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Impact of WWI on Russia and Nicholas II's Rule (Quotes (Nicholas II…
Impact of WWI on Russia and Nicholas II's Rule
Military Failures
despite initial popularity and patriotism towards the war - this quickly turned sour
similar to the Russo-Japanese War of 1905
1914-1915: heavy defeats and large death tolls
led to anger at how the war was being handled
Nicholas II went to the front line to take direct control of his army
possibly to try and present himself as the protector of Russia
had this been successful it is plausible that it would have saved Tsarism
he had little experience as a military tactician
thrown into the deep end with such a large scale European war
associated with every military defeat
contributed to hatred towards the Tsar
army's support for Nicholas wavered
Tsarina and Rasputin
going to the Front Line left the Tsarina (German) with the widely disliked Rasputin in charge
Tsarina Alexandra German - Russia fighting Germany
they were worse at politics than Nicholas II
dismissed competent ministers replacing them with incompetent ones
led to chaos and much worse working conditions in the cities - combined with the wartime squeeze on industry
Rasputin murdered in 1916 by nobles loyal to the Tsar
who sought to prevent further damage to the Tsar's reputation
Rasputin was ruining the political landscape
common gossip that the Tsarina was engaged with illicit activities with Rasputin
Tsar blamed for all the Tsarina's and Raputin's mistakes
support from higher levels of society faded
Impact on Living Conditions
war heightened many domestic issues that Russia was already experiencing
war always squeezes industry, agriculture and transport
shortage of food/fuel/goods
inflation
high prices
unemployment
workers hostile to Tsar
peasants angry about huge losses of men
Failure to Make Political Reforms
Duma basically a failure - not given any say in the war
Quotes
Nicholas II (upon his ascension to the throne):
'I know nothing'
Sergei Witte:
'the key to Russia's future greatness lies in industrialisation'
Lenin on the war:
'the war was a mightily accelerator'
Trotsky on the October Manifesto:
'a constitution has been given, autocracy remains'
Trotsky about the 1905 revolution:
'a dress rehersal'
Mistakes of Tsar
putting himself as commander-in-chief of the army
he had little military experience and was a poor strategist
he rejected the Duma's idea to form a war cabinet
Additional Points
Start of the War (First Year)
Russia never actually declared war on anybody
on the announcement of war - strikes ceased and mobilisation went smoothly
this enthusiasm lasted about 6 months
the Imperial Army suffered large defeats against Germany (and the rest of its enemies)
Russia had some slight successes against Austria in the Balkans
Russian army was under equipped
4.6 million rifles for 6.5 million soliders
Front was stable until Spring of 1915
the following 6 months were disastrous
Russia was pushed out of Galacia, Poland, Lithuania and some of Ukraine
conscription enforced in Russia
because they had lost so many men
4 million killed, wonders or missing after a year
many offers were dead and the army was disloyal
Middle of the War (Second Year)
in the second year, the Russian army began to recover
Germany suspended her actions in the East to focus on the West
Greater co-operation between industry and government was enforced
shortage of rifles overcome
the Brusilov offensive (1916) - Russia's most successful advance
brought Austria close to collapse
Russian army suffered 0.5 million casualties but they took out a million Austrians
domestic issues continued
peasants were pretty safe - they were in the countryside with good harvests and refused to trade into cities without good prices
rising inflation - further reason to keep the food rather than sell it for cash
any grain that the peasants did give rarely made it to the cities
half the railway had been lost
the remaining railway was used by the army
majority of the food was going to the army
Demonstrations
anniversary of Bloody Sunday
150,000 people demonstrated against the regime
the army killed 40 demonstrators before turning and siding with them
the first time Nicholas II did not have the support of the army
Nicholas II was 500 miles away - didn't understand the gravity of the situation
international women's day
February 1917: 250,000 demonstrated
turned violent