The Soviet Red Army was the official name given by Leon Trotsky to the military forces organized by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War, occurring on this day, #OnThisDay, but in 1918.

This organization became the army of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic after the October Revolution and of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, forming the largest army in the world until the dissolution of the Union in December 1991.

The name, commonly abbreviated to Red Army, refers to the use of the Red Flag by the working class in its fight against capitalism.

Although the Red Army officially became the Soviet Army in 1946, the term Red Army is commonly used in the West to refer to all Soviet Armed Forces throughout its history.

It is also used to denote the armed forces and militias of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and other communist parties.