Red Army

The Red Army was the paramilitary force that fought for communist control of the Russian Empire. From its early beginnings in the Russian Civil War, the group evolved into the standard fighting force of the Soviet Union. The red symbolizes the blood shed by workers who fought against capitalism. Under the leadership of Vladimir Lenin and his associates, they were able to defeat the White Movement, Russian Provisional Government, and other Allied forces and preserve the communist state. The low point in the early ages of the Red Army was during their service in World War I against the Central Powers. Due to the poor economy and industry, many soldiers would go without rifles and used knives, pistols, axes, or event their own bare hands. Vladimir Lenin immediately withdrew troops and turned into a neutral nation. However, during World War II the Soviet Union was again pitted against their rival, Germany. Now with a stabilized economy and training from stronger generals and commissars, the force evolved into an effective fighting force that helped bring the end to Nazi tyranny. During the Cold War, the Red Army became a standing army, policing Soviet satellites. Once the Soviet Union fell in 1991, so did the Red Army which was replaced by Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.