What struggle did peasants experience as a direct result of War Communism?

Peasants faced significant hardships during the implementation of War Communism, primarily characterized by food shortages and famine. War Communism was a key policy used by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War (1917-1922), focusing on the nationalization of industry and the requisitioning of agricultural produce from peasant farms to supply the Red Army and urban population.

As a direct result of these policies, many peasants were compelled to surrender their crops to the state, leading to decreased incentives for agricultural production. The harsh requisitioning policies, combined with poor weather conditions and economic dislocation, resulted in widespread food shortages. This severe lack of food culminated in one of the worst famines in Russian history, particularly affecting rural populations and leading to malnutrition and death among the peasant class.

Understanding the context of War Communism reveals why food shortages and famine were such dire consequences, as the demands placed on peasants stripped them of their resources and disrupted traditional agricultural practices, thus worsening their already precarious situation.