Topic 2: Opposition to Tsarist Rule 1914-17

Question 1

What was the capital city renamed to in 1914?

Answer 1

Petrograd

Question 2

When did Petrograd change to Leningrad?

Answer 2

1924

Question 3

What was the capital of Russia called before 1914?

Answer 3

St Petersburg

Question 4

Why did enthusiasm for the war not last long?

Answer 4

Tannenburg and the Masurian Lakes battles were a disaster

Question 5

In 1914, how many men did Russia lose?

Answer 5

250,000 men

Question 6

Where had the Germans overrun by the middle of 1915?

Answer 6

Russian Poland
Lithuania
Most of Latvia

Question 7

By 1915, what had casualties and deaths mounted to?

Answer 7

2 million dead
5 million injured

Question 8

By the end of 1914, how many soldiers were dead, wounded or taken prisoner?

Answer 8

1 million

Question 9

By March 1917, how many men had been killed, wounded, or taken prisoner?

Answer 9

Over 8 million

Question 10

What did the war expose?

Answer 10

Serious weakness in the Russian economy and government’s handling

Question 11

How were deserters from the army encouraged?

Answer 11

Through anti-war and anti-Tsarist propaganda that revolutionaries put out

Question 12

What did the Tsar do in 1915?

Answer 12

Took personal command of the army.

Question 13

Why was it a mistake that Tsar Nicholas II took command of the army?

Answer 13

• He had no military experience
• He never returned to Petrograd so was out of touch
• Made himself responsible for any and all defeats

Question 14

How was Nicholas II seen before he took command of the army?

Answer 14

Their ‘Little Father’

Question 15

How many roubles did the Russian government spend between 1914-17 on the war?

Answer 15

17 billion

Question 16

How many x more did they spend on WWI than in the Russo-Japanese war?

Answer 16

15x

Question 17

Prohibition affected what alcohol?

Answer 17

Vodka

Question 18

How much of the governments taxes were made up from the sale of vodka?

Answer 18

25%

Question 19

Why was there a lack of men for factories and farms?

Answer 19

15 million men were sent to fight

Question 20

In 1915, how many factories had to close?

Answer 20

500

Question 21

What did the government do to deal with economic problems
(Hint: they did the same thing in Germany in 1923)

Answer 21

Printed more money

Question 22

What was there a shortage of in towns?

Answer 22

Fuel and food

Question 23

Why could the railway system not deliver all of the food?

Answer 23

It was inefficient.

Train loads of food were left rotting in sidings

Question 24

Why did factories keep closing?

Answer 24

Coal and materials were scarce

Question 25

How much did the price of meat rise by?

Answer 25

300%

Question 26

How much did the price of flour rise by?

Answer 26

200%

Question 27

Why were the problems in towns affecting the Tsar?

Answer 27

People began to blame him for the problems

Question 28

Who was farming left in the hands of?

Answer 28

Women and the elderly who had less experience with farming and could not cope with how much needed to be grown

Question 29

What did the army seize from the peasants?

Answer 29

Horses

Question 30

Where prices good for the peasants that sold their food to the government?

Answer 30

No

Question 31

Why did landowners suffer during WWI?

Answer 31

They had a shortage of labourers and land value collapsed

Question 32

What happened to many small businesses during WWI?

Answer 32

They went bankrupt

Question 33

What increased on the front line during the winter of 1916-17

Answer 33

Desertions

Question 34

Which offensive had been a success?

Answer 34

Brusilov

Question 35

What rumours sparked peasant soldiers deserting the army?

Answer 35

Rumours that peasants were taking over unused land

Question 36

What temperatures did the winter of 1916-17 reach?

Answer 36

-30 to -40

Question 37

What did food prices rise by during the winter of 1916-17?

Answer 37

300%

Question 38

What was often reserved for 'special customers'

Answer 38

Bread

Question 39

What did members of the Duma demand?

Answer 39

That the Tsar's failing government be replaced by duma deputies in a ministry of national confidence

Question 40

In August 1915, what group became a centre of opposition to the Tsar?

Answer 40

Moderate politicians (Progressive Bloc)

Question 41

Who did the Tsar give control to when he took over the army?

Answer 41

Tsarina Alexandra

Question 42

Why did Russian people mistrust the Tsarina?

Answer 42

She was German

Question 43

Who did the Tsarina have a close relationship to that spoilt her reputation?

Answer 43

Rasputin

Question 44

What was the rumour about Rasputin and Tsarina Alexandra?

Answer 44

That they were lovers and that they were purposefully losing the war

Question 45

When was Rasputin assassinated?

Answer 45

December 1916

Question 46

Who killed Rasputin?

Answer 46

Prince Felix Yusupov Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich Poltician Vladimir Prushkevich

Question 47

Who would the Tsarina not work with?

Answer 47

The Duma

Question 48

Who did Tsarina Alexandra put in charge of key ministerial positions?

Answer 48

People that would do as they were told

Question 49

Why did the Tsar's family trust Rasputin?

Answer 49

He could 'control' the haemophilia of Alexei, Tsarevich of Russia

Question 50

Who lost respect for the Tsar because of rumours of Rasputin and the Tsarina?

Answer 50

Peasants and workers

Question 51

Who had Rasputin banished from Petrograd?

Answer 51

Stolypin

Question 52

Why did Rasputin return to Petrograd in 1911?

Answer 52

Stolypin died

Question 53

When did Rasputin have most influence over the Tsarina?

Answer 53

After 1915

Question 54

Who was support decreasing from as the war got worse?

Answer 54

Middle and upper classes They were upset Rasputin had influence

Question 55

What started in February 1917?

Answer 55

Strikes With members of the army joining in

Question 56

What hit major cities with railway transport focused on the military?

Answer 56

Food shortages

Question 57

Why did peasants not sell much grain?

Answer 57

There was little to buy with the money they made

Question 58

What was rationed from the 1st March 1917?

Answer 58

Bread

Question 59

When did thousands of women march against bread shortages?

Answer 59

23rd February, International Women's Day

Question 60

Between the 23rd-25th February, how many people marched through Petrograd?

Answer 60

250,000

Question 61

Who did Nicholas II have to rely on for reports?

Answer 61

Tsarina Alexandra

Question 62

What did Nicholas II order on the 25th February?

Answer 62

He ordered troops to fire on the protestors

Question 63

What did soldiers do as a result of Nicholas' order to fire on protestors?

Answer 63

They mutinied

Question 64

On the 26th February, which regiment refused their orders?

Answer 64

Pavlovsky Regiment

Question 65

How many weapons did soldiers and workers control after opening the weapons stores?

Answer 65

40,000 rifles 30,000 revolvers

Question 66

How many soldiers joined the protestors?

Answer 66

150,000

Question 67

Where did Nicholas II stop on his way back to Petrograd?

Answer 67

Pskov

Question 68

When did Tsar Nicholas II abdicate?

Answer 68

2nd March 1917

Question 69

Who turned down the offer of the crown after Nicholas II?

Answer 69

Grand Duke Michael

Question 70

Why did Grand Duke Michael refuse the crown?

Answer 70

The Provisional Government warned him that there would be civil war if he became Tsar

Question 71

How many years of Romanov rule were over with the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II?

Answer 71

300

Question 72

Which two groups filled the vacuum of power?

Answer 72

The Petrograd Soviet The Duma

Question 73

Who did the Petrograd Soviet represent?

Answer 73

The workers and soldiers

Question 74

What did the Duma do?

Answer 74

12 Duma representatives set up a provisional committee

Question 75

Who led the Provisional Government at first?

Answer 75

Prince Lvov

Question 76

What was the goal of the Provisional Government?

Answer 76

They would run Russia until formal elections could be held

Question 77

What were the 8 principles of the Provisional Government

Answer 77

1. An immediate amnesty for all political and religious offences 2. Freedom of speech, press, form labour unions and to strike 3. Abolition of all social, religious and national restrictions 4. Immediate preparation for the calling of a Constituent Assembly by universal and secret ballot 5. To organise a new militia with elective officers in place of police 6. Elections to be carried out on the basis of universal, direct, equal and secret suffrage 7. Troops that have taken part in the revolutionary movement shall not be disarmed 8. Strict military discipline when on duty but when off duty, soldiers should have the same public rights as enjoyed by citizens