WW1 Flashcards
Economic Inflation
• 1914-17, inflation went up by about 400% in Russia
“Short of reserves to fund the war effort, the government resorted to printing excess paper currency, which in turn led to inflation.”
Inflation hurt wealthy too so everyone now angry with the Tsar
Economic Bread
Bread queues in Petrograd 1917 where people queued for hours in cold for bread which wasn’t always there.
Economic Food
By 1917 Peasants stopped supplying food to the cities as food had become severely limited. Cities such as Petrograd and Moscow were getting less than half the amount of grain they needed by January 1917. Due to high inflation less point in selling so more grain hoarding.
Ignore
N
S
S
.
H
P
P
R
R
Y….
Y
P
P
Nicholas Big Mistake One
Tsar Nicholas took charge of the army in August 1915, meaning he wasn’t in Petrograd to work with the government and act as head of state. He was not in control of domestic events as a result.
Did it as he felt it’s what a Tsar should do (lead from the front) and believed it would increase morale
Nicholas Big Mistake Two
Tsar Nicholas’ wife, Alexandra, was left in charge of government affairs with Rasputin after the Tsar took charge of the army. Tsarina German too so unpopular that leadinountry as country didn’t like Germans at the time.
Rasputin doesn’t have experience for job
Poltical Who’s Fault?
• Tsar Nicholas was blaimed for all of Russia’s failures, Russians saw this WW1 as his failure
Political Co operation
• In August 1915 Nicholas refused to work with the pro-Tsarist “Progressive Bloc” Liberal politicians and closed down the Duma to try to restrict any opposition. The “Progressive Bloc” had been trying to help Nicholas by advising him how to win the war and trying to help him retain popular support.
1
1
Not needed
You’ve got this
S
3
Poltical
4
Military Deaths
Russia suffered two million deaths on the Eastern Front over the War.
Military Rifles
• By December 1914 there were 6.5m men in the army and only 4.7m rifles available for them.
Military Early War Failings
1914
• The Russians tried to invade eastern Germany but were defeated at Tannenberg and Masurian Lakes and so were unable to make inroads into Germany
Aswell as costly would have lower country’s moral towards the war
No need mate
Keep going, you’ve got this
Rasputin Minsters
• Rapid turnover of ministers in 1915-16, including 6 ministers of Interior and 3 ministers of War
Lead to government instability leading to growing public anger.
Rasputin plus Tsarina Leadership
• In 1915-16 Russia was effectively being controlled by the Tsarina Alexandra, a German, and her friend Grigory Rasputin. From Nicholas’ point of view, to allow them to be seen controlling Russia was a huge PR disaster. RUSSIANS DISLIKED GERMANS AT THE TIME
Rasputin Bias
• Rasputin and Tsarina dismissed able minsters in favour of friends who performed poorly
T
T
Chris Read - Read situation and summarised simple
CHECK QUOTE
Chris Read: “Politically, Nicholas II was a complete idiot.”
Econmic quote historian name
Alec Nove: ”It was the shortage of food which finally broke the back of the Russian Empire.”
Robert McKean Combustible-McKean
Robert McKean: ”The Great War acted as the spark which set the combustible of mass discontent alight.”
Keep going
You’ve got this, be brave
Military Rifles not number of
Troops sometimes sent into battle without rifles
LofA
Nicholas due to all his stupid decisions which were the root causes of many bad things.
Factory
Used for military work so less supplies home
War responsibility
War going badly always makes governments look bad and when Nicholas took over any loss the public viewed him as responsible
