MOBILIZATION AND MANNING OF THE RED ARMY DURING THE CIVIL WAR IN RUSSIA (1918-1922)

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis and generalization of the experience of mobilization work of the military administration of the Red Army, received during the Civil War 1918-1922. Historically short period of time is unique in that under emergency conditions of war and economic ruin, in the ring of fronts against the white armies and foreign troops of the interventionists, the Soviet leadership managed to create and establish an overall effective mechanism for manning the Red Army troops. The article considers the evolution of the main mobilization body - the Mobilization Department (since September 1918 - Management) of the all-Russian General staff. The role of so called “military experts” - former officers and Joint Staff generals who often held similar positions in the mobilization bodies of the old army - in the correct formulation of mobilization work is emphasized. The article shows the features and results of registration and mobilization work, expressed in various ways of staffing troops with human resources: general and private appeals, identification and legalization of deserters, unscheduled military (local) mobilization. Explanations are given for the dominance of certain methods of recruiting troops at various stages of the Civil war.