The October Revolution of 1917 brought the Bolsheviks into power and made them a real force — both political and military. Initially, the leadership of the party viewed the Red Army as voluntary: those wishing to join could do it in the local Soviet councils, soldiers were allowed to choose commanders and discuss orders. However, the Russian Civil War (1917–1922) gained momentum, and in 1918, the Bolsheviks had to restore compulsory military service in the territories under their control.

On January 15 (January 28, Old Style), 1918, the Council of People’s Commissars of the RSFSR announced the creation of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army (RKKA) “to defend the gains of the October Revolution, the power of the Soviets and socialism.” By the middle of the Russian Civil War, the RKKA had become a serious force. Its number reached 5.5 million people, which was about 6% of the total population of the Soviet State. The leadership of the country held numerous outreach events to maintain the sense of unity among this colossal mass of people, as well as to draft as many new soldiers as possible into the army.

The Military Medical Museum houses a colorful poster “The Red Army Awaits Healthy Newcomers”, issued by the State Medical Publishing House in 1929. In the large drawing at the top of the poster, an unknown artist depicts enthusiastic young workers and peasants on their way to an enlistment office to enroll in the Red Army. The scene of a medical examination is shown below: doctors of the draft board check the general state of health, eyesight and hearing of young men, and measure their height and weight. The poster warns, “don’t hide your diseases and don’t try to act sick.”

In the middle of the poster, there are conscripts taking sanitation classes and learning how to protect themselves from various diseases: dysentery, typhus, sexually transmitted diseases, Spanish flu — a dangerous type of flu. The lower areas of the poster show young people, who have already joined the Red Army, going in for sports — in summer they play football, and in winter they exercise sled skiing.

Looking at this poster, a potential conscript understood that in the army his health would be carefully monitored, he would have clothes and shoes, he would get a profession and help with physical development, as well as learn how to take care of himself and his health. A smiling young man in a budenovka (pointed cloth helmet) and a greatcoat in the center of the poster served as a confirmation of the promised conditions.