The Russian Civil War was a multi-party conflict in the former Russian Empire immediately after the two Russian Revolutions of 1917, as many factions vied to determine Russia's political future. The two largest combatant groups were the Red Army, fighting for the Bolshevik government, and the loosely allied forces known as the White Army, which included diverse interests favoring monarchism, capitalism, and alternative forms of socialism. The war also saw the rise of a number of socialist states within the former Russian Empire, such as the Ukrainian People's Republic, the Far Eastern Republic, and the People's Republic of Poland, as well as independent nations such as Finland.
The Russian Civil War started in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg) in 1917, shortly after the Bolshevik Revolution. The conflict arose due to a power struggle between the Bolshevik government, led by Vladimir Lenin, and various anti-Bolshevik forces, including the White Army and various socialist and nationalist groups. The war was also influenced by foreign intervention, with several countries, including the United Kingdom, France, and the United States, providing support to the White Army.
The Russian Civil War had a significant impact on the course of history. The victory of the Red Army and the establishment of the Soviet Union had far-reaching consequences, including the spread of communism and the Cold War. The war also led to the deaths of millions of people and the displacement of many more, as well as the devastation of much of the Russian economy. The legacy of the Russian Civil War continues to be felt in Russia and other parts of the world to this day.