Impact of WW1 on Russian Armed Forces

Question 1

What did military reforms focus on in 1908?

Answer 1

improving the organisation of the armed forces and ensuring that they were provided with appropriate equipment

Question 2

Why was the military so concerned about poor organisation of the armed forces?

Answer 2

Russo-Japanese War - humiliating - Battle of Tsushima - couldn’t use wireless telegraphy effectively - resulted in poor organisation and co-ordination - supplied with poor wireless telegraphy equipment

Question 3

How did the reforms change the military in 1908?

Answer 3

• regimental structure of army changed

- types of artillery used were standardised

Question 4

In what areas did the Russian Army succeed in WW1 in 1914?

Answer 4

• initially made advances

- majority of Russians supported the war

Question 5

What went badly for the Russian Army in 1914?

Answer 5

• Russia failed to secure a quick victory against Germany
• Russian forces suffered defeats against Germany at the battles of Tannenberg and Masurian Lakes
• Poor planning and co-ordination by General Samsonov and General Rennenkampf
• lack of supplies and weapons
• Germans more advanced in new technology and tactics than Russians
• Turkeys entry into war in Nov 1914 severed a key supply line for Russia into the Mediterranean
• Russia suffered approx. 230,000 casualties, far more than Germany

Question 6

What went wrong for the Russian Army in 1915?

Answer 6

• Stavka was very inefficient
• Transportation and supplies remained a problem- not fixed - many Russian artillery units limited to 3 shells/ day
• August 1915 Russian armies retreated from Russian Poland - resulted in 1.5m casualties and loss of important cities e.g. Vilna
• Tsar became Commander-in-Chief of Russian Forces- became directly responsible for future failures - had limited military experience

Question 7

What was the Stavka?

Answer 7

name given to the command centre of the Russian Army in WW1

Question 8

What went wrong for the Russian Army in 1916-17?

Answer 8

• Lake Naroch Offensive March 1916 - failed - loss of 100,000
• despite victory against Austro-Hungarian forces by General Brusilov in 1916 the Russians did not have the resources to fully exploit this success
• December 1916 - 1.6m dead, 3.9m injured
• many Russian generals poor leaders

Question 9

What went good for the Russian Army in 1916-17?

Answer 9

• 1916 - General Alexeyev improved production of artillery shells
• still had largest standing army - 1.7m men
• had successful attack against Austro-Hungarian Forces in 1916