The Russian Civil War (1917–1923) followed the collapse of the Russian Empire and the Bolshevik Revolution. Rival factions fought to control Russia during a period of political chaos and economic collapse.

The Red Army, led by the Bolsheviks, fought against the White forces, a loose alliance of monarchists, republicans, and anti-communist groups. Several foreign powers, including the United States, Britain, France, and Japan, supported anti-Bolshevik forces during the conflict.

Heavy fighting spread across Russia, Siberia, Ukraine, and Central Asia. War, famine, and political violence devastated the population and caused millions of deaths.

The Bolsheviks defeated their opponents by 1923 and secured control of the country. Their victory led to the creation of the Soviet Union in 1922, which reshaped global politics for much of the twentieth century.