Pro-independence movements in the Russian Civil War

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Pro-independence movements in the Russian Civil War within the territory of the former Russian Empire sought the creation of independent and non-Bolshevik nation states after the October Revolution, therefore being in direct conflict with the Russian Soviet Republic which sought to conquer them. They were often supported politically or militarily by the Entente Powers. Some of them co-operated with the Russian White movement, but others were in conflict with it. Many pro-independence movements emerged after the dissolution of the Russian Empire and fought in the Russian Civil War. [1]

Contents

The following list presents some of the pro-independence movements and the conflicts they were involved in during this period.

Western periphery

Finnish Civil War
Heimosodat
Viena expedition
Aunus expedition
Estonian War of Independence
Latvian War of Independence
Lithuanian Wars of Independence
Polish–Lithuanian War
Polish–Ukrainian War
Polish–Soviet War
Polish–Lithuanian War
Ukrainian War of Independence
Ukrainian–Soviet War
Polish–Ukrainian War

European Russia

Eastern periphery

Caucasus

Armenian–Azerbaijani War
Red Army invasion of Azerbaijan
Georgian–Armenian War
Armenian–Azerbaijani War
Turkish–Armenian War
Georgian–Ossetian conflict
Georgian–Armenian War
Sochi conflict
Red Army invasion of Georgia

Central Asia

Legacy

With the exception of the Baltic states, the pro-independence movements were ultimately unsuccessful in achieving their goals, with most territories succumbing to Soviet rule. Pro-independence sentiment remained in exile, with Prometheism being promoted in interwar Poland. National movements reactivated during Glasnost and Perestroika, leading to the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the independence of all constituent republics. Pro-independence sentiment within the borders of the Russian Federation continued to exist, most notably in Chechnya and Tatarstan, and the issue has regained relevance following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

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References

  1. Bullock, David (2008). The Russian Civil War, 1918–22 (1st ed.). Oxford: Osprey Pub. ISBN   978-1-84603-271-4.