The Economic + Social Problems Created By The War: Military Issues Flashcards
How did the economy already show strains of war?
-by Christmas 1914 already serious shortage of munitions
-prospect of long war requiring numbers men + munitions was daunting
What was the problem the gov had due to this shortage?
-huge army of 15m - mainly conscripted peasants
-gov unable provide for them
How did the problems of the early years of war get worse?
-soldiers sent to fight with unsuitable weapon army
-also lacking basic warm clothing + properly fitting waterproof footwear
What is evidence of these issues?
-1914 infantry only had 2 rifles for every 3 soldiers
-1915 not unusual for Rus artillery be limited to 2 to 3 shells per day
What did the winter months of 1915-16 provide for Rus army?
-time to train + produce ammunition as relatively quite time
-time of Brusilov offensive June 1916 most front line units had reasonable complement of machine guns + artillery shells
What was the Brusilov offensive June 1916?
-named after General Brusilov with attempt to push westwards from Ukraine + bream through A-H lines
How did the offensive succeed?
-destroying A-H armies which had to rely on Gr reinforcements
How did the offensive begin to fall?
-within 3 months it grounded to halt as Gr able move Ken forwards quicker than Rus with superior railway network
What was the army like by end of 1916?
-morale in army plummeted
-heavy casualties c deteriorating econ + political situation in Rus led to 1.5m desertions
