Red Guards (Russia)

In the context of the history of Russia and Soviet Union, Red Guards (Russian: "??????? ???????") were armed groups of workers formed in the time frame of the Russian Revolution. They were the main strike force of the bolsheviks. They were created in March 1917, under the control of bolsheviks at industrial enterprises by Factory and Plant Committees and by Bolshevik party cells. A number of other militarized formations created during the February Revolution, such as "people's militia" (???????? ???????), created by the Russian Provisional Government, "groups of self-defence" (?????? ???????????), "committees of public security" (???????? ???????????? ????????????), "workers' squads" (??????? ???????) were gradually unified into the Red Guards.

Related Topics:
Russia - Soviet Union - Russian - Russian Revolution - Bolsheviks - Factory and Plant Committee - February Revolution - Russian Provisional Government

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Red Guards were the base for the forming of the Red Army. Therefore the term is often used as just another (incorrect) English name for the Red Army in reference to the times of the Russian Revolution and Russian Civil War.

Related Topics:
Red Army - English - Russian Civil War

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In Petrograd, the head of the Red Guards (30,000 personnel) was Konstantin Yurenev. At the moment of the October Revolution, the Russian Red Guards had 200,000 personnel. After the revolution, the Red Guards performed the function of the Army. (The term "army" was not in use yet, since it was still associated with the tool of governmental oppression.)

Related Topics:
Petrograd - Konstantin Yurenev - October Revolution

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