History - Russia 1894-1945

Opposition Tsar in 1900

Opposition Tsar in 1900

growth of political opposition, groups include : Liberals, Kadets, Social Democrats, Social Revolutonaries.

Social democrats (political opposition to Tsar)

split into Bolsheviks and Mensheviks in 1903, believed in Marxist theory

How was the Tsar a cause of the revolution?

• bad personal management skills

• used nepotism (family members above qualified)

• too autocratic (extreme dictatorship - wouldn't delegate jobs - inefficient)

• believed in divine right of kings (no consultations of experts leading to bad leadership)

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Zemstra

assemblies used to politically control countryside under Tsar's rule - peasants still paying off debt from when Tsar's Grandfather 'freed them'

mirs

communes - land shared - the more children you had the poorer you got - lack of incentive to work due to lack of private ownership

Importance of Russo-Japaneese war

• first time european force had been defeated by non europeans

• supposed to be unifying the country (against foreign enemy)

• showed failings of russian regime

• army way away in east - hard to deal w revolution

causes of Bloody Sunday

1. Starvation caused by being in debt from Russo- Japanese War (1904-05) + use of war communism (army fed first) - Russia lost at Port Arthur in Dec 1904, tensions in St Petersburg were rising

2. Russia industrializes (1863-1900)

   • unhappy workers being paid low wages

   • bad working conditions

   • child labour

   • treated unfairly

3. Workers from Putilov iron works on strike 3rd Jan - pay talks broke down - out on streets

events of Bloody Sunday

Father Gapon led peaceful protest, 150,000 workers + families, held icons of the Tsar, Winter Palace, present a petition, 12,000 troops opened fire on them (accident??)

consequences of Bloody Sunday

• led to revolution

• -100 killed + several injured

• last straw for many - unfaithful to Tsar now.

causes of revolution (1905)

• hunger

• Bloody Sunday

• had to pay for freedom (emancipation of serfs)

• loss of Russo-Japaneese war

• bad leadership (Nicholas II)

Events of revolution (1905)

• Feb - 400,000 workers on strike in St Petersburg

• April - illegal trade unions formed

• April + May - first soviets formed (workers councils), aim to control factories

• Oct - general strike 2.5 mil including railwaymen leading to near collapse of economy as goods couldn't be moved.

Causes of the Oct Manifesto

revolution, ministers told Tsar that system was about to collapse

What did Oct. Manifesto promise

1905, Duma (elected parliament - alternate power source for people), right to free speech and formation of political parties.

Dumas

1905 onwards, created in Oct mainfesto, pleased some ppl, slowly given less power, ignored by Tsar

Fundamental Laws

April 1906, limited the power of Dumas and allowed Tsar to regain power as supreme leader, proved the Tsar as hypocritical/cynical as he went back on Oct Manifesto

Soviet def

Workers council

Stolypin's Stick

• harsh on strikers, protesters ect

• 20,000 exiled

• 1,000 killed (stolypin's necktie)

• stopped opposition in countryside until 1916

Stolypin's carrot

• Allowed Kulaks to opt out of mir communes

• could buy up land and create larger + more efficient farms

Stolypin's effects

impressive economic growth 1908-1911, living + working conditions still v poor, profits going to France to pay off debts, assasinated in 1911 (was going to be sacked anyways)

effects of WWI in Russia

entered in 1914, tensions in country disappeared, patriotism within country (not for long)

Info about Russian army in WWI + losses

huge army, large numbers of peasants signing up (army not ready and didn't have equipment eg. boot/guns), suffered huge defeats at Masurian Lakes and Tannenburg.

Why + when did the Tsar take control of the army in WWI?

• had suffered huge defeats, thought he could do it better

• took control in Sep 1915

Why was the Tsarina unpopular?

• She was German so people thought she was a spy

• She was a strong autocrat and refused to work with the Duma

• She was obsessed with Rasputin and relied on his advice

Rasputin

Russian peasant monk who was able to influence Russian politics by gaining the confidence of the Tsarina after claiming to have healed the Tsars son through hypnosis.

why were the soldiers unhappy in 1917?

• suffered huge defeats (Masurian Lakes + Tannenburg)

• 9.15 mil casualties

• supporters of Bolshevik party

Why did the Tsar abdicate?

• failures in war

• mutiny in army

• Duma (had overtaken Tsar and formed Prov Gov.)

• Discontent in countryside (hunger, lack of war pensions)

• Formation of soviets (alternate local govt for people)

• strikes (250,000 on strike 7-10/03/1917)

• Food shortages (THEY WERE HUNGRY)

• The Tsarina + Rasputin

• The weather 1916-17 (bad winter - railways froze - no food)

March revolution 1917

07/03/1917-15/03/1917 Tsar abdicated on 15th

Cossacks

elite army - Tsars bodyguards

Okhrana

Tsars secret police - control

Provisional Govt role

• goal to set up elections

• were the new official govt of Russia

challenges Prov Gov had to deal w when elected?

• continue war or not?

• land reform to peasants or to wait until after elections?

• how to deal w the hunger + discontent in cities?

Petrograd Soviet

unofficial govt, controlled armed forces (Order NO.1), many of 2500 deputies were SRs, Menshevks and some Bolsheviks, willing to work w Prov Gov, wanted to give land to peasants

Alexander Kerensky

leader of Prov Gov, role in July days (sent troops into to kill rioters and claimed Lenin was a German spy)

April Thesis

• 16th April (Lenin back from exile)

• end war w/ Germany

• land reform (given to communists)

• banks nationalised

• Bolsheviks -> Communists

• scrap Prov Gov (no support)

April Thesis slogans

'Peace, Bread, Land!'

'All Power to the Soviets!'

July Days causes

• huge mutiny in army after failures in war

• 100,000 soldiers + Bolsheviks on streets

• spurred on by April Thesis

July Days Events

• 3 days of rioting (17-19/07/1917)

• 'All power to the soviets!!' 'Peace, Land, Bread!!'

• Kerensky (leader of prov gov. ) sent loyal troops into Pertrograd, killed + wounded 400, claimed Lenin was a German spy + Bolsheviks were Germans

Consequences of July Days

• Lenin back in exile to Finland

• Other leading Bolsheviks arrested + imprisoned / sent to Siberia

Causes of Kornilov Revolt

• Alexander Kerensky wanted to get rid of Petrograd Soviet.

• Kornilov was Kerensky's commander in chief

• Kornilov wanted to get rid of Kerensky

Events of Kornilov revolt

• September 1917

• Kornilov marched troops towards Petrograd to ged rip of Prov Gov + Bshvks.

• Kerensky armed Bolsheviks to defend the city (25,000 armed)

• Kornilov troops refused to fight fellow workers (K. arested)

Consequences of Kornilov revolt

• Bolsheviks heros (saved Prov Gov. w Red Guard)

• Bshvks armed

• Bshvks came out as an armed + disciplined force not German agents

• Bolsheviks majority in Petrograd + Moscow soviets

Why was Prov Gov failing?

• war effort failed (tried to carry on but mass mutiny ect.)

• didnt sort out land + now peasants just taking it for themselves -> soldiers don't want to miss out ect

Nov Revolution 1917

• 6-8th Nov 1917

• very little opposition

• Women + children only guarding Winter Palace

• organised by Trotsky

Bolshevik Decrees 1917

• Nov to Dec 1917

• decrees on land, work, unemployment insurance, Cheka set up, lack of free speech/press, banking, marriage

• helped consolidate power -> create totalitarian govt.

Constituent Assembly

freely elected assembly promised by the Bolsheviks, permanently disbanded after one day (Jan 18,1918) under Lenins orders after the Bolsheviks won less than one fourth of the elected seats. -> Russia's trial in democracy (didnt end well...)

Red Amy info

Nov 1917 had small amount of disciplined Red Guards, Lenin needed more, Red Army set up Jan 1918, most were peasants wanting to protect new gov which represented working class

Who were the whites in the civil war?

Socialist Revolutionaries, Mensheviks, Tsarists, Landlords, capitalists, Czech Leigions, foreign countries

3 White generals in civil war

Denkin, Kolchak, Yudenich

Key events of Civil War

xxx

Why was Trotsky disliked?

• kept mens families hostage + appointed political commissioners to keep Red Army loyal

• harsh military rule

• Cheka v prominent w/ beating, hangings, shooting (suspected) opponents - Red Terror

• war communism - army fed first so food requisition patrols + starvation in countryside ect.

Why was Trotsky great?

• brilliant leader

• created strong Red Army

• picked off each army of whites one by one while defending major cities in west

• defended major cities in west that were Red strong points

• intellectual

disadvantages of whites

• not united, had different aims, couldnt coordinate

• limited support from Russian peasants

War Communism (1918-1921)

• all large factories controlled by govt

• production controlled

• strict discipline

• food rationed + surplus had to be handed over

Kronstadt uprising

• Feb 1921

• mutiny at Kronstadt naval base (bffs w Lenin)

• Trotsky sent 60,000 troops + killed 1000 Kronsadt soldiers (overkill)

New Economic Policy

• Lenin in 1924, (capitalist??) policy to fix famine,

• govt takes 50% not just surplus so product could be sold for profit (capitalism - incentive to grow more)

• controversial

• worked.

politburo

A seven-member committee that became the leading policy-making body of the Communist Party in Russia, included Kamenev, Zinoviev, Trotsky, Stalin, Bukharin

when did Lenin die?

died in Jan 1924, w no clear leader shown

importance of Lenins funeral

• Trotsky told by Stalin that funeral was on 26th jan - would be away so couldn't make it

• Funeral actually help on 27th - Stalin appeared as chief mourner + close to Lenin

Why did Stalin win the power struggle between him and Trotsky?

• funeral lies

• Stalin was general secretary (important but boring, could put supporters in power + ignore opposition)

• was georgian (seen as a man of the people + people allied w him + understood mood --- however this could be propaganda ect

• socialism within one country

• expulsions of ppl he didnt like ( ex. 1927 took Bukharin's side in debate about NEP to get rid of Trotsky. Once Trotsky had left attacked B. w T's arguements)

Why did Trotsky lose the power struggle between him and Stalin?

• arrogant (underestimated Stalin)

• was war commissar (ppl scared he would put USSR in conflict + wanted to spread communism which would involve invasion and battles that Russia couldn't afford)

• fell ill in 1923 when Lenin was dying (when he needed to be politically active - missed Lenin's funeral ect.)

• initially against NEP (caused division within party which Stalin could manipulate)

Trotsky exiled?

To Siberia in 1928

when did the first 5 year plan begin?

1928-32

when did Stalin become official party leader of USSR?

1929 - Trotsky exiled

collectivisation

• began in 1929

• peasants put land together to form large joint farms (kolkhoz) - 90% to state 10% for food

• modernisation of agriculture

how did Stalin try to convince peasants that collectivisation was good?

• offering free seed + other perks

• peasants distrustful + didnt want to but Stalin thought it was too inefficient

consequences of collectivisation

• famine in 1932-33 bc food production fell under (millions died)

• intense propaganda displaying kulaks as bad guys

• requisition parties to take food

5 Year Plans (USSR)

• set out by GOSPLAIN

• to industrialize quickly

• heavy industry prioritized

• 1st was 1928-32

• 2nd was 1933-38

• 3rd was 1938-42

Kirov

• assassinated in 1934

• leader of Leningrad (Petrograd) soviet

• was fitter than Stalin so S got jealous

Purges

• began in 1934

• to 'cleanse' party of traitors

• kill/ send to gulags opposition/ party members

Why did the show trials take place?

• show of power / propaganda (not for justice)

• protect status of party

• ensure Stalin as party leader

People in the show trials (+dates)

• Kamenev (1936)

• Zinoviev (1936)

• Bukharin (1938)

• confessed to crimes they didnt commit

The Great Terror

• different to Red Terror in civil war

• 1936-38 (peaked in 37)

• outside of party (Purges inside)

• over 50% of military commanders shot (liquidation) (afraid of military coup) -> loss of experience

• 18 mil sent to gulags (work camps typically in Siberia) , 10 mil died

Cult of Personality

citizens admire Stalin + dont think he had anything to do with purges ect., history rewritten, young pioneers, LOTS of soviet propaganda

The Constitution of 1936

• meant to provide freedom + human rights

• eventually fully controlled by Stalin through Politburo

How did Stalin control the USSR in the 30s?

• propaganda

• Show Trials ( opposition in party removed)

• Education (edited textbooks, Young Pioneers introduced --Hitler Youth but USSR)

• Purges ( showed Stalins power)

• Control of Communist Party (absolute leader of party + politburo)

• Great Terror

• Cult of Personality

• Loyal followers ( nice things like libraries + sports facilities built)

How did Stalin use propaganda and censorship in the 30s to keep control?

socialist realism art, Stalin everywhere in statues/portrates/photos --often photo-shopped -- , patriotism, used to praise stalins rule, religous worship banned so S. became a GOD) e.g. cover of magazine in 1949 of Stalin's face being projected into sky for 70th birthday w crowd cheering below.

Why did Stalin want to modernise USSR when he took control?

• increase military strength ( could only fight modern war if had industries to provide -- wont have a repeat of WW1)

• Rival economies of USA (make USSR self-sufficient, improve standards of living so people value communist rule)

• Increase food supplies ( more workers in industries in towns / cities, sell grain to make money, farming reorgaised so can make more grain w less people)

• Create a Communist society ( communist (Marxist) theory says most ppl have 2 b working)

• establish his reputation (prove himself)

pros of 5 year plans

• huge increase in production of industrial goods

• women in work

• improvement of healthcare

• education free + compulsory

• sports facilities / libraries

• houses provided

cons of 5 year plans

• inefficiency

• shortage of consumer goods

• waste of effort??

• 24/7 work

• harsh factory discipline (internal passports, lost housing if late/ ill, sent to gulags)

• queues for food

• famine (collectivisation) 1932-33

• overcrowding

• strict targets (extra work)

When was the non aggression pact and when was it broken?

• Nazi-Soviet pact signed in Aug 1939 to divide Poland

• June 22 1941 Nazi Germany attack Russa w/ huge losses to Red Army

Why was Stalin a good leader during WW2?

• speeches on radio unifying country (Nov 1941 speech from Moscow where he stayed in Moscow, linked to winter counter attack that saved Moscow)

• cult of personality

• industrialisation in 30s so country was ready (predicted it in 1931 speech)

• propaganda

• scorched earth policy

• sacrificed son for greater good

• moved factories beyond Ural Mountains -> further for Nazis

Why was Stalin a bad leader during WW2?

• unprepared (Nazi-Soviet pact, didn't believe intelligence reports)

• Tried to defend every inch of land, soldiers who retreated where shot

• July 3rd speech where he sounded weak

• didnt listen to generals in 1st year of war

• army was inexperienced (had liquidated officer corporals before war as he was paranoid of a coup)