AS History: Impact of WW1 on Russia

Nota:

• Specific impacts are written in red nodes

1. Initial Patriotism
   1. Despite industrial unrest prior to 1914, the war united people behind the Tsar
      1. St Petersburg students stopped protesting against the Tsar, protesting outside the German embassy instead
2. 1914
   1. Initial advancements caused the Germans to adapt the Schlieffen Plan
   2. The Battle of Tannenberg
      1. 26th-30th Aug 1914
      2. Russian Losses
         1. ~30,000 dead or wounded
         2. ~95,000 taken prisoner
         3. Russian General Samsonov shot himself rather than report back to the Tsar
      3. German Losses
         1. ~20,000 dead or wounded
            1. However, captured over 500 guns
   3. Siege of Przemysl
      1. Sept-Dec 1914
      2. Russian forces surrounded the Austro-Hungarian town of Przemysl
      3. Eventually captured the town
         1. Took 110,000 Prisoners
   4. Patriotism strong
   5. Battle of Lodz
      1. Dec 1914
      2. Massive Russian defeat
3. 1915
   1. The Gorlice-Tarnow Offensive
      1. July 1915
      2. Austro-Hungary attack against Russia
      3. Russian forces driven out of Poland
   2. A Disastrous Decision
      1. Sept 1915
      2. After losing Poland, Tsar Nicholas II dismisses his Uncle Nikolai as Commander in Chief of the Russian Army
         1. The Tsar takes control personally
            1. Any future battle losses could be blamed directly on the Tsar by his opposition (i.e. Lenin)
            2. Leaves his German wife in charge of Russia, advised by Rasputin
               1. Hatred towards Germans could now be blamed directly at the country's leader!
               2. Rasputin already widely disliked, and now he too was in a position of power
4. 1916
   1. The Brusilov Offensive
      1. The Brusilov Offensive failed majorly
         1. The Russian Army had to retreat from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea
         2. WHY?
            1. Many soldiers deserted
            2. By this point, many good soldiers were dead. The replacements could hardly load their own gun.
            3. Lack of resources and materials
            4. Nicholas II was awful as Commander in Chief of the Army
            5. Poor transport system, particularly railways
            6. Poor communications
      2. June-Aug 1916
      3. The Tsar was beginning to look awful in charge of the Army
   2. Russian Losses by 1916
      1. 1.6 million dead
      2. 3.9 million wounded
      3. 2.4 million taken prisoner
      4. Morale declining rapidly
5. The Home Front
   1. The Economy
      1. National Budget rose eightfold between 1913-1916
      2. Borrowed money from France & Britain
      3. Govt. printed more money
         1. Led to rapid inflation
            1. Prices increasing 200% Aug 1914-Dec 1916
      4. Increased govt. opposition
   2. Food Shortages
      1. Agricultural workers gone to fight
      2. Railway lines taken over by the Army
         1. Moscow usually received 2200 railway wagons of grain
            1. Down to ~300 by Dec 1916
      3. Huge loss of life in industrial areas
      4. Decline in morale
   3. Rasputin
      1. A Siberian Orthodox Monk
         1. Thought to have healing powers after helping Alexei the Tsarevich in 1904
      2. Was the Tsarina's closest advisor when Nicholas II went to war
      3. Accused of being involved in ministerial appointments
         1. Subsequently murdered in Dec 1916
            1. Nobody to blame other then the Tsar and Tsarina
6. Political
   1. Union of Zemstva
      1. Provided medical facilities
   2. Congress of Representatives of Industry & Trade
      1. Helped Co-ordinate War Production
   3. Central War Industries Committee
      1. Helped stimulate weapons and ammunition production
   4. ZEMGOR
      1. Helped aid care of war casualties
      2. Govt. failed to recognise its usefulness
         1. ZEMGOR angry at being ignored
   5. Proggresive Bloc
      1. Called for a 'government of public confidence'
         1. Not a direct challenge to power but encouraged alternative thoughts
      2. Just ignored by Nicholas II
         1. Govt. even less popular
      3. Group of Duma deputies