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In the
Civil War in Finland,
1918, the '''Red Guards''' were the supporters of
revolution who were defeated by the
White Guards and German forces.
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'''Red Guards''' is, with regard to the
Russia and the
Soviet Union, just another
English name for the
Red Army.
During the
Civil War in Russia,
1918-
1920, the '''Red Guards''' defeated the
White guards, or simply "the Whites," who together with
West-European intervening forces supported the
monarchists,
democrats and
conservatives who opposed the Russian
Bolshevist October Revolution supported by the Red Guards.
----
'''Red Guards''' of
Bavarian Soviet Republic.
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In the
People's Republic of China, the '''Red Guards''' (紅衛兵) were civilians who were the frontline implementers of the
Chinese Cultural Revolution (
1960s-
1970s). Most Red Guards were youngsters in their mid-teens summoned by
Chairman Mao Zedong to protect the forward progression of the Chinese
Socialist Movement against "evil forces" such as
imperialism and
corruption.
Many young Chinese were enthusiastic about the prospect of "being politically influential at such young age." With
Little Red Books in their hands, squads of Red Guards formed and began to go from house to house looking for potential elements of corruption which sometimes included teachers, relatives, and then their own families. The accusation against their victims were becoming more and more ridiculous as well. Someone might be punished for not owning an "extra set" of the Chairman's publications. These punishments could be exceptionally cruel. Some victims were forced to chew on shattered glass, while others were forced to strip naked and march through town. The number of people who perished during the period was estimated to be in the millions.
There were cases where particular members would start by targeting their parents in order to demonstrate uncompromising fairness and absolute obedience to Mao. Then others were required to measure up or even surpass these efforts, resulting in a
vicious cycle of competition.
Following Mao's death and the
Gang of Four's demise in
1976, the Cultural Revolution officially ended. During the late-
1970s and early-
1980s, numerous ex-Red Guards who were identified as having committed serious crimes against humanity during the revolution were finally tried and sentenced to prison; some were even executed. However, the physical and psychological scars they inflicted on their victims may never heal. Those ex-Red Guards who escaped punishment are not rejoicing either, as most have missed their chance for education; they are now left helplessly at the bottom of the food-chain despite
mainland China's booming economy. In retrospect, the ex-Red Guards who were celebrated so early in their lives, are now collectively referred to as '''the Lost Generation'''.
