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White Army

Russian history
Also known as: White Volunteer Army

Quick Summary

The "White Army" refers to the diverse anti-Bolshevik forces that fought against the Red Army during the Russian Civil War (1918–1920). These armies, formed on the periphery of Soviet Russia, aimed to overthrow the communist government established by the Bolsheviks following the Russian Revolution of 1917.12

Key White Army leaders included Generals Mikhail Alekseyev, Lavr Kornilov, Anton Denikin, and Admiral Aleksandr Kolchak. They received support, including money and war materiel, from Great Britain and other Allied powers. Despite initial advances, the White Armies were ultimately defeated by the Red Army due to factors such as superior Bolshevik organization, control of Russia's industrial heartland, and numerical advantages. The conflict resulted in millions of casualties, primarily civilians.12

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