America's Secret War Against Bolshevism - by David S Foglesong (Paperback)

About the Book

America's Secret War against Bolshevism: U.S. Intervention in the Russian Civil War, 1917-1920

Book Synopsis

From the Russian revolutions of 1917 to the end of the Civil War in 1920, Woodrow Wilson's administration sought to oppose the Bolsheviks in a variety of covert ways. Drawing on previously unavailable American and Russian archival material, David Foglesong chronicles both sides of this secret war and reveals a new dimension to the first years of the U.S.-Soviet rivalry. Foglesong explores the evolution of Wilson's ambivalent attitudes toward socialism and revolution before 1917 and analyzes the social and cultural origins of American anti-Bolshevism. Constrained by his espousal of the principle of self-determination, by idealistic public sentiment, and by congressional restrictions, Wilson had to rely on secretive methods to affect the course of the Russian Civil War. The administration provided covert financial and military aid to anti-Bolshevik forces, established clandestine spy networks, concealed the purposes of limited military expeditions to northern Russia and Siberia, and delivered ostensibly humanitarian assistance to soldiers fighting to overthrow the Soviet government. In turn, the Soviets developed and secretly funded a propaganda campaign in the United States designed to mobilize public opposition to anti-Bolshevik activity, promote American-Soviet economic ties, and win diplomatic recognition from Washington.

Review Quotes

"A well-researched account of the dilemma faced by Woodrow Wilson in fashioning a policy toward the Bolshevik Revolution." -- CHOICE

"Adds significantly to our knowledge. . . . This is solid academic history." -- American Historical Review

"An interesting and scholarly study of American foreign policy during the Woodrow Wilson administration."Russian Review

"Carefully researched, clearly written, and provocative, America's Secret War against Bolshevism is a welcome addition to the literature dealing with Wilsonian foreign policy, the American intervention in Russia, and early relations between the United States and the Soviet Union in general." -- Slavic Review

"Foglesong's provocative book is among the pioneers in this bold new American scholarship." -- Journal of American History

"Now that it's over, America's war against that thing called Bolshevism is ripe for examination from interesting new perspectives. Woodrow Wilson started it all off, and his ambivalence in the conflict that matured into Cold War is full of surprises. Highly readable, Foglesong's cautious and meticulous research brings to light long ignored exploits of American covert action." -- Peter Grose, author of Gentleman Spy: The Life of Allen Dulles

About the Author

David S. Foglesong is assistant professor of history at Rutgers University.