Tsarist officers in the Red Army

During the Russian Civil War of 1917–1923, a number of former Tsarist officers joined the Red Army, either voluntarily or as a result of coercion.

The outbreak of civil war led them to opt for a regular military in 1918 and they created the Red Army to oppose the anti-revolutionary White movement.

[2] As such, the overwhelming majority of the officers in the Red Army had formerly served in the Imperial military, much to the chagrin of Bolshevik leaders who were anxious to assert their authority over the armed forces.

[1] In spite of his colleagues' wariness, Vladimir Lenin praised them for their contributions to the Bolshevik war effort:[2] "You have heard about the series of the brilliant victories won by the Red Army.

The Stavka was organised in a manner very similar to its Tsarist predecessor, and much of the military curriculum was copied from the Imperial General Staff Academy.