1918 15th January
Workers and Peasants Red Army Decree
The Soviet government decrees creation of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army on a voluntary basis.
Russian Revolution · permanent subject timeline
Beginnings of the Russian Civil War
The widening armed struggle that followed the Bolshevik seizure of power. This page combines historical context with 19 matching records drawn directly from the World History Database Russian Revolution collection.
Historical context
Beginnings of the Russian Civil War: overview and significance
What happened?
During 1918 armed opposition to Bolshevik rule widened into civil war involving Red forces, White armies, Cossacks, regional governments, nationalist movements and foreign intervention. The conflict emerged from unresolved political, military and territorial struggles after October.
Why was it important?
The civil war determined whether the new Soviet government would survive and profoundly shaped the institutions of the emerging state. Military mobilization, economic control and political repression intensified as the conflict expanded.
World History Database records
Beginnings of the Russian Civil War timeline
The records below are selected from the 726-record Russian Revolution collection and rendered as static HTML for reading and indexing.
1918
1918 22nd April
Compulsory Military Training Decree
The Soviet government introduces compulsory military training for workers as it builds a more disciplined Red Army.
1918 22nd May
Rebellion
The Czech legion refuses to surrender arms & Trotsky orders it to be disarmed by force
1918 29th May
Red Army Conscription
The Soviet government introduces compulsory military service as the civil war expands and volunteer recruitment proves insufficient.
1918 May
Union for Defence of Fatherland and Freedom
Savinkov organises an underground anti-Bolshevik network preparing armed resistance against Soviet rule.
1918 8th June
Committee of Constituent Assembly Members
Volsky helps establish the Committee of Members of the Constituent Assembly after anti-Bolshevik forces take Samara.
1918 6th July
Yaroslavl Uprising
Savinkov's anti-Bolshevik organisation helps launch an armed uprising in Yaroslavl against Soviet authority.
1918 21st July
Collapse of Yaroslavl Uprising
The anti-Bolshevik uprising associated with Savinkov collapses after sustained fighting and bombardment.
1918 2nd August
Northern Regional Government
Chaikovsky heads an anti-Bolshevik regional government formed at Archangel after Soviet authority collapses in the city.
1918 1st September
Rebellion
The Red Army search for suspects & Kronstadt sailors shoot 500 hostages. The Petrograd Cheka Chief is assassinated
1918 1st September
Red Army
The Red Army search for suspects & Kronstadt sailors shoot 500 hostages
1918 23rd September
Ufa Directory Formed
Avksentiev becomes chairman of the five-member Directory created at Ufa to unite major anti-Bolshevik governments.
1918 25th September
Death of Mikhail Alexeiev
Alexeiev dies while serving as a senior leader of the anti-Bolshevik Volunteer Army in southern Russia.
1918 4th November
War and Navy Minister at Omsk
Kolchak enters the anti-Bolshevik government at Omsk as minister of war and navy.
1918
Don Cossack Government
Krasnov becomes a leading figure among Don Cossacks opposing Bolshevik authority after returning to the region.
1918
Don Cossack Government
Krasnov establishes a Cossack administration in the Don region opposed to the Bolshevik government.
1918
Don Cossack Government
Krasnov organises military forces among the Don Cossacks during the early Russian Civil War.
1918
Escape from Russia
Escapes Bolshevik-controlled Russia during the civil war.
1918
Joins Bolshevik Party
Joins the Bolshevik Party during the Russian Civil War.
Editorial provenance
Sources and editorial review
Compiled and edited by World History Database
Historical context is editorial material; the chronology is generated from World History Database Russian Revolution records.
Last reviewed: September 2026.
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