impact of World War I; the causes, events and outcomes of the February and October Revolutions in 1917

Question 1

WW1

Answer 1

• Initially there was a wave of patriotism and the Duma suspended itself so as to not interfere with the war effort
• Opposition from the Bolsheviks led to mass arrests
• Anti-German sentiment grew and many Russians changed their names and the city of st Petersburg was changed to Petrograd
• Within weeks of the outbreak of war in 1914, Russia’s military and economic inferiority to Germany became all too apparent
• Russia suffered major military defeats which undermined support for the war effort and the Tsarist regime
• Despite being the largest army in the world, Russia suffered a prolonged series of defeats because the lack of ammunition and supplies, poor internal organisation and socialist propaganda all resulted in disastrous demoralisation among the troops
• Russia could not withstand the sustained attacks and its economy was too weak for a long war
• The Tsar assumed personal control of the war effort in 1915 and thus washeld responsible for the defeats and problems
• The High Command (Stavka) was divided and the leaders of the military and top commanders were aristocratic cavalrymen with little professional training and no real military experience
• Internal government was left in the hands of the Tsarina and her advisers, many of whom were not equipped to deal with the increasingly difficult economic situation
• Continuation of the war further eroded support for the regime
• The Duma and workers’ soviets became increasingly critical of the Tsarist regime
• In 1915 some moderates in the Duma created the Progessive Bloc and wanted ministers appointed by the Duma and greater control over domestic issues
• Even the Tsar’s ministers wanted to compromise with the Progressive Bloc
• The war exacerbated the domestic difficulties of Russia and highlighted the structural problems in the Russian government and economy
• The actions of Grigori Rasputin and Tsarina Alexandra alienated the Tsar from the people and many were alarmed that the government was left at the mercy of the Empress and Rasputin
• The Tsarina’s German heritage also caused controversy, distrust and led to rumours of sabotage and treason
• The Tsarina dismissed rebel ministers and appointed those loyal to the Tsar
• Russia was experiencing severe economic crisis due to a shortage of food and fuel as a result of the First World War
• The period between 1914 and 1917 brought challenges to the Russian autocracy from almost every element of society
• The First World War played a crucial role in highlighting and compounding the existing military, political, economic and social problems under Nicholas
• In historical hindsight, entering the war was the short term factor that created a revolutionary situation in Russia that exploded into revolution in 1917
• In his place the Provisional Government (drawn mostly from the old Duma) took political control of Russia
• The newly re-established Petrograd Soviet (formerly St Petersburg Soviet and formed in 1905 during year of turmoil) maintained popular support without formal authority

Question 2

February Revolution

Answer 2

• Food shortages in the cities and industrial discontent led to an increase in strikes and protests by the end of 1916/beginning of 1917
• The economic unrest erupted into social action on the streets of Petrograd from 23 February, when striking workers from the Putilov factory joined the march for International Women’s Day
• The Tsar and the Duma were unwilling to compromise or cooperate to resolve the situation – the Tsarist regime collapsed as a result of its own inertia
• The February Revolution was a spontaneous outburst of popular dissent against the war and the Tsar’s government
• The key factor in the success of the revolution was the mutiny of the troops from the large Petrograd Garrison, who openly sided with the protestors
• The Tsar had no choice but to abdicate, which he did on 2 March, in favour of his brother Mikhail (who subsequently also abdicated on 3 March and gave authority to rule to the Provisional Government)
• A new coalition Provisional Government was established by members of the Fourth Duma, led by Prince Lvov, but had to share power with a newly re-formed group the Petrograd Soviet
• Two political bodies were in control of all Russia – the Provisional Government who had political authority; and the Petrograd Soviet who had genuine influence with the popular movements
• To help restore order, Soviet Order #1 was announced which listed the demands and conditions for the return of soldiers to their garrisons (the Soviet leaders had no intention of assuming power themselves)
• The Petrograd Soviet agreed to support the Provisional Government as long as it adhered to a comprehensive list of democratic principles
• Lenin’s return in April aggressively challenged the Provisional Government and announced his support for the Soviets through his slogan “All Power to the Soviets”
• The Provisional Government existed in a constitutional vacuum and was consistently reluctant to seize the initiative for change
• The re-emergence of the Petrograd Soviet created a duality of power and authority which was exploited by the Bolsheviks
• The Provisional Government came to be seen as the tool of the middle class, while the workers turned to the Petrograd Soviet as the instrument for their takeover for power

Question 3

October Revolution

Answer 3

• The Bolsheviks sought power for themselves, not for the socialists or the Soviets or the Russian people
• The position of the Bolsheviks steadily improved throughout the Autumn of 1917 and benefitted most from the Kornilov Affair
• Kerensky had distributed 40 000 guns to the workers and therefore many fell into the hands of the Bolsheviks
• The Provisional Government released all Bolsheviks from custody including Trotsky
• The Bolsheviks won a majority in elections to the Petrograd Soviet and political support grew rapidly (also in the Moscow Soviet and All Russian Congress of Soviets)
• Trotsky was also elected chairman of the Soviet
• On 9 October, Lenin returned to Petrograd (from Finland) and Lenin pressured the unwilling Bolshevik Central Committee into staging the October uprising
• It was a measure of the Provisional Government’s over-confidence and isolation that even after the two Bolshevik dissenters, Zinoviev and Kamenev, went public with their dissent, it did not take any decisive measure
• On 16 October, the Soviet approved the creation of a Military Revolutionary Committee (Milrevcom) and worked to establish its influence over military units in preparation for the coup
• The events were precipitated by the actions of Kerensky who ordered the closure by force of the Pravda presses on the night of 23-24 October
• The Military Revolutionary Committee, which now had effective control over troops in Petrograd, immediately reacted with force and re-opened the presses
• On 24 October, armed Bolsheviks simply took over key strategic points in the city including railroad stations, post offices, telephone exchanges, banks and bridges
• Kerensky contacted frontline commanders and ask for aid – none was available
• On the 25 October, after a number of attempts, the Bolsheviks entered the Winter Palace
• On 26 October Lenin announced to the Second All Russian Congress of Soviets (which had been organised to meet on 25 October) the formation of the Sovnarkom and declared the new government the ‘Government (or Council) of Peoples’ Commissars’