Red Army

Quick Facts: Who was Red Army?

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Red Army

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The military force of the Russian Soviet Republic, evolving into the core of the Soviet Armed Forces.

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Origins & Early Life

The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, often referred by its shortened name as the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Republic and, from 1922, the Soviet Union. The army was established in January 1918 by a decree of the Council of People's Commissars to oppose the military forces of the new nation's adversaries during the Russian Civil War, especially the various groups collectively known as the White Army. In February 1946, the Red Army (which embodied the main component of the Soviet Armed Forces alongside the Soviet Navy) was renamed the "Soviet Army". Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, it was split between the post-Soviet states, with its bulk becoming the Russian Ground Forces, commonly considered to be the successor of the Soviet Army. Although the Red Army's performance in the Polish-Soviet War, the Winter War, and the opening stages of Operation Barbarossa was mixed and often poor, it ultimately emerged as a highly effective fighting force that was capable of shattering the Axis frontline.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The Red Army provided the largest ground force in the Allied victory in the European theatre of World War II, and its invasion of Manchuria assisted the unconditional surrender of Japan. On the Eastern Front, it fought the largest and deadliest land war in history, which accounted for roughly 75% of German combat casualties during the war, and ultimately captured the German capital, Berlin. Red Army personnel were also involved in Soviet war crimes against civilians and prisoners of war, particularly in Eastern and Central Europe. Up to 34 million soldiers served in the Red Army during World War II, 8 million of which were non-Slavic minorities. Officially, the Red Army lost 6,329,600 killed in action (KIA), 555,400 deaths by disease and 4,559,000 missing in action (MIA) (mostly captured).

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Of the 4.5 million missing, 939,700 rejoined the ranks in liberated Soviet territory, and a further 1,836,000 returned from German captivity. The official grand total of losses (killed, missing and died of disease or in captivity) amounted to 8,668,300, the majority of which were ethnic Russians (5,756,000), followed by ethnic Ukrainians (1,377,400). This is the official total dead, but other estimates give the number of total dead up to almost 11 million. Officials at the Russian Central Defense Ministry Archive (CDMA) maintain that their database lists the names of roughly 14 million dead and missing service personnel. In September 1917, Vladimir Lenin wrote:"There is only one way to prevent the restoration of the police, and that is to create a people's militia and to fuse it with the army (the standing army to be replaced by the arming of the entire people)." At the time, the Imperial Russian Army had started to collapse.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1917: 1917 Milestone — In September 1917, Vladimir Lenin wrote:"There is only one way to prevent the restoration of the police, and that is to create a people's militia and to fuse it with the army (the standing army to be replaced by the arming of the entire people).
2. 1918: 1918 Milestone — The army was established in January 1918 by a decree of the Council of People's Commissars to oppose the military forces of the new nation's adversaries during the Russian Civil War, especially the various groups collectively known as the White Army.
3. 1922: 1922 Milestone — The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, often referred by its shortened name as the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Republic and, from 1922, the Soviet Union.
4. 1946: 1946 Milestone — In February 1946, the Red Army (which embodied the main component of the Soviet Armed Forces alongside the Soviet Navy) was renamed the "Soviet Army".

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Red Army

True or False: “The Red Army was immediately equipped with modern weaponry upon its formation in January 1918.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Initially, the force relied on a mix of elements and faced severe shortages; some personnel even collected scrap metal to contribute towards equipment.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Red Army