First World War & Outbreak Of Revolution (1914-1917)

Question 1

Why did Russia become involved with the war?

Answer 1

Russia entered the war to defend Siberia after Austria-Hungary declared war on Siberia in July 1914

Question 2

Why did Russia feel obligated to protect Siberia?

Answer 2

Saw itself as the protector of the Slavic nations and had strong political and cultural ties with Siberia

Question 3

How did Germany’s actions influence Russia’s entry into the war?

Answer 3

Germany declared war on Russia on August 1, 1914, after Russia refused to stop mobilizing its army.

Question 4

Why was Russia’s mobilization seen as a threat by Germany?

Answer 4

Russia’s massive army posed a strategic threat, and Germany feared a two-front war with both Russia and France

Question 5

How many troops did Russia mobilize between 1914 and 1918?

Answer 5

Russia mobilized 15.3 million troops

Question 6

What percentage of Germany’s population was mobilized?

Answer 6

20.5% of Germany’s population was mobilized.

Question 7

What was a key weakness of Russia’s mobilization?

Answer 7

Russia’s vast size made rapid mobilization difficult due to its underdeveloped railway system.

Question 8

What was the impact of Russia’s slow mobilization?

Answer 8

Germany was able to defeat France quickly in the west before turning its full attention to Russia.

Question 9

What evidence is there that Russia was ill equipped for war?

Answer 9

In the early stages of the war, the army needed a minimum of 100,000 rifles a month but Russian industry could only supply 27,000

Question 10

What battle did Russia loose and when?

Answer 10

September 1914, Russia lost the battle of tannenberg
30,000 killed or wounded, 95,000 were captured & only 10,000 managed to escape

Question 11

What other battle did Russia loose in 1914?

Answer 11

Battle of Ladz in December 1914

Question 12

What happened by the end of 1915?

Answer 12

Russian forces had been completely pushed out of Russian Poland

Question 13

When did the Tsar make himself commander-in-chief despite being unqualified?

Answer 13

September 1915

Question 14

By when were Germany producing significantly more shells then Russia?

Answer 14

September 1916
Russia produced 4.5mil shells whereas German army produced 7mil

Question 15

By Christmas 1916, how many Russian soldiers were dead? How many taken prisoner?

Answer 15

1.6million dead
2.4 million taken prisoner

Question 16

How did the war cause inflation in Russia?

Answer 16

-Between 1914-17 government spending rose from 4 million to 30 million roubles
- increased taxation at home - only partially successful in raising the capital Russia needed
- Gold standard was abandoned, allowing the government to put more notes in circulation - made money worthless

Question 17

How many notes were in circulation in July 1914 compared to January 1917?

Answer 17

July 1914 — 100
January 1917 — 336

Question 18

What were the initial effects of the war on peasant farmers in Russia?

Answer 18

Peasant farmers initially benefited from the war due to increased demand for food, allowing them to charge higher prices and make greater profits. Russia’s grain yield was higher between 1914-1916 than in previous years.

Question 19

What were the four main reasons for the decline in Russian grain production after 1916?

Answer 19

Inflation made trading unprofitable, leading peasants to hoard food.
2. Military requisitioning of horses and fertilizers reduced agricultural output.
3. The army had first priority on the limited food supply.
4. The military also controlled transport, making food distribution difficult.

Question 20

What was the major cause of food shortages in wartime Russia?

Answer 20

The disruption of the transport system, rather than a decline in food production, was the primary cause of shortages.

Question 21

How did transport issues contribute to Russia’s food crisis?

Answer 21

By 1916, 575 railway stations could no longer handle freight.

Trains were stranded due to breakdowns or lack of coal.

Question 22

How did transport dislocation affect Petrograd and Moscow?

Answer 22

By 1916, these cities were receiving only a third of their food and fuel needs.

Moscow’s grain supply dropped from 2200 wagons per month to under 700 by February 1917.

Petrograd received only 300 wagons of grain instead of 1000 in February 1917

Question 23

1916 wages for an unskilled worker vs price of clothes

Answer 23

Unskilled worker - 2.5-3 roubles
But boots were 20-39 roubles (unable to afford basic necessities)

Question 24

Why was alcohol, especially vodka, important in Russian society?

Answer 24

Vodka was an integral part of Russian social tradition, not for enjoyment but as a way to endure the hardships of life. It has been described as a Russian alternative to religion

Question 25

Why had previous tsarist governments failed to sustain anti-drink measures?

Answer 25

Taxes on vodka sales were a major source of government revenue. Banning alcohol could lead to more social unrest rather than reducing it.

Question 26

What major mistake did Nicholas I make regarding alcohol at the start of WWI?

Answer 26

He introduced prohibition, banning the production and sale of alcohol, aiming to boost the war effort by eliminating distractions.

Question 27

Why was prohibition a financial disaster for Russia?

Answer 27

Nearly one-third of government revenue came from alcohol taxes, so banning alcohol deprived the state of a critical income source at a crucial time.

Question 28

What were the social consequences of prohibition in Russia?

Answer 28

widespread illegal alcohol production (samogon). An underground alcohol industry emerged to supply towns and villages. The ban did not stop drinking but instead fueled lawlessness and black-market trade.