Why were red Russians called red Russians?

Answer 1

The Russians were not called the "Reds," the Soviets were. The distinction is a historical one. The Bolshevik revolution was not an entirely bloodless one and in 1918 Russia was in a state of Civil War.

The Bolshevik army was called the "Red Army," so named for the blood of the working classes spilled in pursuit of communism; standing against the Bolsheviks was a loose confederation of allies called the "White Army"

Incidentally, there were also Green and Black armies as well, but their roles are comparatively minor.

The Bolsheviks, or the Red Army, or simply the "Reds" proved victorious, and eventually gained political control of Russia. As the United States and allied countries had sent aid to the White Russians to oppose the Bolsheviks, the short-hand and somewhat dismissive "Reds" proved a powerful meme and one that persisted throughout the rest of the Cold War.

AnswerRussians are called Reds because in the comunist erea red was the colour of comunist revalution. A line from the internationional is "we'll keep the red flag flying here." AnswerIn Europe, red has been the colour of the Left since 1848. It's been used by the moderate and radical Left.

Incidentally, the line quoted above comes from the "Red Flag", which used to be sung at gatherings of the British Labour Party.

Answer

The very first person credited as a Russian ruler was Rurik. The "Red" reference did not originate from his political views or military actions, but his physical appearance. He came from a Scandinavian tribe that had a larger the usual red-haired population and was consequently red-haired himself.