Key topic 2: The Bolsheviks in power, 1917–24 - 3 Moves towards…

The idea

The Red Terror was a campaign of mass killings and oppression launched by the Bolsheviks in 1918 to eliminate political opposition. The Cheka, the secret police led by Felix Dzerzhinsky, played the central role in executing the Terror, targeting perceived class enemies and rival socialists. This ruthless suppression crushed internal dissent. By 1921, widespread discontent with Bolshevik authoritarianism culminated in the Kronstadt Mutiny. Sailors at the Kronstadt naval base, previously loyal supporters of the revolution, rebelled, demanding free elections and an end to dictatorship. The brutal suppression of the mutiny by the Red Army highlighted the regime's transition towards totalitarianism and forced Lenin to reconsider his policies.

What earns the marks

• Describe the methods used by the Cheka during the Red Terror, including arbitrary arrests, torture, and executions.
• Explain the political purpose of the Red Terror in eliminating opposition and consolidating Bolshevik control during the Civil War.
• Identify the causes of the Kronstadt Mutiny, focusing on the sailors' demands for political freedom and an end to War Communism.
• Analyse the significance of the Kronstadt Mutiny as a turning point that demonstrated the Bolsheviks' willingness to use extreme violence against former supporters to maintain power.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Confusing the Cheka with the later KGB or NKVD.

  Put it right: Use the specific term 'Cheka' when referring to the Bolshevik secret police during this period (1917-1922).

• Stating that the Kronstadt sailors were anti-communist or pro-Tsarist.

  Put it right: Clarify that the sailors were socialists who supported the original goals of the revolution but opposed the Bolshevik dictatorship.

• Believing the Red Terror only targeted armed White soldiers.

  Put it right: Emphasise that the Terror targeted a wide range of perceived 'class enemies', including civilians, political rivals, and striking workers.

Exam tips

• Link the actions of the Cheka directly to the concept of 'totalitarianism' by showing how they eliminated political pluralism.
• Use the Kronstadt Mutiny as evidence of the growing unpopularity of Bolshevik policies, even among their most loyal early supporters.
• Remember to mention Felix Dzerzhinsky when discussing the leadership and ruthlessness of the Cheka.