. It was asked to join it voluntarily, and in this Bolsheviks went along the way Alekseev and Cornilov with their voluntary set of the White Army. As a result, no more than 200 thousand people were listed in the rows of the Red Army. And its combat capability left much to be desired - most of the front-line people rested from the horrors of world war at home.

A powerful incentive to create a large army was given enemies - a 40-thousand Czechoslovak building, which in the summer of the same year raised the rebellion against Soviet power throughout the Trans-Siberian Highway and seized the huge spaces of the country - from Chelyabinsk to Vladivostok. In the south of the European part of Russia, Denikins did not sleep, who reconciled after the unsuccessful storming of Ekaterinodar (now Krasnodar), in June 1918 he again led the offensive for Kuban and this time reached the goal.

Fight not slogans and skill

Under these conditions, one of the founders of the Red Army, people's Commissar According to the military and maritime affairs, Lion Trotsky proposed to move to a more rigid model of building an army. According to the decree of the Council of People's Commissars on July 29, 1918, a military appeal was introduced in the country, which allowed the middle of September to bring the number of RKKU to almost half a million people.

Along with quantitative growth, the army was strengthened and qualitatively. The leadership of the country and the RKKKA realized that the slogans that the socialist fatherland in danger would not win the war. We need experienced personnel, albeit not adhering to the revolutionary rhetoric.

In a massive manner, the so-called warpats were called in the Red Army, that is, officers and generals tsarist army. Their total number during Civil War In the ranks of the Red Army there were almost 50 thousand people.

The best of the best

Many then became the pride of the USSR, such as Colonel Boris Shaposhnikov, who became Marshal Soviet Union and chief of the General Staff of the Army, including during the Great Patriotic War. Another leader of the General Staff of the Red Army during the Second World War, Marshal Alexander Vasilevsky entered into civil war headquarters.

Military schools and accelerated training courses of red commanders from among soldiers, workers and peasants became another effective measure of strengthening the average team link. In battles and battles, yesterday's oversea officers and Feldafeli rapidly grew to the commanders of large compounds. It is enough to remember Vasily Chapaeva, who became comda, or the seeds of Budenny, who headed the 1st equestrian army.

Even earlier, the election of commanders was canceled, which extremely harmfully influenced the level of combat capability of parts, turning them into anarchic elemental detachments. Now the commander answered for an order and discipline, albeit along with the commissioner.

Kamenev instead of Vacetyis

It is curious that a little later, whites came and white came to the draft army. In particular, Volunteer army In 1919, it remained in many ways only by the title - the fierce of the Civil War powerfully demanded from opponents to replenish their ranks by any means.

The first Commander-in-Chief Armed Forces of the RSFSR in the fall of 1918 was appointed former Colonel Ioakim Vacegetis (from January 1919, at the same time led the actions of the army of Soviet Latvia). After a number of lesions of the Red Army in the summer of 1919 in the European part of Russia, Vátsietis was replaced by another royal colonel, Sergey Kamenev.

Under his leadership, RKKE went much better. Arms of Kolchak, Denikin, Wrangel were defeated. The offensive of Yudenich on Petrograd, Polish parts are knocked out from Ukraine and Belarus.

Territorial-militia principle

By the end of the Civil War, the total number of the Red Army amounted to more than five million people. Red Connection, at first there are only three regiments, during numerous battles increased to several armies, which operated on widely stretched communications of countless fronts of the civil war, fulfilling the role of shock troops.

The end of hostilities demanded a sharp reduction in the number of personnel. This, first of all, needed a depleted war of the country's economy. As a result, in 1920-1924. Demobilization was carried out, which reduced RKKA to half a million people.

Under the leadership of the Commissar on Military and Maritime Affairs, Mikhail Frunze, most of the remaining troops were transferred to the territorial-militia principle of the acquisition. He consisted in the fact that a small part of the Red Army and Commanders of the Parts carried a permanent service, and the rest of the composition was called upon for five years to tax duration up to the year.

Strengthening combatability

Over time, Frunze reform led to problems: the combat readiness of the territorial parts was much lower than regular.

Thirties, with the arrival of the Nazis and the Japanese attack on China, began to clearly smash gunpowder. As a result, the transfer of regiments, divisions and buildings on the regular basis began in the USSR.

At the same time, not only the experience of the First World and Civil Wars was taken into account, but also participation in new conflicts, in particular, a clash with Chinese troops in 1929 for the FACD and Japanese on Lake Hasan in 1938.

Increased the total number of RKKK, the troops were actively re-re-re-reacted. First of all, it concerned artillery and armored troops. New troops were created, for example, airborne. Mother's infantry became more motorized.

Premonition of world war

Aviation, which previously performed mainly intelligence tasks, now became a powerful force, increasing the share of bombers, attack aircraft and fighters in its ranks.

Soviet tankers and pilots tried their strength in local wars passing away from the USSR, in Spain and China.

In order to increase prestige military profession and convenience of serving in 1935 by the personnel military were introduced personal military titles - From Marshal to Lieutenant.

Finally, the trait under the territorial-militia principle of the recruitment of the Red Army, summed up the law on the universal military duty of 1939, expanding the composition of the Red Army and establishing a longer service life.

And ahead was a big war.

The worker-peasant Red Army - the so-called the ground forces of the young of the Soviet state 1918-1922 and up to 1946. The Red Army created almost from nothing. The prototype was the detachments of the Red Guards, who were formed after the February coup of 1917, and transferred to the side of the revolutionaries of the Tsarskoy Army. Despite anything, she was able to become a formidable force and won during the civil war.

The guarantee of success in the construction of the RKKKA was the use of combat experience of older pre-revolutionary army personnel. Masso in the ranks of the Red Army began to be called the so-called War Spets, namely the officers and generals who served the "king and fatherland". Their total in the period of the civil war in the Red Army consisted of up to fifty thousand people.

Start education RKKKA

In January 1918, the decree of the Sovnarkom "O RKKKA" was published, in which it was noted that it was not possible to enter into her ranks to all citizens of the new republic not under eighteen years. The date of release of this resolution can be considered the beginning of the formation of the Red Army.

Organizational structure, the composition of the Red Army

First, the main unit of the Red Army, was separate detachments that were military units with independent farms. The head of the detachments were the advice in which one military leader was included in two military commissars. They were small headquarters and inspectors.

When a combat experience was gained with the involvement of military officers, in the ranks of the Red Army began to form full-fledged units, parts, compounds (brigades, divisions, buildings), institutions and institutions.

The organizational RCKA corresponded to its class characteristics and military needs of the last century. The structure of the Ohwearing Compounds of the Red Army consisted of:

  • The rifle building in which there were two or four divisions;
  • Divisions in which there were three rifle shelf, an artillery regiment and technical part;
  • The shelf in which there were three battalions, an artillery division and techitive;
  • Cavalry Corps with two cavalry divisions;
  • Cavalry division with 4-6 shelves, artillery, armored units, technical divisions.

Uniform RKKKA

Krasnogvardeans had no set of clothing form rules. It was distinguished only by a red hatching bandage or a red ribbon on headlife, and separate detachments - bad red-winged signs. At the beginning of the formation of the Red Army, he was allowed to wear an old uniform without signs of distinction or an arbitrary uniform, as well as civilian clothes.

Frencie British and American production has been greatly popular since 1919. The commanders, commissarov and political workers were their preferences, they could be seen in leather caps and jackets. Cavalurists were given preferences by the hussar pants (chakchiri) and dolomans, as well as Ulansky jackets.

In the early Red Army, officers were rejected as a "relic of tsarism". The use of this word was banned and replaced by "commander". At the same time they canceled epaulets and military ranks. Their names were replaced by posts, in particular, "comdians" or "commens".

In January 1919, they introduced a table, describing the signs of differences, installed eleven signs of differences for a committee from the separation commander to the front commander. The table determined the wearing signs, the material for which was the red dashboard, on the left sleeve.

Having a red star as a symbol of the Red Army

The first official emblem, testifying to the belonging of the fighter to the Red Army, was introduced in 1918 and was a wreath of laurel and oak branches. Inside the wreath placed a red star, as well as a plow and hammer in the center. In the same year, the hats began to decorate smoky icons with a red enameled five-pointed star with a plow and a hammer in the center.

The composition of the working and peasant red army

Roman troops RKKKA

Rowing troops were considered the main sense of troops, the main bones of the Red Army. In 1920 it is rifle shelves The largest number of Soldiers of the Red Army, later the individual RFKKA chains were organized later. Their composition included: rifle battalions, regimental artillery, small units (communications, sperm and other), and the headquarters of the RKKA shelf. Rifle battalions included small-scale rifle and machine-guns, battalion artillery and battalion headquarters. Riflers included small rifle and machine guns. Rifle platoon included compartment. The department was considered the smallest organizational unit in rifle forces. In service in the department there were rifles, manual machine guns, hand grenades and grenade launchers.

Artillery RKKKA

Also among the Red Army included artillery shelves. They included arthdivizions and the headquarters of the RKKU shelf. Artydivizion included batteries and division management. In the battery - platoon. The platoon consisted of 4 guns. It is also known about the artillery corps of the breakthrough. They were part of artillery included in the reserves, which were supervised by the Supreme Command.

Connection RKKKA

The main units in Connection were cavalry shelves. Shelves included saber and machine-gun squadrons, regimental artillery, technical divisions and headquarters of the Kavaleriya RKKE. Sabelny and machine-gun squadrons included plats. Platers were built from offices. Cavalry parts began to organize together with the Red Army in 1918. From the flushed parts of the previous army in the Red Army, cavalry shelves were adopted in the number of only three units.

Armored troops RKKKA

RKKA tanks made on the CPS

Since the 1920s, the Soviet Union began to produce their own tanks. At the same time laid the concept for the combat use of troops. Later, the Charter of the Red Army emphasized the combat use of tanks, as well as their interaction with infantry. In particular, the second part of the charter was approved by the most important conditions for success:

  • Suddenness of the appearance of tanks together with attacking infantry, simultaneous and mass application in a wide range to dispel the artillery and other opponents of the enemy;
  • Applying tanks in depth with synchronous formation from their number of reserve, which will allow developing attacks to large depths;
  • the close interaction of tanks with infantry, which fixes those engaged in them items.

Two configurations of the application of tanks in the battle were envisaged:

  • To directly support the infantry;
  • Being an advanced echelon, acting without a fire and visual connection with her.

IN armored troops There were tank parts and compounds, as well as parts that had armored armored vehicles. The main tactical units were tank battalions. They included tank companies. Tank companies included tank platforms. Tank platoon had five tanks. The armored company included platforms. The platoon included three or five armored cars.

The first tank brigade was created in 1935 as a reserve of the Glavlom, and already in 1940, on its basis, the RKKA Tank Division was formed. The same compounds were included in the mechanized housings.

Air Force (Air Force)

The RPC Air Force was formed in 1918. They included individual aviation detachments and were in the circumferential controls of the air fleet. They were later reformed, and they became front and army field offices of aviation and aeronautics at front and international army headquarters. Such reformations took place constantly.

Since 1938-1939, aviation in military districts transferred from brigadiers to regimental and divisional organizational structures. The main tactical units were aviation shelves in the amount of 60 aircraft. The activities of the RKKA Air Force was based on the application of fast and powerful air strikes at long distances, not available for other types of troops. The aircraft were in the armament of the aircraft, fragmentation and incendiary bombs, guns and machine guns.

The main units of the Air Force were airlines. Shelves included Avia Squadrilles. Avaskadrilla included links. In the links there were 4-5 aircraft.

Himberish RKKKA

The formation of chemical troops in the Red Army began in 1918. In the autumn of the same year, the Republican Revofables was issued orders No. 220, according to which the Chemical Service of the Red Army was created. By the 1920s, the chemical divisions were acquired by all the Rifle and Cavalry Divisions and Brigades. Since 1923, the rifle shelves have become complemented by gas-mask commands. Thus, with chemical divisions, it was possible to meet in all kinds of troops.

Throughout the Great Patriotic War, chemical troops possessed:

  • Technical teams (to install smoke curtains, as well as to disguise large or important objects);
  • Brigades, battalions and rotary on antihimical protection;
  • Flamethrower battalions and rotary;
  • Bases;
  • Warehouses, etc.

Communication troops RKKKA

The mention of the first units and parts of the Communication in the Red Army refer to 1918, then they have been formed. In October 1919, communication troops were given the right to be independent special troops. In 1941 introduced new position - Head of communication troops.

Car troops RKKKA

RKKK car troops were part of Rear of the Soviet Union. They have been formed in a civil war.

Railway troops RKKKA

RKKKA railway troops were also an integral part of the rear of the Supreme Soviet Union. They also formed in a civil war. Mainly railway troops were laid by the routes of communications, bridges were erected.

Road troops RKKKA

RKKE road troops were also an integral part of the rear of the Supreme Soviet Union. They also formed in a civil war.

By 1943, road troops possessed:

  • 294 separate road battalions;
  • 22 controls of military roads, in which there were 110 road compendent sites;
  • 7 military roads, in which there were 40 road detachments;
  • 194 by manpower;
  • Repair bases;
  • Bases for the production of bridge-road devices;
  • Educational and other institutions.

Military training system, preparation of the Red Army

Military education in the RKKK, as a rule, was divided into three levels. The basis of the highest military education consisted of a well-developed network of senior military schools. All students in them worn cadets. Training time ranged from four to five years. Graduates were mainly obtained military ranks of lieutenants or younger lieutenants, which corresponded to the first posts of "platoon commanders".

In the period of peacetime, the training program in military schools provided for obtaining higher education. But during the military time, it was reduced to secondary special. With the deadlines, the same thing happened. They rapidly decreased, and then the organization of short-term semi-annual team courses occurred.

A feature of the military education of the Soviet Union was the presence of a system in which military academies had. Training in such an academy ensured the receipt of higher military education, while the Academy of Western states was preparing junior officers.

RKKA service: Personal Composition

In each Krasnoarmeysian division, a political commission was appointed, or the so-called political leaders (political officers), which had almost unlimited powers, this reflected the Charter of the Red Army. In those years, the political officers could easily be canceled at their discretion did not like the orders of the commander of units and parts. Such measures were issued as necessary.

Arms and Military Machinery of the Red Army

The formation of the Red Army corresponded to the general trends of military-technical development worldwide, including:

  • Formed tank troops and air force;
  • Mechanization of infantry parts and reorganization of them as motorized rifle troops;
  • Disbanded cavalry;
  • Nuclear weapon appeared.

Total RKKA in different periods

Official statistics presents such data of the total number of RKKK at different times:

  • From April to September 1918 - almost 200,000 V / Sal;
  • In September 1919 - 3,000,000 V / Sal;
  • In the fall of 1920 - 5,500,000 V / Sal;
  • In January 1925 - 562,000 V / Sal;
  • In March 1932 - more than 600,000 V / Sal;
  • In January 1937 - more than 1,500,000 V / Sal;
  • In February 1939 - more than 1,900,000 V / Sal;
  • In September 1939 - more than 5,000,000 V / Sal;
  • In June 1940 - more than 4,000,000 V / Sal;
  • In June 1941 - more than 5,000,000 V / Sal;
  • In July 1941 - more than 10,000,000 V / Sal;
  • Summer of 1942 - more than 11,000,000 V / Sal;
  • In January 1945 - more than 11,300,000 V / SEC;
  • In February 1946, more than 5,000,000 V / Sal.

Losses of RKKKA

There are different data in the human losses of the USSR in the Second World War. The official figures of the RKKK losses changed repeatedly.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the non-returnable losses in the battles on the territory of the Soviet-German front were more than 8,800,000 redarmeys and their commanders. Such information was received from the declassified sources of 1993, according to data obtained during search engines, as well as from archival data.

Repressions in RKKKA

Some historians believe that if there were no pre-war repression against superior composition RKKA, it is possible that the story, including the Great Patriotic War, could work out otherwise.

During 1937-1938, the Komostava RKKA and the Navy were executed:

  • Combridges and equal to them from 887 - 478;
  • Comes and equal to them from 352 - 293;
  • Combors and equal to them - 115;
  • Marshals and Commander - 46.

In addition, many commanders simply died in prisons, not withstanding torture, many of them ended with life by suicide.

Subsequently, each military district was shifted by 2-3 and more commander, mainly due to arrests. Most more repristed their deputies. On average, 75% of the highest military service had a minor (up to the year) experience of the service in their posts, and the lower links possessed the less experience.

On the results of the repression by the German military attache by General E. Kestring in August 1938, a report was made to Berlin, which indicated about the following.

Due to the elimination of a plurality of senior officers who improved their professionalism with dozens of years practical and theoretical classes, The Red Army paralyzed on its operational capabilities.

The absence of an experienced committee negatively affected the training of troops. There was a fear of decision-making, which also affected negatively.

Thus, due to the mass repressions of the 1937-1939s, by 1941, the Red Army approached completely unprepared. She had to undergo a "school of harsh strikes" directly during the conduct of hostilities. However, the acquisition of such experience was worth millions of human lives.

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How February 23 was the holiday of the Soviet Army. For this you will have to debunk several soviet myths. Let's start with the statement that February 23 is allegedly the founding day of the Red Army. I must say that this myth was born gradually. In early January 1919, the country's leadership recalled the approaching anniversary of the decree on the creation of the Red Army (we recall published on January 15, 1918 or on January 28th to a new style).
The picture "The adoption of a decree on the creation of the working and peasant red army." Artist A.Savinov


One of the draft decree of the Council of People's Commissars. January 1918 "On the organization of the working and peasant army." With editors of Lenin (Blanca)


Another draft of the decree on the organization RKKK

The old army served as an instrument of class oppression of the working bourgeoisie. With the transition of power to workers and exploited classes, it was necessary to create a new army, which will be the stronghold of Soviet power in the present, the foundation people's Army The national armament of the proletariat in the future and will serve as support for the upcoming socialist revolution in Europe. In view of this SNK decides to organize new Army Under the name "Worker-Peasant Red Army" on the following grounds:


  1. The worker-peasant Red Army is created from the most conscious and organized representatives of the working people. Access to the rows is open to all citizens of the Russian republic are not under the age of 18. Everyone comes to the Red Army, who is ready to give their strength, their life to protect the conquest October revolution and the authorities of the Soviets. To join the ranks of the Red Army, recommendations are needed: military committees or public democratic organizations standing on the platform of Soviet power, party or professional organizations Or at least two members of these organizations. Upon joining integer parts, a circular order of all and the name vote is required.

  2. RKKKI warriors consist on full state security and moreover receive 50 rubles per month. Disabled family members soldiers who were previously dependent were provided by everything necessary from the Soviet authorities ....

So, on January 10, 1919, the Chairman of the Higher Military Inspectorate of the Republic of Redek Nikolai Zdovsky sent a proposal to the Presidium to solemnly celebrate this event, which is called, day a day - January 28. However, due to the late application, the decision to celebrate was not accepted. Nevertheless, the holiday took place: January 24, 1919, the Presidium of the Mossovet, who at that time headed Lion Kamenev, decided to raise the celebrations on the occasion of the anniversary of the RKKKO Day of Red Gift (It was arranged in order to assist the fighting red-Armenians).

Poster "You pour blood for the working and peasant revolution. Workers and peasants deprive themselves the necessary, from the last tools give you clothes and shoes. Take care! " / Hood. [D.S. Moor]. M.: Literary and Publishing Department of Political Management of the Revivsovets Republic,

But because of the next wires Red Gift Day Mossovet spend on time - February 16 - I did not have time again, and therefore both holidays decided to move on the next Sunday, which did the right on February 23. On this occasion, "True" of February 5, 1919 wrote:

"A red gift day device throughout Russia has been transferred to February 23. On this day, the cities and the front will organize the celebration of the anniversary of the creation of the Red Army, operating on January 28.

In subsequent years, neither Lenin nor Trotsky nor Stalin will never remember this note. And also for some reason they will not remembersoviet leaders about the birthday of the Red Army in the 1920s and in the 1921s.

The next step in creating myth was the statement that on February 23, the decree on the creation of the Red Army was supposedly published. At first in January 1922, the Central Executive Committee issues a special decree on the approaching anniversary of the creation of the Red Army, which allegedly comes on February 23. Then, immediately on February 23, 1922, the first military parade was held on Red Square under the leadership of the chairman of the audience of Leo Trotsky, who from the Tribunes lied falsely that the parade was held in honor of the fourth anniversary of the Leninsky Decree on the creation of the Red Army. And in 1923, in the resolution of the Presidium of the WTCIK, it is already firmly spelled out: "On February 23, 1923, the Red Army will celebrate the 5th anniversary of its existence. On this day, five years ago, the decree of the Council of People's Commissars was published, which was the beginning of the workers' and peasant Red Army, the deformation of the proletarian dictatorship. " G.one later, in 1924, after Ilyich's death, in the magazine "Military Bulletin" will publish a photo of the decree of January 28, 1918. The snapshot will be fuzzy, blurred, as a result of which the date and signature of Lenin are indistinguishable. But in the article itself, it will be reported that this document was published on February 23, 1918. So it was finally falsified by this date.

Clement Voroshilov believed that the timing of the Red Army holiday by February 23 wears "difficult-to-understand"

However, the inconsistency of the facts was so obvious that even the most honored Bolsheviks often put in a dead end. So, in 1933, Klim Voroshilov at a ceremonial meeting dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the Red Army, openly recognizes: "The timing of the festival of the RKKK anniversary by February 23 is rather random and difficult to explain and does not coincide with historical dates."More such reservations, the Soviet power will not allow himself.

For the next anniversary of the Red Army in 1938, Stalin prepared in advance and approved the "short course of the history of the WCP (b)", which outlined the new version of the appearance of the date of the holiday, no longer associated with the decree of SNK: "Young detachments of the new army - the army of the revolutionary people - heroically reflected the onslaught of an armed teeth of the German predator. Under the Narva and Pskov German invaders a decisive response was given. Their promotion to Petrograd was suspended. The day of repraining the troops of German imperialism - February 23, 1918 - became the birthday of the young Red Army. "It was a completely new interpretation of the festival. Nobody in those years, of course, did not dare to surprise this discovery, so the new myth began to live an independent life and even reached the Second World War. So, in 1942, Stalin's new order already say: "The young detachments of the Red Army, who first entered the war, headed the German invaders under Pskov and Narva ... That is why the day on February 23, 1918 was declared his birthday of the Red Army."

Oddly enough, this Soviet people born by Stalin will take on faith and after the victory: it will be the letter in the letter to rewrite from the textbook to the textbook until 1988. And, of course, it is not worth in Soviet books on history to seem mention of Lenin's article "Heavy, but necessary lesson." She was published in the Truth on February 25, 1918, i.e. Two days after the Red Army, according to the Stalinist version of the events, "defeated" the Germans under Narva. Let us give an excerpt from this material: "The painful-shameful reports of the failure of the regiments to maintain positions, to refuse to protect even Narva line, about the failure of the order to destroy everything and all during the retreat; We are not talking about flight, chaos, roasting, helplessness, sluggishness. In the Soviet Republic, the army is not obviously. "

Why did Stalin needed even more enveloped the curtain of the mystery of the day on February 23? The fact is that in fact that winter day at 10.30 am, Kaiserovskaya Germany presented Soviet Russia an ultimatum. Closer to night, the members of the Central Committee of the RSDDP (b), gathered in Smolny, taking into account the complete incapacity of the nasty-nascent Red Army, agreed with the terms of the Germans. Lenin, contrary to the opinion of the majority, persuaded the parties to sign the "Pokhabny World", threatening otherwise to resign. The leader of the proletariat in those days was concerned about the non-global proletarian revolution, but the preservation of at least a small islement of the already existing working and peasant dictatorship.

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For those who have forgotten what Russia paid for the stubbornness of Ilyich, we recall that according to the conditions of the Brest world, our country had to recognize the independence of Kurland, Liflandia, Estland, Finland and Ukraine, to bring their troops from their territory, transferring Turkey Anatolian provinces, demobilize the army , disarm the fleet in the Baltic, Black Seas and in the Arctic Ocean, to recognize the Russian-German commercial agreement of 1904 unprofitable for Russia, to provide Germany the right of greatest favored in trade until 1925, resolve duty-free export of ore and other raw materials to Germany, stop agitation and propaganda against the powers of a four union. So, if anyone was celebrated on February 23, then not the Red Army.

As for the "heroic defeat" by the fighters of the Red Army of the Germans under Narva, who, according to Stalinsky " Brief course The history of the WCP (b), "came on February 23, 1918, then there is not a word of truth. No fighting on this winter day in either Germanic, nor in the Soviet archives has been fixed. It is known that Lenin personally sent to defend the Narva of the revolutionary sailor Pavel Dybenko, appointed by the Nark for Maritime Affairs. The latter led to the enemy to meet his volatile squad of the Baltic sailors, who perfectly proven themselves when overclocking (read - executing) of the peaceful demonstration of the inhabitants of Petrograd on the opening day of the Constituent Assembly. Before Narva, Dyubenko got at all by February 23. Taking with him three confiscated alcohol keg, revolutionary sailors broke into the city frozen and fear. Having declared his personal decrees about the general labor service and the Red Terror, the People's Commissar of the headquarters were in the headquarters and engaged in the redistribution of alcohol, and its subordinates - with the score-free shootings of compatriots.

However, confiscated alcohol is rapidly over. The broken Baltic, envying regular German troops approaching the city, loaded into the echelon and left Narva. Their retreat was able to stop only a day later. I intercepting the Futubenko running in Yambourg, who arrived from Petrograd, the former Tsarsky General Dmitry Parsky tried to persuade the People's Commissar to return to the inclusively left city, but he answered that his "sailors was tired", and left for Gatchina. And Early in the morning of March 4, a small German detachment took the Narva without a fight and not without mild surprise. Nobody began to beat the city of Germans, since on March 3, a peace treaty was signed in Brest Litovsk. For desertion in May 1918, Dyubenko summoned to Lenin to the Kremlin, after a short trial they were given to court and excluded from the party (however, they were restored in 1922). And in 1938 the former addict accuses already in espionage in favor of America. The trial of him lasted 17 minutes. The sentence is standard: execution without delay. By the way, in the same 1938, the medal "20 years of the Red Army" was established, but the Optuous Dyubenko reward, of course, did not receive.

All these facts partly shed light on true reasonswho prompted the Soviet leadership to replace the newly fetaned holiday two "uncomfortable" historical dates - anniversary February Revolution 1917 and the German ultimatum of 1918. The myth succeeded in nice - in the best traditions of Soviet propaganda. For the sake of justice, it should be noted that after 1945 a much more significant holiday for all the attitude towards the Red, and then the Soviet Army, was the Victory Day. Well, on February 23, gradually turned into a "gender", as it is today it is customary to be called, a holiday with which all the men's population of the country congratulated, regardless of age and the kind of activity - by analogy with Women's Day on March 8. However, B. last years Soviet power officially produced reference books and calendars have already tried to avoid frank lies. And those from readers who carefully referred to signatures in such publications could pay attention to several strange "streamlord" of the above wording. As on the tearless sheet of this calendar, from which it is quite difficult to understand what specifically happened on this day, February 23, 1918.

The first document on the creation of the Red Army, which dated January 22, 1918:



Decree
Council of People's Commissar
"" January 1918.
petrograd

The old army served as an instrument of class oppression of the working bourgeoisie. With the transfer of power to workers and exploited classes, it was necessary to create a new army, which will be the stronghold of Soviet power in the present, the foundation for the replacement of the People's Army in the inensive weapons of the proletariat in the future and will serve as support for the upcoming socialist revolution in Europe.

I.
In view of this, the Council of People's Commissars decides: to organize a new army called the "Worker-Peasant Red Army" on the following grounds:

I / The worker-peasant Red Army is created from the most conscious and organized representatives of the working people.

Access to the rows is open to all citizens of the Russian republic are not under the age of 18. Everyone comes to the Red Army, who is ready to give their strength, its life to protect the conquests of the October Revolution and the authorities of the Soviets. For entry into the ranks of the Red Army, recommendations are needed: military committees or public democratic organizations standing on the platform of Soviet authorities, party or professional organizations or at least two members of these organizations. Upon joining integer parts, a circular order of all and the name vote is required.

II.
I / Warriors of the working and peasant Red Army consist in full state security and moreover 50 rubles are obtained. per month.

2 / Disable family members of the Red Army soldiers who were previously dependent were provided with all necessary from the Soviet authorities

III.
The Supreme Governing Body of the Workers' and Peasant Red Army is the Council of People's Commissars. The direct leadership and management of the army focuses in the Commissioner for Military Affairs in the All-Russian Collegium established at it.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissar
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

People's Commissar for Military Affairs
V. Ovseenko I. Krylenko N.Podova

Managing the affairs of the Council of People's Commissar
Vlad.Bonch-Broevich

Secretary of the Council of People's Commissar
Gorbunov
A.Pronin
V. Zaitsev
I.Steinberg

And on February 21, 1918, the famous decree was released "Socialist Fatherland in danger!", Written by Trotsky, by the way:

To save the exterminated country from new military trials, we went to the greatest sacrifice and announced the Germans about our consent to sign their conditions of the world. Our parliamentarians 20 (7) February in the evening left the regimes to Dvinsk, and there are no response to the Cih. The German government is obviously medletes with the answer. It clearly does not want the world. By completing the instructions of the capitalists of all countries, the German militarism wants to strangle the Russian and Ukrainian workers and peasants, return the land of landowners, factories and plants - bankers, power - monarchies. The German generals want to establish their "order" in Petrograd and in Kiev. Socialist Republic Soviets is in the greatest danger. Before the moment, the proletariat of Germany, the sacred duty of workers and the peasants of Russia rises and defeated the Republic of Tests against the Haling of Bourgeois-Imperialist Germany. The Council of People's Commissar decides: 1) all the forces and funds of the country are fully provided to the case of revolutionary defense. 2) All the advice and revolutionary organizations are charged to protect each position to the last drop of blood. 3) Railway organizations and associated tips are obliged to prevent the enemy by all forces to use the communications device; During the retreat, destroy the paths, blow and burn railway buildings; The entire rolling stock is wagons and locomotives - immediately direct to the east into the depths of the country. 4) all bread and in general food reserves, as well as any valuable property that threatens the danger to get into the enemy's hands should be undoubtedly destroying; Observation of this is assigned to local councils under the personal responsibility of their chairmen. 5) Workers and peasants of Petrograd, Kiev and all cities, towns, villages and villages along the new front line must mobilize battalions for digging trenches under the guidance of military specialists. 6) All workable members of the bourgeois class, men and women under the supervision of the Red Guards should be included in these battalions; Resisting - shoot. 7) All publications opposing the case of revolutionary defense and becoming on the side of the German bourgeoisie, as well as seeking to use the invasion of imperialist pollens in order to overthrow the Soviet power, are closed; Workable editors and employees of these publications are mobilized to grow tagging and other defensive work. 8) Enemy agents, speculators, louds, hooligans, counter-revolutionary agitators, German spies are shot on, the crime scene.

Socialist Fatherland in danger! Long live Socialist Fatherland! Long live the International Socialist Revolution!

Council of People's Commissar

Alexander Saturn

February 23 - the Day of Defender of the Fatherland, which until 1993 was called the Day of the Soviet Army and Navy. Until 1946. Soviet army called the Red Army. Why exactly February 23 is the birthday of the Red Army?

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Documents on the formation of the Red Army

III All-Russian Congress of Soviets accepted January 12 (January 24 for a new style) of 1918. Declaration of the rights of the worker and the operated people, paragraph 5 of which said:
« In the interests of ensuring all the fullness of the authorities for the workers' masses and eliminate any possibility of restoring the power of the exploiters, armament of workers, the formation of the socialist red army of workers and peasants and the full disarmament of the property classes».

15 (28) January 1918 Chairman of SNK V. I. Lenin signed the SNK decree on the organization of the Workers' and Peasant Red Army (RKKKA), January 29 (February 11) - Worker-peasant Red Fleet (RKKF).

In February 1918, peaceful negotiations between Soviet Russia and Germany in Brest-Litovsk were torn by the head of the Soviet delegation, Lvod Trotsky, who refused to adopt German ultimatum, put forward the absurd slogan "no war, nor the world," and announced the Germans that Russia stops war without signing Peace treaty.

Immediately after the breakdown of negotiations in Brest-Litovsk, on February 18, 1918, Germany and Austria-Hungary moved to the offensive throughout the front. High strike German troops were applied towards the capital - Petrograd. The number and organization of only the above-began to form the Red Army (based on the old Russian army and the workers - the Red Guards) did not allow to provide a fairly effective opposite to the enemy. On February 19, the Germans captured Dvinsk (now Daugavpils) and Polotsk, February 20 - Minsk, February 25 - Pskov and Revel (Tallinn). February 24 V.I. Lenin wrote: "In fact, we cannot fight for a minute, for the army against the war, the army cannot fight. Week of war with the Germans, before which our troops simply fled, from 18 to 24 February 1918, quite proved it. " (Satv. T. 35, p. 384). February 25, Lenin writes: "... painfully-shameful reports on the refusal of regiments to maintain positions, to refuse to protect even the Narva line, to destroy everything and all during the retreat; We are not talking about the flight, chaos, roofs, helplessness, grinding. " (Ibid., P. 394).

Chairman of the Sovnarkom V.I. Lenin convinced his comrades, overcoming the resistance of Trotsky and some other leaders of Soviet Russia and the party, which is necessary, on the one hand, organize resistance to German troops , on the other hand, immediately agree to the Brest Brest World with Germany not to lose everything. Soviet Russia was vital to the residue to strengthen his army.

The Russian leadership followed Lenin and began to work out both of these directions.

"Socialist Fatherland in danger"

On February 21, the Council of People's Commissar (SNK) appealed to the people with the written V.I. Lenin decree-appeal "Socialist Fatherland in danger!":

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Socialist Fatherland in danger!

To save the exterminated country from new military trials, we went to the greatest sacrifice and announced the Germans about our consent to sign their conditions of the world. Our parliamentarians 20 (7) in the evening left the regime in Dvinsk, and there is still no answer.The German government is obviously medletes with the answer. It clearly does not want the world.

By completing the instruction of capitalists of all countries, German militarism wants to strangle Russian and Ukrainian workers and peasants, return land owners, factories and plants- bankers, power- monarchy.The German generals want to establish their "order" in Petrograd and in Kiev. The Socialist Republic of Soviets is in the greatest danger.Before the moment, the proletariat of Germany, the sacred duty of workers and the peasants of Russia rises and defeated the Republic of Tests against the Haling of Bourgeois-Imperialist Germany.

The Council of People's Commissar decides: 1) all the forces and funds of the country are fully provided to the case of revolutionary defense. 2) All the advice and revolutionary organizations are charged to protect each position to the last drop of blood.3) Railway organizations and associated tips are obliged to prevent the enemy by all forces to use the communications device; During the retreat, destroy the paths, blow and burn railway buildings; The entire rolling stock is wagons and locomotives - immediately direct to the east into the depths of the country. 4) all bread and in general food reserves, as well as any valuable property that threatens the danger to get into the enemy's hands should be undoubtedly destroyed; Observation of this is assigned to local councils under the personal responsibility of their chairmen. 5) Workers and peasants of Petrograd, Kiev and all cities, towns, villages and villages along the new front line must mobilize battalions for digging trenches under the guidance of military specialists. 6) All workable members of the bourgeois class, men and women under the supervision of the Red Guards should be included in these battalions; Resistive- shift.7) All publications opposing the case of revolutionary defense and becoming on the side of the German bourgeoisie, as well as seeking to use the invasion of imperialist pollens in order to overthrow the Soviet power, are closed; Workable editors and employees of these publications are mobilized to grow tagging and other defensive work. 8) Enemy agents, speculators, louds, hooligans, counter-revolutionary agitators, German spies are shot at the crime scene.

Socialist Fatherland in danger! Long live Socialist Fatherland! Long live the International Socialist Revolution!

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In accordance with the decree of the SNK, Supreme Commander N. V. Krylenko on February 21 signed an order for the declaration of revolutionary mobilization.

Birthday of the Red Army

February 23, 1918 in Petrograd, Moscow and other cities held rallies under the slogan: "Protection of the Socialist Fatherland". This day laid the beginning of the mass mobilization of revolutionary forces across the country and began the birthday of the Red Army and the Navy.

On the same day, on February 23, 1918, there was the first collision of the Red Army with advanced Germanic parts in the area of \u200b\u200bthe villages of Big and Small Lopatino under Pskov. Poorly trained and demoralized revolutionary units that did not have a single management and devoid of officer personnel could not have a significant resistance to the regular parts of the German army.

However, now the Germans could not count on the unhindered promotion of Russia deep into Russia and the capture of Petrograd became problematic. It pushed them to sign the world, so the necessary Soviet Russia.

Signing and cancellation of the Brest world with Germany

On February 24, 1918, the decision of the SNK on the adoption of the German conditions of the world was published. In early March, the Brest world was signed. German troops stopped martialctions. By the way, the Brest world was canceled by the Soviet government at the end of the year after the defeat of Germany in the First World War.

In the meantime, Soviet Russia continued to form the workers' and peasant Red Army and the working and peasant red fleet, which in the fall of 1918 turned into a mass army and the fleet.

At the end of the Civil War on November 1, 1920, the number of army and the fleet was 5,427,73 people ().