Russia 1914-17

WW1 broke out

July 1914, high morale, popular support for Tsar

Battle of Tannenberg

1914- 50,000 killed, 90,000 captured

Masurian Lakes

1914- 100,000 killed

how many killed, injured and taken prison ww1

2 million killed, 4-5 million wounded, 3-4 million taken prisoner

Brusilov Offensive

1916- Russian counter attack into Austria territory, failed when German came to reinforce

quality of military leadership

very poor, top officers appointed due to loyalty to Tsar not military expertise. no clear command structure or war plan

supplies ww1

lack of supplies, equipment (rifles, ammunition, boots), and medical supplies

economy during ww1

weak and incapable of keeping up with war effort, military needs prioritised

railways ww1

railways overloaded, engine failures left trains stranded. damage to main railway line- problem for moving grain

inflation during ww1

1914-17. gov spending rose 4 to 30 million Roubles. put more notes into circulation, led to hyperinflation as money become worthless. by 1916, inflation increased to 400%

food and fuel shortages

major source of anger. caused strike break out in 1915. Petrograd suffered (far from food producing areas), by 1916 was only receiving 1/3 of food and fuel required.

support during ww1

public support faded as military defeats piled up

government incompetence to organise supplies

non-government organisations provided medical care, uniforms, boots and tents for soldiers. leading liberals seen as more effective than gov

Tsar takes control of army

mid 1915, left Petrograd for war front

key reasons against Tsar taking military command

becomes personally responsible for conduct of war- all blame is directed at him. leaves Tsarina and Rasputin in control of government, who were not well received by public

instability of gov 1915

competent ministers dismissed by Tsarina in favour of her friends and people who liked her

Feb 1917 food shortages

news of bread rationing hit the streets. queues for bread turned into riots. anti-gov feelings in Petrograd high

International Women’s Day

began the protests that turned into the Feb 1917 revolution. convinced men to join, protest grew over a few days. demanded for bread, end to war, end to Tsar. Bolsheviks active in spreading protest. soldiers joined

February Revolution 1917 spark

Tsar ordered troops to fire on protesters. crowds became hostile. soldiers choose the side of the people- attacked police snipers and stations. army no longer loyal to Tsar

Tsar Abdication

March 1917, brother next in line refuses throne

Provisional Government

established March 1917. temporary body until Constituent Assembly established

Petrograd Soviets

established February 1917. made up of workers and soldiers. to protect interests of working class and soldiers

Lenin returns

returns from exile April 1917. created April Thesis, leader of Bolsheviks. key slogan “All power to the Soviet! Peace, Land, Bread!”

April Thesis

worldwide socialist revolution, end to war, end cooperation with prov gov, Soviet take power, land given to peasants

June Offensive

June 1917, Prov gov major offensive against Germany. soldiers increasingly unwilling to fight

outcome of June Offensive

lasted for 3 days, then fell apart. rate of desertion extremely high, soldiers killed their officers instead of fighting. 50,000 killed and territory lost

Land Issues 1917

by Mary 1917, significant unrest in countryside, peasants hungry for land. collapse of central authority- no one stopped them from taking land. during summer, land seizures increased (237 cases reported July). peasants could not wait for reforms of Constituent Assembly

Economy 1917

food shortages, unemployment, high prices still prominent. railway system breaking down. scarcity of goods drove prices up

shortages of materials 1917

of fuel and raw materials. factories closing and laying off workers. Feb-July, Petrograd- 568 factories closed, 100,000 jobs lost

Food shortages 1917

harvest of 1917 very poor. government raised price it payed for grain by 100%, did not persuade peasants. grain price doubled between Feb-June

Workers 1917

expected social reforms (higher wages, better working condition, shorter hours). wages becoming worthless. strikes increasing, anger turned towards gov, demanded price controls

July Days

July 1917. sparked by failure of June Offensive. several days of uncontrolled rioting of workers and soldiers. turned violent when 20,000 armed sailors arrived- demanded Soviet power

failure of July Days

Lenin on holiday. lack of leadership and clear purpose, rise lost momentum. troops loyal to gov arrived

Impact of July Days

Lenin fled to Finland, leading Bolsheviks (Trotsky) arrested, Soviet newspaper blamed Bolsheviks. lowest point for Bolsheviks support

General Kornilov

appointed by Kerensky, Aug 1917, to restore law and order in city and discipline in army

Kornilov Affair

Aug, Kornilov sent troops marching into city to seize control of gov and establish military control. Bolsheviks organised defence- Red Guard, Kornilov arrested

Impact of Kornilov Affair

Kerensky and Prov gov reputation damaged. soldiers believed Kerensky betrayed Kornilov, lost military support. Bolsheviks gained popular support as saviours of the city- elected in huge numbers, gained control of Petrograd and Moscow Soviets

October Revolution build up

Lenin believed time is right (control of Soviets, high support, prov gov helpless)

Kerensky response to October Revolution

sent most radical army units out of capital, attempted to shut down Bolshevik newspapers and restrict power of MRC- gave Bolsheviks excuse for action

Military Revolutionary Committee (MRC)

set up by Soviets under Bolsheviks. had direct control over soldiers in capital and great quantities of weapons

Bolsheviks seize control

October 1917, Red Guard seize control of key buildings. Winter Palace captured and Prov gov arrested