Russia Topic 2 - Opposition to Tsarist Rule Flashcards
(9 cards)
Economic Effect WW1
Coal mining areas in poland captured by germans - rich economic areas
German blocked russia’s trade with europe
All imports + exports had to come through vladivostok (eastern russian port) and this froze over winter
15 mil men sent to fight - less manpower in factories
in 1915 - 500 factories closed due to lack of workers
Social Impact WW1
Food shortage, 15 mil peasants recruited for army
railway system inefficient in transporting food
Shortages got worse, price of meat up by 300% and flour by 200%
Countryside conditions poor - shortage of healthy workers as elderly had to be recruited to help on the fields
Army used horses for transport so less for agriculture
lots of food sent to army instead of used in towns - more starvation
Military Impact of WW1
Battle of Tannenberg 1914 - defeat of russian second army and suicide of commanding general - samsonev
Battle of Masurian Lakes in sept 1914 and feb 1915 - defeats
By end of 1915 - russia lost 2 mil men and on retreat
In sep 1915 - Nicholas dismissed commanders of russian armies and assumed personal command - even though chairman of duma advised against
Nicholas made himself responsible for all defeats russian armies suffered in remaining years
Political Impact of WW1
Fourth duma suspended in 1914
Tsar faced lots of criticism by duma deputies
When duma met again 1916 - critical of Tsar handling of war
Handling of politics left to Tsarina and rasputin - dismissed able ministers and replaced them with friends of rasputin
So nobody organising food and supplies to cities shortages
Influence of Rasputin
Alleged healing powers over Tsarevich Alexei’s haemophilia led to increased influence
Rumours he was having an affair with Tsarina
Stolypin was compiling evidence against him before he was asssassinated 1911
During WW1, rumours of him and tsarina spread further, people said he was purposely making russia lose the war by sending germany food and guns
assassinated by aristocrats in 1917
Events In petrograd jan/feb 1917
Jan - 140k russian workers went on strike
Feb - government announced rationing of bread
on 23rd feb, (int womens day) 250000 people marched through petrograd to protest bread shortages
In army;
feb - nicholas ordered troops to fire on demonstrators and 50 killed
full scale mutiny developed - soldiers captured petrograd main weapons stores and took 40k rifles
Army mutiny
on 26 feb some trainee soldiers opened fire on protesters - 50 killed
protesters called this “second bloody sunday” and many mutinied
soldiers refused orders of officers - took control of main weapons stores - 40k rifles
150k soldiers mutinied
turned into revolution where soldiers attacked police stations
Abdication of Tsar
in feb- nicholas received reports of mutiny in petrograd - decided to travel to st petersburg against the advice of his staff
some troops began to show signs of mutiny - couldn’t send more soldiers to fight as was worried they would just mutiny as well
senior army officers urged Nicholas to abdicate, nicholas agreed, said he would hand over to his brother Grand duke Michael - negative reactions - could turn into civil war, so michael turned down the offer
Setting up the PG
formed on 2nd march to run russia temporarily
Minister of Justice - Alexander Kerensky
PG issued a manifesto
- freedom of speech
- freedom to strike/form labour unions
- abolition of social and religious restrictions
