Condition of Russia before Feb/March rev 1917

Question 1

3 paragraphs for the Tsar’s downfall/Feb rev?

Answer 1

1. Tsar & political failures
2. Socio-economic conditions of Russia
3. WW1

Question 2

Why did the Russians change the name of St Petersburg to Petrograd

Answer 2

• St Petersburg sounded Germanic & they wanted a name Slavonic to emphasise Pan-Slavism with Serbia

Question 3

When war broke out in July 1914 what did the ‘Times’ reporter say?
What happened to this enthusiasm?

Answer 3

• ‘For the first time since Napoleon’s invasion of Russia, the people & tsar were one’
• Diminished fast

Question 4

What were two big battles in August & September 1914?
What happened to the Russian army in these battles?

Answer 4

• August: Battle of Tannenberg, 300,000 dead
• September: Battle at the Masurian lakes
• Russians lost & took heavy losses

Question 5

Between May & December 1915 how many Russians were killed/taken prisoner?

Answer 5

• 1 million dead
• 1 million POW

Question 6

What was the successful Russian offensive called & in what year?
Why was it successful?
Why was this short lived?

Answer 6

• Brusilov offensive, June 1916
• Half the Austrian army killed/captured
• Germans reinforced the remaining Austrian’s & Russia was pushed back ‘again’

Question 7

How many men did Russia mobilise during 1914 - 1917?
Who were they made up of?

Answer 7

• 12 million
• Peasantry

Question 8

Give two logistical military failure facts?

Answer 8

• 1914 Infantry had 2 rifles for 3 soldiers
• 1915 Artillery limited to 2-3 shells/day

Question 9

By the end of 1916 how many military desertions were there?

Answer 9

• 1.5 million

Question 10

Who was Tsar Nicholas II tutored by as a child?
What did this instil in the Tsar?

Answer 10

• Arch-conservative Konstantin Pobedonostsev
• Conservatism, importance of autocracy

Question 11

What did Rasputin’s interference in government appointments cause?

Answer 11

• politicians, civil servants, military officers, Orthodox Bishops looked down on Nicholas damaging his reputation

Question 12

Why did the Romanov tercentenary 1913 skew Tsar’s perception of his popularity?

Answer 12

• Crowds cheered, Kazan Cathedral a pair of doves flew from the rafters & hovered over Tsar & son’s heads (sign of God’s blessing)
• After 3 month tour of Muscovy they were celebrated on arrival in Moscow
• Despite this 1913 filled with violent strikes against socio-economic situation