Continuation of the War Flashcards
Why did the PG feel it had to continue the war?
It relied on loans and investment from Britain and France and it was afraid that these would be withdrawn if Russia pulled out of the war
Afraid of the demands that the Germans might make if Russia asked for peace
What did some, such as Kerensky, think a victory in the war would result in?
Strengthening of the PG, proving the effectiveness of “the most democratic army in the world”
When was Kerensky PM?
July-October 1917
What did the government send?
A note to the Allies
When did the PG send a note to the Allies?
April 1917
What did the note to the Allies say?
Russia would continue in the war
What did the note suggest Russia wanted in the event of a victory?
Land from Turkey
What did the note lead to in Russia? Why was this?
Demonstrations and disorder because many were unhappy as it appeared the PG was no different to the Tsar’s government
What happened to the Foreign Minister as a result of the note?
Forced to resign
How was order restored after the disorder caused by the announcement that Russia would continue in the war?
By the Soviet
What increased desertion and lack of discipline in the army?
The June/July Kerensky Offensive on Austria
What did increased desertion and lack of discipline in the army lead to?
Its disintegration
What was the last Russian offensive in WW1?
The Kerensky/Galician Offensive
Why was the Kerensky Offensive ill-timed?
Following the February Revolution, there were strong popular demands for peace, especially within the Russian army
What was happening to the fighting capabilities and discipline of the Russian Army due to the strong demand for peace?
Quickly deteriorating
What had greatly weakened the power of officers?
The Petrograd Soviet’s Order No.1
Why had the Petrograd Soviet’s Order No.1 greatly weakened the power of officers?
It had given soldiers’ committees control of all weapons and stated that soldiers would carry out the orders of the PG provided the Soviet agreed
Why did Kerensky think a victory in the war would strengthen the weak Provisional Government?
The people would unite behind the government who would gain popular favour, restoring the soldiers’ morale
What happened to the PG as a result of this military catastrophe?
It was greatly weakened which made the possibility of another revolution by the Bolsheviks increasingly more real
How many casualties were there from the June Offensive?
60,000
Rather than strengthening Russian morale, what did the Offensive prove?
Morale in the Russian army no longer existed
Why did the June Offensive prove that morale in the Russian army no longer existed?
No general could rely in the soldiers under his command to follow orders as they became increasingly unpredictable and began to avoid higher authority
What was the first direct challenge to the PG?
The July Days
What did the Offensive help start?
The July Days
Why did the Offensive help start the July Days?
The war had cost the lives of 100,000s of soldiers and the mounting frustration of workers and soldiers erupted at the beginning of July in a series of uncontrolled rioting and general disorder
What were the uncontrolled rioting and general disorder caused by the war more violent and angrier than?
Those during the Feb Revolution months earlier
After the June Offensive failed, what message of Lenin did the people start to follow?
“Peace, bread, land”
