The Russian CIvil War, any good side?

Did the Russian Civil War have a good side? I am asking because recently while researching the Russian White Movement I have found some very contradictory conclusions on Pogroms, did the Soviets join in with the Ukranians and VA, did Petliura encourage them or try his best to discourage them, did Denikin oppose them or endorse them, and is it fair to say that everyone would have been better of had the communists lost so I am wondering what the people here think about it since this forum seems very knowledgeable on history in general.

The first rule in studying history

Don't take sides

I was hesitant to post for the above reason; The Bolsheviks and Mensheviks had serious and legitimate reasons for the calling of an armed uprising. I think the Tsarist elite at the time would have disregarded anything less than an armed revolt, as was seen in the lead up to the civil war. I doubt if the White forces had won that much would have changed, Deninkin was a royalist sympathizer, and Wrangel had little interest in coordinating the Pro-White Armies (who were largely in a much more fractured state than the Bolshevik blocs).

There is very good side. Independence of Finland, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
Without civil war in Russia would be much harder.

@ strike, I have untill now usually thought of the civil war as two nearly identical sides, untill finding this book http://books.google.com/books?id=X7Z...llborn+crusade

which has shaken my earlier opinions.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wakizashi

I was hesitant to post for the above reason; The Bolsheviks and Mensheviks had serious and legitimate reasons for the calling of an armed uprising. I think the Tsarist elite at the time would have disregarded anything less than an armed revolt, as was seen in the lead up to the civil war. I doubt if the White forces had won that much would have changed, Deninkin was a royalist sympathizer, and Wrangel had little interest in coordinating the Pro-White Armies (who were largely in a much more fractured state than the Bolshevik blocs).

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Hmmm that is interesting but I thought Wrangel was the ultra-reactionary while Denikin was the more incompetent one?

@ Krook

Yes those were good sides, but what about the Pogroms? Even combining the Whites and Reds the Russians only did 25.5% of them, unless I am much mistaken.

I read a big thick book on the different White generals and the forces several years ago. From what I vaguely remember the Czech Legion and the final White Army holdouts in the Crimea seemed most sympathetic to me.