Russian Civil War
Multi-front civil war after the Russian Revolution that led to the formation of the Soviet Union.
Historical overview
Overview adapted from a Wikipedia summary and stored locally on May 11, 2026.
The Russian Civil War was a multi-party civil war in the former Russian Empire, lasting from 1917 to 1922, sparked by the overthrowing of the Russian Provisional Government in the October Revolution, as many factions vied to determine Russia's political future. It resulted in the formation of the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic and later the Soviet Union in most of its territory. Its finale marked the end of the Russian Revolution, which was one of the key events of the 20th century.
Theater countries
Actors
Tags
Border context
World War I
Total war breaks imperial geography and prepares the collapse of several continental empires.
German, Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman and Russian imperial systems are under existential pressure.Interwar settlement
New states and mandates appear after World War I while revisionist border claims grow across Europe and Asia.
Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Baltic states become central to Europe's new map. Mandate borders reshape the Middle East.