Northern Eurasia 1918: Czechoslovak Legion

Large numbers of Czechs and Slovaks had joined the Russians during the War, forming a Czechoslovak Legion to fight for the independence of their homeland (then part of Austria-Hungary). After the Soviets made peace with the Central Powers, they agreed to let the Czechoslovaks travel to France via Siberia to continue their struggle. However German pressure first slowed the evacuation and then led to a Soviet attempt to disarm the Legion. The result was a disaster for the Soviets as the Czechoslovaks revolted and began occupying cities along the Trans-Siberian Railway.

About this map

Download map (without labels)

Main Events

24 May 1918 Murmansk landing ▲

To prevent German forces in Finland from moving into northern Russia, the British North Russia Squadron landed troops in the strategic year round ice-free port of Murmansk. The intervention met no resistance from the Soviet garrison. in wikipedia

25 May 1918 Revolt of the Czechoslovak Legion ▲

Forces of the Czechoslovak Legion—a volunteer force of Czechs and Slovaks fighting on the Allied side—clashed with the Bolsheviks at several points along the Trans-Siberian Railway after attempts to evacuate the Legion from now-neutral Soviet Russia stalled. By June, the Czechoslovaks had seized much of the railway between Penza and Krasnoyarsk, gaining control of the entire length of the railway by September. The revolt signaled the start of the Russian Civil War, as the Czechoslovaks brought anti-Bolshevik factions to power across Siberia. in wikipedia

26 May 1918 Independence of Georgia ▲

The Democratic Republic of Georgia declares independence from the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic. It will be followed two days later by the Democratic Republic of Armenia and the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. in wikipedia