Historian A: Richard Pipes – Economic Perspective

'War Communism was an extreme and failed attempt to centralize the Russian economy during the Civil War. It led to severe economic disruption, including a collapse in industrial output and widespread famine. Pipes argues that the policy was driven by the Bolsheviks’ need to control resources and suppress opposition, but ultimately it was counterproductive and contributed to the unrest that led to the New Economic Policy.'

Historian B: Sheila Fitzpatrick – Social Perspective

'War Communism had profound social impacts, including the breakdown of traditional class structures and the rise of a new Bolshevik elite. Fitzpatrick emphasizes the social upheaval and suffering caused by requisitions, forced labor, and food shortages. She views War Communism as a period of social experimentation that, despite its failures, helped consolidate Bolshevik power by reshaping Russian society.'