Breakdown of tsarism

Question 1

Responsibilty for war loss WW1 (Alex)

Answer 1

• “Russia cannot win the war with its present system of government” Brusilov
• Tsar took command August 1915
• Grand Nuke Nikolai criticised Rasputin, Alexandra sent letter in June 1915 “can’t you realise that a man who has turned simple traitor to a man of Gods cannot be blessed, nor his actions be good?”
• decision ‘threatens the dynasty with serious consequences’ Council of Ministers
• unable to inspire troops “nervous, didn’t know what to say”
• rear felt abandoned

Question 2

Ministerial leapfrogging dismissals

Answer 2

• 1915-17, 3 Ministers of War, 4 PMs
• Polivanov dismissed March 1916 (war minister), rebuilt army after Great Retreat, “the ablest military organiser in Russia” dismissal “a disaster” British military attache Major-General Kox
• prepared to co-op with public orgs in improving army supplies
• “How I wish you could get rid of polivanov.. He is simply a revolutionist” January 1916

Question 3

Ministerial leapfrogging German conspiracy

Answer 3

• ‘Black Bloc’ seeking seperate peace in Berlin, treason in high places; strengthened by promotion of Boris Strumer, virtual dictator by June (PM, Min of INt, Foreign Minister, Supreme Minister for State Defence)
• Rasputin anti-war
• “defining and legitimizing this revolutionary anger as the patriotic mood of ‘the nation’” Figes

Question 4

Duma in WW1

Answer 4

• recalled 19 July 1915
• Progressive Bloc formed (2/3rds of deputies), wanted to prevent revolution to enable the government to finish war
• 25 August program for reform together with Council of Ministers (seperation of military and civilian bureaucracies, change of ministers (chosen by Duma)
• Alexandra: rebel ministers ‘fiends worse than Duma’ who ‘need smacking’
• dissolved 2nd September, Tsar confirmed confidence in Goremkin’s government
• “the monarchy’s final chance to save itself by political means had now been thrown away” Figes
• The Duma gathered on 9 February 1916 after the 76-years-old Ivan Goremykin had been replaced by Boris Stürmer as prime minister. The deputies were disappointed when Stürmer held his speech. Because of the war, he said, it wasn’t the time for constitutional reforms.

Question 5

Loss of court support due to Rasputin

Answer 5

• Rodzianko and Stolypin warned Tsar
• “poisoned the monarchy’s relations wtih society and its traditional pillars of support”
• tsar wanted Tsarina to be happy
• On 19 November Vladimir Purishkevich, one of the founders of the Black Hundreds, held a speech the Duma. The monarchy - because of what he called the ‘ministerial leapfrog’ - had become fully descredited.

Question 6

Loss of Church support due to Rasputin

Answer 6

• silenced the church (monks who spoke out were imprisoned)
• appointed Vladimir Sabler, close ally of Rasputin’s as Procurator-General of the Holy Synod
• ‘What will be left of the Orthodox Church before long? When Tsarism, in danger, seeks its support, it will find there is nothing left’ minister in 1916
• Tsar stopped press printing stories about Rasputin despite 1905 promise

Question 7

Desacralization of regime

Answer 7

• sexual corruption
• rumours distorted at Front
• demonization of Romanov court enabled its opponents to point the finger of blame at conspicuous culprits for the people’s wartime hardships