The Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force, 1918–1919, and the Complications of Coalition Warfare

Abstract

During the First World War there were many isolated campaigns far from the main theatres of war in Western and Eastern Europe. Among these “side shows” was the muddled and confusing Allied coalition which intervened in Siberia between 1918–1919 during the Russian Civil War. As a member of this coalition, Canada struggled, as did all contributing nations, to promulgate a lucid official doctrine or policy in relation to Siberian intervention. Using Canadian archival records and primary source documents, this article examines the history and validity of the Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force in relation to the other contributing countries, while also illuminating the inherent problems associated with coalition warfare. The geopolitical game surrounding intervention was played out between all countries of the alliance causing great military and political ramifications for the overall coalition force.