The Green Army, which functioned during the Russian Civil War, had its roots in nonpolitical, anarchist or nationalist movements, and formed a "third force" in contradistinction both to the Reds and to the Whites. It was sometimes used to refer to the Black Army as well.

The war took an especially brutal form in the south of Russia and in the Ukraine, and its frontlines moved frequently, disrupting civilian life. All groups participating in the war engaged in atrocities and pogroms. The estimated total of fatalities amounts to 7 million.

The largest Green contingent, the pro-Communist Kuban-Black Sea Army (sometimes called the Red-Green Army) had an estimated 15,000 troops and fought against General Denikin's Russian Volunteer Army in 1919. Paramilitary bands in the Crimea united by 1920 into the Crimea Rebel Army , which fought together with the Red Army against Baron Wrangel.

By the end of 1920 the Greens had dissolved: some became part of the Red Army (the Red-Greens), others joined with the White Army (the White-Greens).

See also

• Nestor Makhno
• Black Army