AS History: Impact of WW1 on Russia

AS History: Impact of WW1 on Russia

1. Initial Patriotism

   • Despite industrial unrest prior to 1914, the war united people behind the Tsar
     • St Petersburg students stopped protesting against the Tsar, protesting outside the German embassy instead

2. 1914

   • Initial advancements caused the Germans to adapt the Schlieffen Plan
   • The Battle of Tannenberg
     • 26th-30th Aug 1914
     • Russian Losses
       • ~30,000 dead or wounded
       • ~95,000 taken prisoner
       • Russian General Samsonov shot himself rather than report back to the Tsar
     • German Losses
       • ~20,000 dead or wounded
         • However, captured over 500 guns
   • Siege of Przemysl
     • Sept-Dec 1914
     • Russian forces surrounded the Austro-Hungarian town of Przemysl
     • Eventually captured the town
       • Took 110,000 Prisoners
   • Patriotism strong
   • Battle of Lodz
     • Dec 1914
     • Massive Russian defeat

3. 1915

   • The Gorlice-Tarnow Offensive
     • July 1915
     • Austro-Hungary attack against Russia
     • Russian forces driven out of Poland
   • A Disastrous Decision
     • Sept 1915
     • After losing Poland, Tsar Nicholas II dismisses his Uncle Nikolai as Commander in Chief of the Russian Army
       • The Tsar takes control personally
         • Any future battle losses could be blamed directly on the Tsar by his opposition (i.e. Lenin)
         • Leaves his German wife in charge of Russia, advised by Rasputin
           • Hatred towards Germans could now be blamed directly at the country's leader!
           • Rasputin already widely disliked, and now he too was in a position of power

4. 1916

   • The Brusilov Offensive
     • The Brusilov Offensive failed majorly
       • The Russian Army had to retreat from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea
       • WHY?
         • Many soldiers deserted
         • By this point, many good soldiers were dead. The replacements could hardly load their own gun.
         • Lack of resources and materials
         • Nicholas II was awful as Commander in Chief of the Army
         • Poor transport system, particularly railways
         • Poor communications
     • June-Aug 1916
     • The Tsar was beginning to look awful in charge of the Army
   • Russian Losses by 1916
     • 1.6 million dead
     • 3.9 million wounded
     • 2.4 million taken prisoner
     • Morale declining rapidly

5. The Home Front

   • The Economy
     • National Budget rose eightfold between 1913-1916
     • Borrowed money from France & Britain
     • Govt. printed more money
       • Led to rapid inflation
         • Prices increasing 200% Aug 1914-Dec 1916
     • Increased govt. opposition
   • Food Shortages
     • Agricultural workers gone to fight
     • Railway lines taken over by the Army
       • Moscow usually received 2200 railway wagons of grain
         • Down to ~300 by Dec 1916
     • Huge loss of life in industrial areas
     • Decline in morale
   • Rasputin
     • A Siberian Orthodox Monk
       • Thought to have healing powers after helping Alexei the Tsarevich in 1904
     • Was the Tsarina's closest advisor when Nicholas II went to war
     • Accused of being involved in ministerial appointments
       • Subsequently murdered in Dec 1916
         • Nobody to blame other then the Tsar and Tsarina

6. Political

   • Union of Zemstva
     • Provided medical facilities
   • Congress of Representatives of Industry & Trade
     • Helped Co-ordinate War Production
   • Central War Industries Committee
     • Helped stimulate weapons and ammunition production
   • ZEMGOR
     • Helped aid care of war casualties
     • Govt. failed to recognise its usefulness
       • ZEMGOR angry at being ignored
   • Proggresive Bloc
     • Called for a 'government of public confidence'
       • Not a direct challenge to power but encouraged alternative thoughts
     • Just ignored by Nicholas II
       • Govt. even less popular
     • Group of Duma deputies