Russian Revolution Flashcards
The Eastern Front
Germany + Austria-Hungary
VS
Russia
Trench warfare much less prominent; relatively more border movement
Harsher conditions: more deaths by illness
Russia’s lack of technology but superior manpower vs Austrian technology but smaller numbers
Russian Revolution 1917
Russia exits the war in March 1918
Russia, 1917
Long Term Problems
Unhappiness with the Tsar (an autocratic monarch)
Food shortages
Russia’s involvement in WW1 only made problems worse
A string of defeats against Austria
Bad harvests in 1917
German blockade of imports
Communism
Communism is an ideology that argues that all property should be owned by the community and that each person should contribute and receive according to their ability and needs.
Why did this ideology become popular in Russia?
Vladimir Lenin was the leader of Russia’s Communist Party, or the Bolsheviks.
Revolution
February Revolution, 1917
Tsar Nicholas II was forced to abdicate (give up his throne)
Russia was now run by a Provisional Government
Russia’s role in the war continued
October Revolution, 1917
Lenin led a Communist revolution, establishing a Communist government
Russia exited the war
Why had the Russians become angry with the Tsar by 1917?
The Tsar was an autocratic monarch
Russian society was extremely unfair
Food shortages made worse by German blockade of Russian ports
The Tsar’s military failures
Why were the Bolsheviks determined to take Russia out of the war?
Only by taking Russia out of the war could they focus on building a Communist society
The Communists represented the working class – since war was so unpopular, they also represented the wishes of the people to end the war as soon as possible
Why were other countries alarmed by the Communist Revolution in Russia?
Most other European countries were still ruled by traditional elites and had unfair social structures
A Communist revolution in Russia implied that a similar revolution was possible in their own countries
What was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and what impact did it have on the war?
Peace treaty between the Russia and the Central Powers
Forced Russia to give up almost 1 million square miles of territory and one third of its population; also forced Russia to give up precious industrial materials
Ended Russia’s involvement in the war 🡪 Germany and Austria could focus on the Western Front + had more resources to fight the war
Word Doc Link
https://1drv.ms/w/s!Ajo5fec0ywQjhX8AMygm3wHaMDLj?e=0M9WlQ
