In the context of the Russian Revolution and civil war, who is credited with organising and building the Red Army as a disciplined revolutionary force?

Introduction / Context:
During the Russian Revolution and the subsequent civil war, the Bolshevik leadership needed a strong and organised military force to defend the new Soviet state against internal and external enemies. This force became known as the Red Army. Understanding who played the central role in organising and shaping this army is essential for studying twentieth century revolutionary movements and military history.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks who organised the Red Army, not who led the revolution in general.

• Options include key political figures: Lenin, Stalin, Trotsky, and Kerensky.

• The Red Army was formed after the Bolsheviks took power in 1917.

• One of these leaders held the position of People Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs and was instrumental in building the army.

Concept / Approach:
Leon Trotsky, a prominent Bolshevik leader, became the principal organiser of the Red Army after the October Revolution. As People Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs, he transformed a loosely organised revolutionary militia into a disciplined, centrally controlled army capable of fighting the civil war against various anti Bolshevik forces. While Lenin was the overall revolutionary leader and Stalin later became the most powerful figure in the Soviet Union, Trotsky is specifically associated with organising the Red Army.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Bolsheviks seized power in Petrograd in October 1917 and soon faced armed resistance from many groups. Step 2: Remember that Leon Trotsky was appointed to oversee military affairs and took charge of forming and leading the Red Army. Step 3: Note that Trotsky organised recruitment, discipline, training, and strategic use of former officers, while still maintaining political control through commissars. Step 4: Recognise that Lenin was the head of the Bolshevik government but did not personally manage the detailed organisation of the army. Step 5: Understand that Stalin and Kerensky played different roles at different times and were not the primary organisers of the Red Army as an institution.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard histories of the Russian Revolution consistently identify Leon Trotsky as the creator and organiser of the Red Army. Biographies of Trotsky and general works on Soviet history highlight his role in travelling to the front, delivering speeches, enforcing discipline, and coordinating major campaigns during the civil war. Lenin is mainly remembered as the political leader, Stalin as a rising party organiser and later dictator, and Kerensky as the head of the Provisional Government before the Bolsheviks seized power, which confirms Trotsky central role in organising the Red Army.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Vladimir Lenin was the revolutionary leader and head of the government but relied on Trotsky for the detailed organisation of the army.

• Joseph Stalin held important political and organisational posts, yet his key association is with later power struggles, not with founding the Red Army.

• Alexander Kerensky led the Provisional Government that the Bolsheviks overthrew, so he was actually on the opposite side of the conflict from the Red Army.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes associate everything in the revolution directly with Lenin or later with Stalin and overlook other important leaders. This can lead to incorrect answers when questions focus on specific responsibilities. To avoid this, remember that Trotsky is the name most closely linked with organising the Red Army, even though Lenin remained the top political leader of the new Soviet state.

Final Answer:
The Red Army was organised and built as a disciplined force under the leadership of Leon Trotsky.