4. The impact of the First World War Flashcards
What were the strengths of the Russian army?
The Russian army was the largest in Europe, with 1.4 million soldiers and 3 million reservists. This garnered them the nickname ‘the Russian steamroller’ due to their sheer, intimidating size. There had also been military reforms in 1908 which were based on a 10 year programme to modernise the army, including introducing military aircraft.
What problems were there involving the Russian army during WW1?
.The army had incompentant generals who secured senior positions due to family connections and status rather than merit.
. Russian soldiers were the least educated out of all the European armies.
. Russian industry was still underdeveloped and therefore Russian arms production was inefficient. Also, the military planners assumed the war would be short and didn’t prepare for a war of attrition, therefore there was a shortage of weapons so severe that 800,000 Russian soldiers who had no weapons to train with, and many went into battle unarmed - hoping to take a weapon from a deceased or wounded soldier.
. The military reforms from 1908 meant that Russia would be ready for war come 1917 - not 1914.
. In 1907, the Tsar had authorised an expansion of the navy which ate up a large amount of the military budget. Russia face no major threat from naval powers during the war, so the expansion was pointless.
What was Russia’s short-lived initial success when they entered WW1?
Russia only took 3 days to mobilise their army due to their improvements on their Western railways. This hindered the Germans as it confounded their Schlieffen plan - which counted on the Russians taking 3 weeks to mobilise their men so that Germany could knock out France first before Russia invaded. The efficiency of the Russians meant that Germany had to fight Russia and France simultaneously.
How was the outbreak of WW1 positive for the Government’s popularity with it’s own people?
The Russian people rallied together to support their country in the war - even some of the socialists united in defence of the Fatherland (the Bolsheviks did not). The Duma dissolved itself, declaring that it didn’t want to burden the Government with ‘unnecessary politics.’
What are some examples of the many defeats experienced the Russian army?
30,000 were killed during the Battle of Tannenberg in August 1914, followed swiftly by the unsuccessful Battle of the Masurian Lakes only one month later which led to 125,000 casualties. Then, the Great Retreat in 1915 occurred - where one million Russian soldiers surrendered to the German and Austrian forces, and many Russian peasants were pillaged in order to stop resources from falling to the enemy. The Great Retreat also led to hordes of refugees making their way into cities which were struggling under the war effort.
What was the Brusilov Offensive?
In June 1916, the Brusoliv Offensive began, which was the Russian invasion of Austro-Hungarian Galicia. It was successful but a rare victory was not enough to win back the support and faith of the Russian people.
Why was St Petersburg changed to Petrograd?
Patriotic demonstrators had begun repeatedly attacking German shops, offices and the German embassy. The Government was afraid of a revolution so it changed the Germanic name of St. Petersburg to the slavonic Petrograd in 1914.
What were the issues surrounding inflation and food shortages during WW1?
After the Great Retreat, factories and farmland from Poland and the Ukraine were lost to the enemy, meaning prices for necessities skyrocketed. In 1917, inflation had reached 200% while food prices went up even faster e.g while wages only doubled between 1914 and 1917, the price of flour increased 4x while the cost of potatoes increased sevenfold. The army was forced to reduce rations from 4,000 calories a day to 2,000.
What was the transport crisis?
Russia’s transport network struggled to cope with the need to transport troops, munitions and food. This exacerbated food shortages in the cities and munitions shortages on the front line.
What action did Nicholas take following the Great Retreat and what did it lead to?
After the Great Retreat, the Tsar became commander-in-chief of the army in 1915. This was a disaster decision as all blame for Russia’s repeated military failures would fall on him. This also left Tsarina Alexandra to rule in his stead, advised by Rasputin.
Why was Tsarina Alexandra deeply unpopular?
Tsarina Alexandra was German and a first cousin of Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, meaning the hatred of Germans that was evident among the people extended to her. The Tsarina relied heavily on Rasputin as she believed he had the ability to heal her son Alexei’s haemophilia. The Tsarevich’s illness was kept hidden from the public, which meant they saw the Romanov’s involvement with Rasputin as strange. Rasputin also had a reputation for being a womaniser and a drunk, leading to rumours that Alexandra was sleeping with Rasputin and that they were striving for a German victory together. The rumours of infidelity made the Tsar look weak as he was supposedly unable to keep his wife loyal, making a mockery of the monarchy.
What was the leapfrog of ministers?
With Russia left in the control of Alexandra, who was believed to be under the influence of Rasputin, bad political decisions began to be made. In 1916, there were 3 Chief ministers, 3 Interior ministers, 3 Foreign ministers and 3 Ministers of Justice. The Tsarina and Rasputin were accused of granting positions to their favourites, therefore causing a ‘ministerial leapfrog’.
Why was Rasputin assassinated?
In December 1916, Prince Yusupov worked with other aristocrats and politicians to assassinate Rasputin in order to quell the scandalous rumours. The murder failed to change public opinion.
What was the Zemgor?
It was an organisation established in 1915, headed by Prince Lvov ( a Kadet) and it was comprised of the Zemstvo Union and the Union of Towns which represented local gov across Russia. The Zemgor co-ordinated voluntary support for the war effort, including:
. Producing uniforms, medicine and munitions.
. Distributing food.
. Aiding refugees.
. Providing medical care.
. Organising military detachments - the Zemstvo Hussars.
However the Zemgor had limited resources and only provided 5% of the necessary resources. Despite this, it’s effectiveness compared favourably with the Gov’s own disastrous wartime organisation.
What was the Progressive Bloc?
A coalition of moderate conservatives and liberals in the 4th Duma which was recalled after the Great Retreat due to mounting pressure on the Tsar. 236 out of the 442 Duma deputies formed the Progressive Bloc and demanded a ‘Government of confidence’ - a new gov comprising leading members of the Duma who could manage the war effort properly.
