What were the two sides of the Russian Civil War? What advantages did each side have?

Answer 1

"Red Army" - Lenin's followers. They believed in an end to any kind of monarchy, constitutional or not. The Red Army was in a more centralized location (Moscow) and took orders mainly from people with the same ideas. While Lenin was not in direct control, those that were, like Trotsky and others, would report to him and their goals were the same - crush the White Army. This side also had better weaponry that Lenin had imported from Europe.

"White Army" - This side was divided amonst itself. There were many factions of the Whites who didn't want the same thing! One part wanted the monarchy back but with a different ruler, another side wanted a constiutional monarchy, one side didn't want a monarchy and wanted a democracy of sorts, and another side just hated Lenin so much that it wanted to fight. This side was united mainly, only, in the fact that every group did not want Lenin and the Soviet in power. This army was also split all over the country and faced many problems because of it (trapped after blowing up of the trans-siberian railway, for ex). I would say that this side had more followers because for as much as people thought the czar was doing a terrible job, most did not want to see him harmed and wanted him in some kind of fashion. The fear was that Lenin would banish the royal family. Remember Nicholas II was the people's "little father," so this movement won more followers this way. It also had some terrible generals and crude weaponry to fight with.

Answer 2

The two sides in the Russian Civil War were called "Reds" and "Whites". I would say the "Reds" had more advantages, and that helped lead to their victory over the "Whites". One real advantage the "Reds" had was Leon Trotsky, the "Whites" had the disadvantage of generals like Peter Wrangel, who had very little popularity among the people of Russia.