Lenin

[mountainboo]

Why was it necessary for Lenin to use War Communism in the first few years of the Bolsheviks being in power? I'm still a little confused because War Communism is more extreme than Communism. I realise Lenin wanted a 'classless society' but surely War Communism only heightened poverty and famine within the countryside? What was his logic? I have a feeling I will need to cover this in my next essay so if I can understand it a bit better then it will help. TIA

[123everton]

In what manner?
Internally or externally?
The internal repression was to eradicate any pro Tsairist factions and establish control, externally it is harder to understand, the short lived Russo Polish war of 1918/19 (which Russia lost), the whole cause of which is somewhat lost on me.

[heathfield]

Stick 'lenin war communism' into Google and you'll find many links describing his reasons for introducing it. e.g...

http://www.historylea....uk/war_communism.htm

[mountainboo]

Thank you both. I did mean internally. That helps everton thanks