The impact of the First World War: political problems

Question 1

By 1915, military defeat, economic failure and rumours about the royal family led to…

Answer 1

demands for reform.

Question 2

In August 1915, Russian armies…

Answer 2

retreated from Russian Poland - as a result of this disaster, the Tsar became commander-in-chief of the army.

Question 3

With the Tsar on the front line, rumours circulated that…

Answer 3

Tsarina Alexandra was running the government.

Question 4

Why did the rumours that Alexandra was running the government undermine faith in the government?

Answer 4

• She had been born in Germany - rumours circulated that she was a German agent
• During this period Boris Sturmer, a Russian citizen of German descent, was appointed head of government
• Rumours also circulated that the Tsar and Tsarina were under the influence of Grigori Rasputin
• There were also rumours that he was sleeping with the Tsarina and the Princesses

Question 5

Who was Grigori Rasputin?

Answer 5

• A mystical holy man, one of a number of religious influences on the Tsar
• Nicholas II believed that Rasputin had the power to heal, and heard the voice of God
• Rasputin had a reputation as a drunk and a womaniser
• Nonetheless, he was highly charismatic and had many followers

Question 6

From the beginning of 1916 government ministers were being…

Answer 6

appointed and sacked with increasing frequency - ‘ministerial leapfrog’ was blamed on the Tsarina and Rasputin, who were accused of giving jobs to their favourites.

Question 7

What did Prince Felix Yusupov do in December 1916?

Why?

Answer 7

• Working with other aristocrats and politicians, he assassinated Rasputin, in order to stop rumours of scandal
• However, the murder of Rasputin failed to change public opinion

Question 8

What was Zemgor?

Answer 8

• An organisation that co-ordinated voluntary support for the war effort
• Zemgor comprised the Zemstvo Union and the Union of Towns which represented local governments across the country.

Question 9

What did the work of Zemgor include?

Answer 9

1 - produciton of uniforms
2 - distribution of food
3 - aid to refugees
4 - medical care
5 - organisation military detachments: the Zemstvo Hussars

Question 10

Who was Prince Lvov?

Answer 10

A member of the Kadets who headed the Zemgor.

Question 11

The Zemgor headed by Prince Lvov was…

Answer 11

efficient and well organised. However, its resources were limited.

Question 12

What percentage of resources did Zemgor contribute to support the war effort?

Answer 12

5% of the resources necessary.

Question 13

Zemgor’s effectiveness compared favourably to…

Answer 13

the inefficiencies of the government’s own wartime organisation.

Question 14

What was the Progressive Bloc?

Answer 14

A political alliance of Duma deputies, united by their desire for constitutional reform.

Question 15

As the Russian army was forced into the ‘Great Retreat’ of 1915, in part due to the munitions crisis,…

Answer 15

pressure mounted on the Tsar to recall the Duma.

Question 16

In the summer of 1915 the Tsar…

Answer 16

recalled the Duma.

Question 17

What did the majority of Duma deputies form, and how many?

Answer 17

236 of the 442, formed the Progressive Bloc.

Question 18

What did the Progressive Bloc demand?

Answer 18

A ‘government of confidence’: a new government comprising leading members of the Duma, which could manage the war effort completely.

Question 19

What was the Tsar’s response to the Progressive Bloc, and Zemgor?

Answer 19

• He refused to collaborate with the Progressive Bloc and Zemgor
• He believed that the Duma had no right to play a role in government

Question 20

When did the Tsar dismiss the Duma?

Answer 20

September 1915, less than a month since it had reassembled.

Question 21

Some within government believed that Zemgor was…

Answer 21

a front for revolutionaries.

Question 22

What did Nicholas II’s refusal to work with the Duma and Zemgor do?

Answer 22

Weaken Russia’s ability to organise the war effort.

Question 23

As the economy worsened, and there was no sign of military breakthrough, the Tsar became…

Answer 23

increasingly unpopular.

Question 24

What were Duma moderates views on the Tsar when the Fourth Duma reassembled? When did the Fourth Duma reassemble?

Answer 24

When the Fourth Duma reassembled in February 1916, they were critical of the Tsar.

Question 25

How did the Tsar respond to being criticised by the Fourth Duma after it was reassmbled?

Answer 25

He withdrew from government and relocated to his military headquarters in Stavka, and relief on incompetent and unpopular ministers to supervise the civilian population and the economy.