The Entente's Blockade of Soviet Russia: A Historical Overview
On October 10, 1919, the Supreme Council of the Entente initiated a complete blockade of Soviet Russia, marking a significant moment in the aftermath of the October Revolution. This blockade lasted over three months and aimed to exert political pressure on the nascent Soviet regime. Although the blockade imposed severe restrictions, the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) managed to endure through alternative trade routes and strategic negotiations.
Historian Ilya Ratkovsky from St. Petersburg State University highlights that prior to the blockade, the conditions for trade had already deteriorated due to the First World War and subsequent military actions that effectively restricted access to key ports. Only a few ports remained operational, notably Arkhangelsk and Vladivostok, which limited trade significantly. The blockade was a response to the Bolshevik government's actions, including the annulment of state loans and the signing of the Brest Peace Treaty, which alienated the Entente allies.
The blockade's impact was profound, leading to humanitarian crises marked by shortages of food and medicine, exacerbating the suffering of the Russian populace. The Entente's strategy was underpinned by a belief in the military defeat of the Bolsheviks during the ongoing Civil War, with hopes that economic pressure would facilitate this outcome. However, the resilience of the Bolshevik regime began to emerge as they secured military victories against anti-Bolshevik forces, leading to a shift in the balance of power within Russia.
By late 1919, the situation began to pivot. Soviet Russia engaged in diplomatic negotiations with Estonia and made strides towards prisoner exchanges with Great Britain, indicating a potential thaw in relations. As the Entente experienced its own agricultural shortages, calls to lift the blockade grew louder, culminating in a decision by the Supreme Allied Council on January 16, 1920, to restore trade relations with Russia. This marked a significant retreat from the rigid stance initially adopted by the Entente, revealing the interconnectedness of politics and economics during this tumultuous period.
