Russia's Turmoil: From Tsarist Rule to Stalin's Regime

What was a major geographical challenge for Russia before 1914?

Russia's vast size (over 22 million square kilometers), cold climate, and lack of cohesion made it difficult to govern.

Who was Russia's final Tsar and how was he described by historian Orlando Figes?

Tsar Nicholas II, described as 'a man without imagination or initiative' who ignored reform and admitted he knew nothing of ruling.

What was the Duma and what power did it hold?

The Duma was created after the 1905 Revolution but had no real power.

What event sparked the 1905 Revolution in Russia?

Bloody Sunday, when 200,000 peaceful protesters were killed while marching to the Winter Palace.

What ideologies were key during the early 20th century in Russia?

Marxism, Communism, Proletariat, and Bourgeoisie.

What was the outcome of the Battle of Tannenberg in 1914?

Russia lost over 170,000 men.

What significant action did Tsar Nicholas II take during World War I?

He left the capital to command the army, which was considered a bad idea.

What was the February Revolution and when did it occur?

It began on 23 February 1917 with women protesting for bread, leading to Nicholas II's abdication on 2 March 1917.

What were the key slogans of Lenin's April Theses?

'Peace, Land, Bread.'

What happened during the October Revolution?

The Bolsheviks, led by Lenin and Trotsky, stormed the Winter Palace on 25 October 1917 with little resistance.

What were the main factions in the Russian Civil War?

Reds (Bolsheviks), Whites (Tsarists and liberals), and Greens (peasant armies).

What was Trotsky's role in the Red Army?

He reorganized the Red Army and enforced strict discipline, including death for desertion.

What was the Red Terror?

A campaign by the Cheka (secret police) involving mass arrests and executions of perceived enemies of the revolution.

What was War Communism?

A policy where the state controlled factories and requisitioned grain from peasants, leading to famine and strikes.

What was the Kronstadt Rebellion?

A revolt by former Bolshevik-supporting sailors in 1921, demanding 'Soviets without Bolsheviks!'

What was the NEP and its purpose?

The New Economic Policy allowed small businesses and farmers to sell goods to revive the economy.

What was the Great Turn initiated by Stalin?

Stalin abandoned the NEP for full state control, focusing on industry and military preparation.

What was collectivisation under Stalin?

The forced consolidation of individual peasant farms into state-run farms, resulting in the destruction of the kulaks.

What was the Holodomor?

A man-made famine in Ukraine (1932-33) where 3.5-5 million people starved as the Soviet government exported grain.

What were the Five-Year Plans?

Economic plans launched in 1928 aimed at rapid industrialization, tripling steel production by 1937.

What was the impact of Stalin's 1936 Family Code on women?

It discouraged divorce and abortion, reflecting a conservative pushback against women's rights.

What was the Great Purge?

A campaign from 1936-1938 where over 1 million people were executed and millions sent to gulags.

What was Yezhovschina?

A period of mass repression named after NKVD head Yezhov, where people disappeared overnight.

What was the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact?

A non-aggression pact between the USSR and Nazi Germany signed in 1939.

What was the significance of the Battle of Stalingrad?

It was a turning point in WWII, with Soviet losses of 1.1 million but leading to German surrender in February 1943.

What was the role of women in the Red Army during WWII?

800,000 women served, including the all-female bomber regiment known as the Night Witches.

What were the estimated Soviet casualties during WWII?

The USSR lost approximately 27 million lives during the war.