Pro-independence movements in the Russian Civil War within the territory of the former Russian Empire sought the creation of independent and non-Bolshevik nation states after the October Revolution, therefore being in direct conflict with the Russian Soviet Republic which sought to conquer them. They were often supported politically or militarily by the Entente Powers. Some of them co-operated with the Russian White movement, but others were in conflict with it. Many pro-independence movements emerged after the dissolution of the Russian Empire and fought in the Russian Civil War.[1]
The following list presents some of the pro-independence movements and the conflicts they were involved in during this period.
Western periphery[]
Finland (independence from 1917)
White Guard
Kingdom of Finland
United Baltic Duchy
- Baltic State (Lasted from April to September 1918)
- Duchy of Courland and Semigallia (1918)
- Estonia (independence from 1918)
- Estonian Provisional Government
- Latvia (independence from 1918)
- Latvian Provisional Government
- Iskolat
- Lithuania (independence from 1918)
- Perloja
- Central Lithuania
- Second Polish Republic (independence from 1918)
- Zakopane
- Tarnobrzeg
- Ingrian People's Republic (independence March 1917–December 1918; invaded by the Russian SFSR and then partitioned between Finlands and the Ingrian SSR)
- Soviet Republic of Naissaar
- Ukrainian People's Republic (independence 1917–1921; invaded by the Russian SFSR and then partitioned between Poland, Czechoslovakia, Romania and the Ukrainian SSR)
- Ukrainian State
- West Ukraine
- Komancza
- Hutsul
- Lemko
- Kholodny Yar Republic
- Belarus (independence 1918–1919; invaded by the Russian SFSR and then partitioned between Poland and the )
- Crimea (independence 1917–1918; invaded by the Russian SFR, later restored for a short while by the Ukrainian army, invaded and annexed by the Russian SFSR in 1921)
- Crimean Regional Government
- Crimean Frontier Government
- Moldavian Democratic Republic (united with Romania in 1918)
European Russia[]
- East European Russia
- Bashkiria (autonomy and de facto independence 1917–1919; joined the Russian SFSR)
- Idel-Ural (independence 1917–1918; annexed by the Russian SFSR)
- North European Russia
- North Ingria
- Committee of Uhtua
- Republic of Uhtua
- Provisional Government of White Karelia
- Provisional Government of Karelia
- Olonets Government of Southern Karelia
- Karelian United Government
- Republic of Eastern Karelia
- Karelian Temporary Committee
- Center Committee Karelian Village of Uhtua
- South European Russia
- Kuban Rada (formed into April, 1917. Became the Kuban People's Republic in 1918)
- Kuban People's Republic (independence 1918–1920; annexed by the Russian SFSR)
- Don Republic (independence 1918–1919; annexed by the Russian SFSR)
Eastern periphery[]
- Siberian regionalism
- Siberian Republic
- Evenkia
- Buryat-Mongolia
- Yakutia
- Green Ukraine
- Free State of Chukotka
- [[File:|23x15px|border |alt=|link=]] Kamchatka
- Tungus Republic
- Far Eastern Republic. (De facto independent 1920-1922; merged with the RSFSR)
Caucasus[]
- Transcaucasia
- Azerbaijan (independence 1918–1920; invaded by the Russian SFSR and transformed into the Azerbaijan SSR)
- Democratic Republic of Armenia (independence 1918–1921; invaded by the Russian SFSR and transformed into the Armenian SSR)
- Mountainous Armenia
- Georgia (independence 1918–1921; invaded by the Russian SFSR and transformed into the Georgian SSR)
- Kars Republic
- Caucasian Emirate
- Mughan
- Mughan Soviet Republic
- Centrocaspian Dictatorship
- United Republics (independence 1917–1922; annexed by the Russian SFSR)
- Socialist Soviet Republic of Gilan
Central Asia[]
- Basmachi's
- Alash Orda
- Kazakh Socialist Soviet Republic
- Confederated Republic of Altai
- "second" Confederated Republic of Altai
- Khiva
- Provisional Providence Government Karakalpak Republic
- Emirate of Bukhara
- Turkestan Autonomy
- Transcaspian Government
Formerly[]
- East European Russia
- Provisional Regional Government of the Urals
- Republic of Black Ural
- Central Asia
Legacy[]
With the exception of the Baltic states, the pro-independence movements were ultimately unsuccessful in achieving their goals, with most territories succumbing to Soviet rule. Pro-independence sentiment remained in exile, with Prometheism being promoted in interwar Poland. National movements reactivated during Glasnost and Perestroika, leading to the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the independence of all constituent republics. Pro-independence sentiment within the borders of the Russian Federation continued to exist, most notably in Chechnya and Tatarstan, and the issue has regained relevance following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
References[]
- ↑ Bullock, David (2008). The Russian Civil War, 1918–22 (1st ed.). Oxford: Osprey Pub.. ISBN 978-1-84603-271-4.
The original article can be found at Pro-independence movements in Russian Civil War and the edit history here.