Impact of WWI on Russia- Unit 2

Question 1

War’s impact on figure of Tsar:

Answer 1

• Enhances his position.
• French ambassador, ‘the tsar really is an autocrat, the absolute master of their bodies and souls’.

Question 2

War and the Bolsheviks:

Answer 2

• Committed themselves to the war effort.
• Lenin states, ‘these class traitors’, calls for an imperialist war into a civil war.
• Russia hates Lenin- flees to Switzerland.

Question 3

Inflation:

Answer 3

• Russia in a state of financial security 1914, money on gold standard, has largest reserves of any European country.
• Destroyed by war, 1914-17, gov spending increased from 4 million-30 million.
• Heavy taxation from home and borrowing from abroad.

Question 4

What was the solution to inflation?

Answer 4

• Removed money from the gold standard so they could print more money.
• Long term= more inflation.
• 1914-16, earnings doubled but price of food quadrupled.

Question 5

Food shortages:

Answer 5

• Resorted to requisitioning of horses and fertilisers (state-authorised takeover).
• Peasants couldn’t maintain their agricultural output, so 1916, food supplies fell as peasants hoarded food.
• Inflation made food unprofitable, hoarded.
• Army had first claim on food and transport system.
• Bread rationing, Petrograd 1917- receiving less than a quarter of amount available in 1914.

Question 6

The problem of transport:

Answer 6

• 44,000 miles of railway not enough. Signalling system failed, was blocked lines.
• 1916, 575 stations collapsed.
• Food would rot.
• 1916, Petrograd and Moscow receiving only 1/3 of food/fuel required.

Question 7

Give examples of the problem of transport:

Answer 7

• Archangel, northern port had such a pile up that it began to sink into the ground.
• Before war, Moscow averaged 2200 wagons grain per month. Feb 1917, below 700.

Question 8

How many losses were there?

Answer 8

1.7 million.
2.4 million captured.