The revolutions of 1917 : 1.3 Impact of WW1 Flashcards
Why did Russia join WW1?
Russia was the protector of Serbia, so Russia mobilised its military forces to help Serbia. Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated on the 28th of June 1914. By the end of 1914, Russia had 1,000,000 casualties and suffered defeat after defeat (by the end of 1916).
Give two Russian military disasters
Battle of Tannenberg : 26-29th August 1914 - 70,000 soldiers killed and 50,000 prisoners
Battle of Masurian Lakes : 5-9th September 1914 - 100,000 soldiers killed or wounded
Reasons for defeat(s)?
1) Poor communication - wireless messages, easily intercepted by Germans
2) Outdated tactics - used cavalry against German machine guns
3) Officers/Generals - Lazy, incompetent and overconfident ; there was no teamwork or coordination, they moved their armies too quickly into East Russia in 1914, far ahead of their support and supplies.
4) Leadership of the Tsar - No military experience and made no difference to the war. The peasants had a wise all loving image of the Tsar, which was shattered by the experience of war. Left the Tsarina in charge in Petrograd, under the influence of Rasputin.
5) Supplies and Equipment - Soldiers had no boots, shared rifles, short of medical supplies and no ammunition
6) Lack of infrastructure - Poor roads and inadequate railway lines, supplies could not reach the front line, not enough explosive factories/shipyards/medical supplies and an outdated telegraph system (military orders got lost).
Military effects of defeats?
1) Enthusiasm soon waned, the morale of soldiers plummeted
2) Desertion/mutinies were rife
3) Violent resistance to conscription and general discontent all over the Russian empire
Socio-Economic effects of war?
1) Rapid inflation (7 price rises between 1913 and 1917)
2) Shortages of labour and horses - food production decreased -> famines. Fewer peasants to work on land - all in army
3) Transport system could not cope with increased demands of war as well as providing industry with raw materials
4) Consumer goods became scarce and expensive/factories closed -> shortages in vital coal, iron and steel
5) Unemployment, increased poverty
6) Prices of products always increasing but wages the same and required to work longer hours
7) Worst winter : below -30 degrees, leading to severe food and fuel shortages
What are the political effects of the war?
1) Position and status of Tsar drastically worsened (left running of country in the hands of the influences Tsarina)
2) The people hated anything German, including the Tsarina who was a German princess - rumour was that she was a German spy trying to sabotage the Russian war effort. She only listened to Rasputin’s advice, and there was no one in charge of properly organising food, fuel and other essentials.
When was Rasputin killed?
December 1916, Rasputin was killed by Prince Yusupov, illustrated the extent of discontent in Russia
