Russia's experiences during the Civil War determined the framework within which the Russian people were governed throughout the Soviet period. These newly released documents reveal how the events of 1918-22 reflected struggles and tensions in Russian society that were more complex than the simple Red-White propaganda war. In this collection the authors have sought out documents which highlight the complexities of the struggle, exploring episodes which shed light on what was a multifaceted struggle which left wounds on Russian society which never healed.

This monograph describes the structures, access, and declassification procedures for Soviet-era civil and military archives located in Moscow. Although there are numerous holdings within former Soviet territory housing materials dated between 1917 and 1991, only those associated with the top leadership bodies (the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) Politburo, Secretariat, and Central Committee); the diplomatic, security, and intelligence services (the NKVD, KGB, and GRU); and the former Soviet military are examined in this paper. The author gathered most of the information for this document through interviews with Russian archive officials during a visit to Moscow between May 23 and May 31, 1992. The information cutoff is October 1992. This monograph is a part of the ongoing RAND project on World War II, the early Cold War, and Korean War POW-MIA issues. Research for this paper was sponsored by the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and undertaken within the International Security and Defense Strategy Program of RAND's National Defense Research Institute, a federally funded research and development center sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Staff. The monograph is expected to be of interest to officials and specialists seeking information on the organization of the post-Soviet archives.

A compendium of translations of representative documents from several once-closed Soviet/Russian archives. Sheds new light on the structure & workings of the world's longest-lived totalitarian state, the character & intentions of Vladimir Lenin, & the difficult history of U.S.-Soviet relations from the Revolution until the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Based on the exhibition at the Library of Congress in June & July 1992, the book presents 343 documents on a broad range of subjects, with commentary to make their significance clear. Most of the documents have been translated in their entirety. List of abbreviations & terms.