The Russian army's numbers keep going down but it is still a force the world has to reckon with. ....in the days of the Civil War, in 1918-20 Reds often apprehended their Tsarist White enemies by ...

After seizing control of Russia ... old Tsarist army. Appointing ex-Tsarist officers was questioned, but Trotsky insisted they would bring expertise essential to winning the Civil War.

Their leaders were experienced military ... areas of Russia They had the Bolsheviks surrounded They had the active support of foreign countries, which intervened in the Civil War on their behalf.