The Russian Revolution

Long Term Causes of the Russian Revolution

• Tsar

• Transport

• Loss of morale

• Inflation

• Food shortages

• The Army

The Tsar

• not a strong military leader

• enjoyed time with family instead of being involved with the events of the war

• took personal control of the war effort- 1915

• this made him fully responsible for the performance of the army in the war

• he was incompetent

Inflation

• Govt. needed more money

• Printed more which reduced value

• Wages stayed the same but prices of essentials increased

• Standards of living reduced

Food Shortages

• Govt. took away horses

• Farmers couldn’t grow crops

• Hyperinflation and hoarding caused the prices of goods to go up

• Army lacked supplies

• Even less food for the regular people, families were starving

• Moscow was the worst affected

Russia had an army of __________________ soldiers in 1914, and when fully mobilised could raise ____________ soldiers

1.4 million, 5 million

The Army

• not well trained

• failed to out-manoeuvre German leaders

• Transport halted the movement of supplies

• Soldiers deserted after the failed Brusilov offensive

Transport

• transport was poor

• food didn’t get where it was needed

• food was rotting in the trucks

• 1/3rd of the food only reached the cities

• Brusilov Offensive was affected by a lack of supplies