Chapter 4: War and revolution (1914-1917) [Up to pg. 93]

Question 1

Tsar’s foreign minister 1914

Answer 1

Segei Sazonov

Question 2

The 2 mobilisation schemes Russia had:

Answer 2

PARTIAL: Limited campaigns in the Balkans against Austria-Hungary.
FULL: Full-scale war against Germany & Austro-Hungary.

Question 3

Who assassinated Franz Ferdinand & why did this affect Russia?

Answer 3

Serbian Nationals.
Russia saw itself as a protector of the Serbian people.

Question 4

What was the Schlieffen Plan?

Answer 4

A German military plan eliminating the danger of a 2-on-1 fight against Russia & France by quickly destroying France if Russia mobilised.

Question 5

Key Timeline of events

June-August 1914

Answer 5

28 June- Assasination of Franz Ferdinand
28 July- Austria-Hungary declare war on Serbia
30 July- Tsar signs full mobilisation order
1 August- Germany declares war on Russia

Question 6

At the start what did the war do for Tsardom?

Answer 6

Aided it- the Tsar became a figurehead of the nation’s resistance at a time of need.

Question 7

What happened to the Bolsheviks at the outbreak of the war?

Answer 7

Major setbacks. All other revolutionary parties were now focused on the war effort.
Made out to be traitors & forced to fell or go into hiding.

Question 8

The Impact of the war on Russia can be assessed in which 5 areas?

Answer 8

• Inflation
• Food & Transport
• Living conditions
• The army
• Prohibition

Question 9

Inflation during the war:

Answer 9

• Previously, putting currency on the gold standard was very beneficial.
• Gold standard was abandoned- ‘Quantitiative easing’- Printing extra currency to meet the demand for ready money.
• Enabled wages to be paid & commerce to continue BUT made the money worthless in the long run.
• Severe inflation occurred.
• Between 1914 & 1916 average earnings doubled while the price of food quadrupled

Question 10

Food & transport during the war:

Answer 10

• High initial growth for farmers due to higher demand.
• Declined in 1916 due to 4 reasons:
  1. Inflation rendered trading unprofitable, so peasants began to hoard.
  2. The requisitioning of horses by the military.
  3. Army had first claim on the limited production.
  4. Military had priority in use of transport system, so supplies were difficult to maintain.
• Petrograd suffered- 1917 inhabitants living off quarter of what had been available in 1914.

Question 11

The collapse of the rail system in wartime Russia:

Answer 11

• Rail systems could not deal with the increased load.
• -By 1916, Petrograd & Moscow were only recieving a 1/3 of their food requirements.

Question 12

Living conditions in wartime Russia:

Answer 12

• Increasingly difficult.
• High cost of living exacerbated by inflation

Question 13

% of population mobilised by Russia?

Answer 13

8.8%

(Germany 20%)

Question 14

Weaknesses of the Russian army during the war:

Answer 14

• Lack of equipment
• Poor administration & communication between supply departments.
• 1916: Serious supply shortages due to
• Poor distribution of supplies.
• Alexander II’s takeover as commander-in-chief.

Question 15

Prohibition in wartime Russia:

& what was the illegally produced alcohol called?

Answer 15

• Nicholas introduced prohibition to Russia.
  This was VERY BAD for 2 reasons:
  1. The government derived nearly a third of its revenue from taxes on alcohol sales.
  2. Russians valued their alcohol & its removal wouldcaause more social unrest.

The production of samogon (Moonshine) increased.

Question 16

Morale in wartime Russia:

Answer 16

Occasional military successes:
Eg 1916 Russian offensive brought Austro-Hungary to the brink of collapse.
But gains did not justify the large casualty lists & defeatism was rampant in 1916.

Question 17

Was the Russian army weak in 1917?

Answer 17

No…
There were mutinies, like in the French and British armies.
Russia produced more shells than Germany- showing its strength.
These findings do not deny the importance of Russia’s crisis but rather recognise that historians have often overstated Russia’s military weaknesses in 1917.

Question 18

Who made the first moves of the February revolution?

Answer 18

Members of Russian society who used to support the Tsar pre-war.
NOT revolutionary parties.

Question 19

When did the Duma reassemble?

Answer 19

July 1905

Question 20

What was Zemgor ?

Answer 20

A combination of the
- Union of Zemstva
- Union of Municipal councils
With the aim to helping Russia’s war wounded.
================
Had successes- But the Tsar was unwilling to work with them.
Highlighted the government’s faliures & that there might be a workable alternative to Tsardom.

Question 21

Why did the Progressive Bloc come about?

Answer 21

Demands from the Duma that the Tsar replace his ‘High cabinet’ with apt members from their own ranks were ignored.

Question 22

Who did the Progressive Bloc consist of?

Answer 22

Kadets, Octobrists, Progressive Nationalists & Industrialists.

Question 23

What did the Progressive Bloc do?

Answer 23

Tried to persuade the Tsar to make concessions.
Did not immmeditely challenge the Tsar’s authority.

Question 24

Did the Tsar suppor the progressive Bloc?

Answer 24

NO. Refused to listen.

Question 25

How many prime ministers & ministers of defence were there between 1915-16?

Answer 25

4 Prime Ministers
3 Ministers of defence
All between 1915-16!

Question 26

The Importance of Rasputin

Answer 26

Scandalous amongst the Russian nobility.
Reogranised the military’s medical supply system.

Question 27

Key events in the February revolution:

9 key dates

Answer 27

• 18 February: Strike begins at Putilov factories (Petrograd)
• 23 February: Demonstration organised by socialist groups to demand female equality.
• 25 February: General strike began
• 26 February: Desertion of Petrograd garrison
• 27 February: Breakaway members of Duma form a Provisional Committee. Petrograd soviet formed.
• 28 February: Tsar prevented from returning to Petrograd
• 2 March: Provisional Committee declares itself a provisional government. Tsar signs abdication decree.
• 3 March: Provisional government declares that a revolution has taken place.
• 4 March: Tsar’s abdication publicly proclaimed.

1917.