3/26/2007
Kinvig: Churchill's Crusade
Clifford Kinvig: Churchill's Crusade: The British Invasion of Russia 1918-1920
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Hambledon Press 2006
ISBN: 978-1852854775
The complex and confusing post-I WW world is an extremely interesting case for the study of the interplay of ideology and power politics. Years through 1918 to 1920 saw among other things a world war, the break-up of several empires, a failed Allied intervention into the Russian civil war and finally the birth of the first communist state.
Kinvig's book about the intervention (and especially the British role in it) is a fascinating read. He has used primary material, letters from soldiers etc. to describe the campaign that has been in different sources describes as a "tragicomedy". The difficult conditions and the confusing political situation led to the disilllusionement of soldiers and inevitably to the abandoning of what had become a mismanaged crusade.
Churchill, ideologically a solid anti-communist, fought also for a favorable balance of power: initially, the necessities of war demanded the Eastern Front be kept active and later, after the Armistice, Churchill's aim was to secure a friendly Russia in the future. He failed in both tasks. His 'big hand, small map strategy' was based on undue optimism and faith on the Russian White movement.
Second Opinion: John Ure / Times Online ¶ 3/26/2007 02:26:00 ip.
Clifford Kinvig: Churchill's Crusade: The British Invasion of Russia 1918-1920Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Hambledon Press 2006
ISBN: 978-1852854775
The complex and confusing post-I WW world is an extremely interesting case for the study of the interplay of ideology and power politics. Years through 1918 to 1920 saw among other things a world war, the break-up of several empires, a failed Allied intervention into the Russian civil war and finally the birth of the first communist state.
Kinvig's book about the intervention (and especially the British role in it) is a fascinating read. He has used primary material, letters from soldiers etc. to describe the campaign that has been in different sources describes as a "tragicomedy". The difficult conditions and the confusing political situation led to the disilllusionement of soldiers and inevitably to the abandoning of what had become a mismanaged crusade.
Churchill, ideologically a solid anti-communist, fought also for a favorable balance of power: initially, the necessities of war demanded the Eastern Front be kept active and later, after the Armistice, Churchill's aim was to secure a friendly Russia in the future. He failed in both tasks. His 'big hand, small map strategy' was based on undue optimism and faith on the Russian White movement.
Second Opinion: John Ure / Times Online ¶ 3/26/2007 02:26:00 ip.
