Political Problems of Tsardom in Wartime Flashcards
How was the war initially popular?
Strikes ceased, Duma dissolved to avoid ‘unnecessary politics’. St Petersburg became Petrograd. A vast army was assembled quicker than Germany’s Schlieffen Plan expected.
Which two battles dampened patriotism?
Aug 1914 - Battle of Tennenburg - 300,000 dead
Masurian Lakes defeat forced retreat
What inflamed discontent in the Home Counties?
It became clear that the war would drag on and reports of military shortcomings inflamed discontent.
How many men were in the army?
15 million - mostly conscript peasants.
What key items were the army unable to provide?
weaponry, clothing and footwear.
How many rifles and shells were there in 1914?
2 rifles for every 3 men, and a 2 shell-per day limit.
What did soldiers rely on for weaponry and ammunition?
Looting dead soldiers.
What happened in the winter of 1915?
It was a quiet winter, allowing the Russian army to regroup and kit soldiers out for the Brusilov Offensive.
What was the Brusilov Offensive?
They destroyed Austro-Hungarian armies until the Germans stopped their momentum and forced a retreat in June 1916. They lacked the experienced officers necessary for a fully developed army.
How many desertions were there total?
1.5M
What was the increase in war spending from 1914-1918?
1.5M-14.5M.
What slumped, both in cities and countryside?
Production of food and armaments.
What brought Russian trade to a standstill?
The loss of ports in Poland the Caspian to the Germans.
What did the military do to stimulate production in the countryside?
Purchase surplus horses or grain from peasants but they paid low so many peasants hoarded.
What were railways repurposed for?
Taking supplies and men to the Front - food wasn’t reaching the cities.
What was the result of the recruitment drive?
Armament manufacture improved - rifle production doubled and artillery capacity quadrupled.
What happened that fostered industrial unrest and subsequently crippled industry?
Lock-outs and strikes.
What was the rise in cost of living and what were other issues in the country?
300% increase ,and rising death rates due to improper sanitation and starvation.
How many strikers were there in Jan 1917 in Petrograd and Moscow?
30,000 in Moscow
145,000 in Petrograd.
What was set up in July 1914 in the provinces?
Military zones - martial law imposed.
Who opposed the military zones?
The zemstva - they believed the civilians played a key part in winning the war.
What was resented and evaded that alienated the general population?
1914 Alcohol Prohibition
What was the function of the Union of Zemstva?
To provide necessary medical care.
What was formed in June 1915 and chaired by Lvov?
The Zemgor - formed from zemstva and duma to help war effort. Ended up being a forum for liberal discontent.
What was the Progressive Bloc?
Aug 1915 - Kadets, Octobrists & Progressives formed together to demand the Tsar change his ministers and become a constitutional monarchy.
What was Nicholas’ reaction to the Progressive Bloc?
To dissolve the Duma - but in reality he should have taken the constitutional monarchy to reduce dissent.
What did Nicholas do in Sept 1915?
Nicholas became the ‘Commander in Chief’ - led Russian armies with ‘unshakeable confidence’.
Why was Nicholas’ decision to become CIC a bad idea?
Seemed heroic at the time but he had already lost support from General Staff and had no experience. He also seemed more responsible for the failure now.
What were the changes in ministers associated with?
Rasputin’s influence on Alex - Nicholas was seen as German-corrupted and this harmed his image.
What was Nicholas’ general reaction to political demands?
Uncaring.
How many Petrograd workers at the Putilov Iron Works strike in 1917?
150,000 on the anniversary of Bloody Sunday.
What was the Soviet’s Order No1?
All units to elect a deputy to the Petrograd Soviet
Military Commission of Duma to be established.
All weaponry controlled by elected soldiers committees.
No honorific titles.
On March 2nd, what did General Alekseev do?
Hijacked Nicholas’ train and took him to a military base. He forced him to agree to a Provisional Government and to resign - Nicholas named Grand Duke Mikhail as his replacement.
What did GD Mikhail do following Nicholas’ abdication?
Relinquished all power to the Prov Gov - ending 304 years of Romanov rule.
