To what extent was the February Revolution caused by military problems? Flashcards
military factors very
The role of the Army joining the rioters from 25 February onwards − the failure of the Tsar to retain loyalty; soldiers deserting the Front.
Loyal Cossacks were long dead and current Petrograd garrison had more in common with the protestors than the regime.
Garrison was afraid of being sent to the Front.
Actions of Petrograd garrison and several previously loyal regiments
such as Volhinsky and Preobrazhensky.
Impact on the Russian army from the outset to the crisis of 1916
highlighting withdrawal of support from Tsar by some top
commanders; detail on the role of the generals.
Impact of Tsar taking control from 1915 - the failure of the Tsar to
retain loyalty, against longer term discontent. Soldiers deserting the
Front.
Revolution from below; soldiers, sailors, peasants and workers.
Role of Bolsheviks undermining the army - “Comrade Cossack”.
military- not
The role of the Bolsheviks in undermining the army may have been
overstated.
The role of the sergeants in the rebellious regiment was more
significant than that of other ranks.
Continued support of commanders such as Kornilov.
economic very
Economic change and its impact − the economic situation, the demand for bread, the pressures of modernising Russia as seen at Putilov and elsewhere.
Workers were aggrieved by deteriorating conditions in the factories and by food shortages … role of women textile workers.
Rising inflation and price rises.
Details on strikes and lockouts; closure of factories due to shortages
of raw materials, actions of shop stewards committees, breakdown of
rail supply system.
Actions of government in area of taxation; vodka abolition.
social
Increasing problems by 1917, the demand for bread, food and fuel shortages, queuing and inflation: the cold weather of early 1917: the immediate events of 25th February and events on International Women’s Day as evidence of discontent.
Breakdown of order in the countryside as agriculture disintegrated due to lack of men, fertilizers and draught animals; peasants taking land by force and killing landowners.
Failure to support Tsarism might have seemed spontaneous and the revolution uncoordinated but quickly changed in a few days to a more politicised protest, showing the underlying problems.
War weariness.
The rising number of refugees flooding Petrograd, rise of typhus.
political
February was evidence of the failure of autocracy – the nature of Tsarism by 1917 and actions of the Tsar, an evaluation of his strengths and weaknesses, including his role in the War, the effect of the Tsarina’s rule and influence of Rasputin.
An awareness of the range of disillusioned groups, revolution from above: the role of the elites, the progressive bloc, Guchkov conspiring with Alexeyev, the alienated intelligentsia and the possible palace coup – Yusupov.
The development of opposition parties as evidence of discontent; detail on the role, policies and actions of Mensheviks and SRs.
Lenin and Trotsky – their writings and influence and noting that although the major leaders were abroad and no political party organised the revolution; political influence was part of the failure of many to support Tsarism.
orlando figes economical
argues that the Revolution was “born in the bread queues”.
Peter kennel political
there was not to be found anywhere in the country any groups of the population…which were ready to put up a fight for the old regime”.
Trotsky political
“Nicholas II inherited from his ancestors not only a giant empire, but also a revolution”.
Rex Wade social
“The long awaited revolution had come swiftly, arising out of strikes and popular demonstrations”.
Historian Edward Acton
argues ‘what assures the victory if the insurrection was not the workers movement but the soldiers mutiny’
Suggesting that the revolution perhaps wouldn’t have happened without the support of army
