Red Terror

The "Red Terror" was a campaign of political repression and executions carried out by the Bolsheviks in Soviet Russia. Initiated in September 1918, following an assassination attempt on Vladimir Lenin, it was a response to perceived threats and opposition to the new communist regime.1

The Red Terror involved mass executions of political prisoners, the murder of the former Tsar and his family, and the taking of hostages. The Cheka, the Bolshevik secret police, was instrumental in carrying out these actions. This period of extreme violence aimed to eliminate any opposition and consolidate Bolshevik power. While the initial phase saw around 140,000 deaths, later purges under Joseph Stalin, such as the Great Purges starting in 1934, led to the deaths of millions more, targeting party members, military leaders, and the general population.12