Political Problems of Tsardom in Wartime

Question 1

How was the war initially popular?

Answer 1

Strikes ceased, Duma dissolved to avoid ‘unnecessary politics’. St Petersburg became Petrograd. A vast army was assembled quicker than Germany’s Schlieffen Plan expected.

Question 2

Which two battles dampened patriotism?

Answer 2

Aug 1914 - Battle of Tennenburg - 300,000 dead
Masurian Lakes defeat forced retreat

Question 3

What inflamed discontent in the Home Counties?

Answer 3

It became clear that the war would drag on and reports of military shortcomings inflamed discontent.

Question 4

How many men were in the army?

Answer 4

15 million - mostly conscript peasants.

Question 5

What key items were the army unable to provide?

Answer 5

weaponry, clothing and footwear.

Question 6

How many rifles and shells were there in 1914?

Answer 6

2 rifles for every 3 men, and a 2 shell-per day limit.

Question 7

What did soldiers rely on for weaponry and ammunition?

Answer 7

Looting dead soldiers.

Question 8

What happened in the winter of 1915?

Answer 8

It was a quiet winter, allowing the Russian army to regroup and kit soldiers out for the Brusilov Offensive.

Question 9

What was the Brusilov Offensive?

Answer 9

They destroyed Austro-Hungarian armies until the Germans stopped their momentum and forced a retreat in June 1916. They lacked the experienced officers necessary for a fully developed army.

Question 10

How many desertions were there total?

Answer 10

1.5M

Question 11

What was the increase in war spending from 1914-1918?

Answer 11

1.5M-14.5M.

Question 12

What slumped, both in cities and countryside?

Answer 12

Production of food and armaments.

Question 13

What brought Russian trade to a standstill?

Answer 13

The loss of ports in Poland the Caspian to the Germans.

Question 14

What did the military do to stimulate production in the countryside?

Answer 14

Purchase surplus horses or grain from peasants but they paid low so many peasants hoarded.

Question 15

What were railways repurposed for?

Answer 15

Taking supplies and men to the Front - food wasn’t reaching the cities.

Question 16

What was the result of the recruitment drive?

Answer 16

Armament manufacture improved - rifle production doubled and artillery capacity quadrupled.

Question 17

What happened that fostered industrial unrest and subsequently crippled industry?

Answer 17

Lock-outs and strikes.

Question 18

What was the rise in cost of living and what were other issues in the country?

Answer 18

300% increase ,and rising death rates due to improper sanitation and starvation.

Question 19

How many strikers were there in Jan 1917 in Petrograd and Moscow?

Answer 19

30,000 in Moscow
145,000 in Petrograd.

Question 20

What was set up in July 1914 in the provinces?

Answer 20

Military zones - martial law imposed.

Question 21

Who opposed the military zones?

Answer 21

The zemstva - they believed the civilians played a key part in winning the war.

Question 22

What was resented and evaded that alienated the general population?

Answer 22

1914 Alcohol Prohibition

Question 23

What was the function of the Union of Zemstva?

Answer 23

To provide necessary medical care.

Question 24

What was formed in June 1915 and chaired by Lvov?

Answer 24

The Zemgor - formed from zemstva and duma to help war effort. Ended up being a forum for liberal discontent.

Question 25

What was the Progressive Bloc?

Answer 25

Aug 1915 - Kadets, Octobrists & Progressives formed together to demand the Tsar change his ministers and become a constitutional monarchy.

Question 26

What was Nicholas’ reaction to the Progressive Bloc?

Answer 26

To dissolve the Duma - but in reality he should have taken the constitutional monarchy to reduce dissent.

Question 27

What did Nicholas do in Sept 1915?

Answer 27

Nicholas became the ‘Commander in Chief’ - led Russian armies with ‘unshakeable confidence’.

Question 28

Why was Nicholas’ decision to become CIC a bad idea?

Answer 28

Seemed heroic at the time but he had already lost support from General Staff and had no experience. He also seemed more responsible for the failure now.

Question 29

What were the changes in ministers associated with?

Answer 29

Rasputin’s influence on Alex - Nicholas was seen as German-corrupted and this harmed his image.

Question 30

What was Nicholas’ general reaction to political demands?

Answer 30

Uncaring.

Question 31

How many Petrograd workers at the Putilov Iron Works strike in 1917?

Answer 31

150,000 on the anniversary of Bloody Sunday.

Question 32

What was the Soviet’s Order No1?

Answer 32

All units to elect a deputy to the Petrograd Soviet
Military Commission of Duma to be established.
All weaponry controlled by elected soldiers committees.
No honorific titles.

Question 33

On March 2nd, what did General Alekseev do?

Answer 33

Hijacked Nicholas’ train and took him to a military base. He forced him to agree to a Provisional Government and to resign - Nicholas named Grand Duke Mikhail as his replacement.

Question 34

What did GD Mikhail do following Nicholas’ abdication?

Answer 34

Relinquished all power to the Prov Gov - ending 304 years of Romanov rule.