Final answer:
The Communists won control over Russia by capitalizing on the chaotic state following World War I, orchestrating the October Revolution, and winning the subsequent civil war. Under leaders like Lenin and Stalin, the Soviet Union became a one-party Marxist totalitarian state, maintained through a mix of propaganda, a controlled economy, and state terror.
Step-by-step explanation:
How the Communists Won Control Over Russia
The Communist takeover of Russia resulted from a complex blend of ideology, tactical maneuvering, civil conflict, and societal transformation following World War I. The Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, were a powerful Communist faction that eventually secured control over Russia. Lenin and the Bolsheviks took advantage of the chaotic state of Russia post-World War I and the abdication of Czar Nicholas II to orchestrate the October Revolution in 1917. This event marked the Bolshevik seizure of power and started the process of reshaping Russia into a Communist state.
After the revolution, a bitter civil war ensued between the Bolsheviks' Red Army and the White Army, which was a mix of anti-Bolshevik groups. The Red Army, under Bolshevik command, had a clear objective and was well-organized compared to its opponents and emerged victorious in 1921, solidifying Communist control. Lenin established a one-party Marxist totalitarian state, and upon his death, Joseph Stalin rose to power exploiting the party bureaucracy to strengthen his authoritarian rule. Stalin's regime employed a stern police state, extensive propaganda, a centralized economy, and institutionalized terror, which included purges and forced labor camps, to maintain control.
The creation of the Soviet Union in 1922 was followed by rapid industrialization, the collectivization of agriculture, and pervasive state control over various aspects of life. The Soviet Union was built on the principles of Marxism but was characterized by internal repression, which included the persecution and execution of millions. Despite these atrocities, the Soviet Communist Party maintained power through a resilient bureaucracy, tight control over the economy, and the Red Army's effectiveness.