Russia Flashcards
(26 cards)
1
Q
Russo-Jap War
A
- 1904 to 1905
- Russia effectively provoked Japanese into war over Manchuria, thinking they were ill equipped.
- Was humiliating defeat however.
- Battle of Tsushima saw most of Russia’s fleet sunk, including all 8 battle ships.
- In pair with 1905 revolution, Russia called for peace at Treaty of Portsmouth, discontent rocketed.
2
Q
Bloody Sunday
A
- January 1905
- Peaceful protest led by Father Gapon to Winter Palace. Police and Soldiers panicked, firing upon the marchers.
- 150,000 workers marched. 200 killed and 800 injured.
“There is no god any longer. There is no Tsar.” - Father Gapon
3
Q
Potemkin Mutiny
A
- Legendary battleship called Prince Potemkin battleship stationed in Odessa in Black sea.
- Mutinied on 14 June
- Murdered offices and deserted squadrons, and sailed out of Russian waters.
4
Q
June Offensive
A
- June 1917
- Was an attempt to drive Austrians and Germans from Russian Territory and consolidate power.
- However it was a humiliating defeat, destroying Kerensky’s credibility.
- Most Russian troops had appropriate weapons and were poorly trained.
5
Q
June Offensive Details
A
- Soldiers were already deserting before hand.
- “For the sake of the nations life it was necessary to restore the army’s will to die” - Kerensky.
- More than 17,000 deserted.
- Cost Russia several hundred thousand men and several million square miles of territory.
6
Q
July Days
A
- July 1917
- After offensive, Trotsky criticised Kerensky’s actions and demanded power to the soviets.
- Despite large protest, Kerensky subdued it quickly.
- The Bolshies weakened with 800 arrests, Lenin flees to Finland.
7
Q
July Days Details
A
- The extent of the Bolsheviks role involvement is questioned.
- Supported by 20,000 Kronstadt sailors, 20,000 workers and 1st Machine Gun Regiment.
- “The only way to save the country now is to close down the soviet and shoot the people. I cannot do that. But Kerensky can.” - Prince Georgi Love.
8
Q
Kornilov Affair
A
- August 1917
- After miscommunication between Kerensky and General Kornilov, an attempted counter-revolution was launched against the Provisional Government, weakening their position.
- Kerensky was forced to realse the Bolsheviks as to secure victory, leading to the strengthening of the Bolsheviks position.
9
Q
Kornilov Affair Details
A
“It’s time to hang the German supporters and spies, with Lenin at their head, and to disperse the soviet.” - General Lavr Kornilov
10
Q
The Cheka
A
- December 1917
- Bolshevik secret police who investigated and exposed ‘counter revolutionary and criminal activities’ w/ authority to arrest, jail and execute.
- Led by ‘Iron’ Felix Dzerzhinsky.
- Used brutal methods to keep Bolshevik control of power.
11
Q
The Cheka Details
A
- Some put prisoners into coffins with corpses, other brutal methods of torture.
- Lists of those killed were published in newspapers.
- Number of Chekists went insane
- “One needs only to go into the kitchen and look into his soup pot. If there is meat in it, then he is an enemy of the people.” - Iron Felix
12
Q
New Decrees
A
- On Oct 27, decrees was passed giving peasant right to seize land.
- On Nov 14, industrial labourers given right to apply to form self managed committees in factories.
- Right for ethnic minorities to become independent.
- In total 116 NEW DECREES.
13
Q
Dissolution of the Constituent Assembly
A
- January 1918, opening.
- Bolsheviks only won 24% of vote, SRs won 370 out of 707 seats and were majority.
- Bolsheviks won the proletarian vote, considered more significant than peasant vote.
- As the assembly ran, Red Guards intimidated speakers.
- After the close of the meeting, Tauride Palace gates locked when they returned.
14
Q
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
A
- March 1918
- Signed by Sovnarkom pulling Russia out of war.
- 34% of European population taken.
- 32% farmland including Ukraine “breadbasket”
- 3 billion roubles in war reparations
- Lost 89% of iron, coal reserves including 54% of industrial enterprises.
- “Intolerably severe are the terms of peace. Despite all the trials, the future is still ours” - Lenin
- “To secure a truce at present means to conquer the whole world” - Lenin.
15
Q
The White Army
A
- January 1918
- The forces opposing the Bolsheviks were known as Whites.
- Kolchak was recognised as the nominal head of the White
- Three main forces included: Armed Forces of South Russia, Kolchack’s Siberian Forces and The North Western Army.
- Were weak in unity however and were only joined through hatred.
- Could not hold captured territory as couldn’t provide a good alternative of government.
16
Q
War Communism
A
- June 1918, decree on Nationalism released due to civil war and unstable economy.
- State took full ownership of metallurgical, textile, electrical and mining industry.
- All private trade illegal including peasant markets. This created a booming black market.
- Services became free.
- Class based rationing introduced. Upper’s no food.
17
Q
War Communism: Millitarisaion
A
- Workers sent to factories where most needed, threatened with jail or no food.
- Longer work hours introduced.
- Strikers executed
- “Community Sunday’s were ‘volunteer’ work.
- Upperclass citizens forced into work gangs, shovelling rubbish.
18
Q
Creation of St Petersburg Soviet
A
October 1905 by Trotsky
19
Q
World War 1
A
- 1914
- Russia joined in support of allies.
- Wave of patriotism, decreased discontent.
- Russian forces severely under equipped.
- Humiliated at Tannenburg (30 000 killed) and Masurian Lakes.
- September 1915, Tsar took control of forces, over Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich.
20
Q
Tsarina Alexandra and Rasputin.
A
- Tsarina placed in control of state on Tsar’s leave.
- Was a period of ‘ministerial leapfrogging’ as Tsarina poorly changed members of govt.
- From 1915 to 1917, four prime ministers and 4 ministers of agriculture, etc.
- Tsarina had German background, called ‘nemka’
- Rasputin debauched monk and trusted spiritual advisor to Tsarina.
- Assoc. b/w two gave rise to political pornography and revolutionary propaganda.
21
Q
The Dumas
A
- April 1906
- Russia ruled by combination of Tsar and the dumas.
- Four in total, with the first closed within 73 days.
- Became more and more conservative.
- Essentially became training ground for the Provisional Government.
- Tsar hated them, considered it consultative.
22
Q
Tsar on the Dumas.
A
“Curse the Duma. It’s all Witte’s fault”
23
Q
New Economic Policy
A
- March 1921
- Essentially, re-establishment of private trade and a relax of centralised state control over economy.
- Made to reduce worker grievances and incent peasants to make more wheat.
- Peasants rebellions and Kronstadt revolt showed War Comm making more probs than solve.
- Led to considerable friction within party.
24
Q
HISTORIAN’S on NEP
A
‘If War communism was a leap into socialism then the NEP was a leap out of socialism.” - Martin McCauley.
25
NEP Details
- Grain requisitioning was abandoned and tax put in place.
- Markets and private trade legalised.
- Rationing and distribution of food by govt. phased out.
- Cash wages reintroduced.
- Militarised workplace aspects abolished.
26
Soviet - Polish War
- April 1920
- After gaining independence, Poland invaded Ukraine.
- Under threat by foreign power, former generals including Brusilov offered service to Red Army.
- Russia launched counter attack, however were pushed back.
- Polish forced Communists in peace, Treaty of Riga March 1921
