Impact of WWI
Military Defeats
Germany declared war on Russia on 19 July 1914. As the vast Russian army was assembled, a surge of patriotism swept the country. Strikes ceased and the Duma voted for war credits. An All-Russian Zemstvo Union for the Relief of Sick and Wounded Soldiers was created at the end of July with Prince Lvov (a wealthy aristocratic landowner who was also a Kadet) as president and in August St Petersburg was renamed as 'Petrograd' to sound less German. The country was divided into military zones, civilian authority was suspended and the sale of alcohol was forbidden.
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Despite some initial successes on the Austrian front in August 1914, the invasion of East Prussia met strong German resistance and defeats were inflicted at:
- The Battle of Tannenburg (August 1914) which left 300 000 Russian soldiers dead or wounded.
- The Battle of Masurian Lakes (September 1914)
The Political Impact of the War 1915 - 1916
- The Zemstva resented their loss of authority when they were doing more for medical relief than the government.
- Local and national industries assumed responsibility for supplies in the absence of Tsarist action. This encouraged political ambitions.
- The Zemstva and Duma accused the government of incompetence, for example pointing to the futility of the alcohol ban as peasants brewed their own.
- In August 1915, Kadets, Octobrists, Progressives and even conservative Nationalists in the Duma formed the 'Progressive bloc', demanding a change of ministers and constitutional reform. Disgruntle workers began more strikes in Petrograd.
- On 23 August 1915, the Tsar took over as commander-in-chief of the armed forces. He suspended the Duma and moved to the military headquarters at Mogilev. The war effort rallied slightly in 1916, as soldiers were better trained and supplies improved (rifle production doubled and heavy artillery production quadrupled). However, military success proved illusive.
- Nicholas was held responsible for the failure of the Brusilov Offensive (June - August 1916). A lack of trained officers and Russia's underdeveloped railway network contributed to the defeat which sapped morale and provoked desertions.
- Alexandra (a German and intensely unpopular) and Rasputin assumed much influence over government and political appointments in Nicholas' absence. Rumours spread that they were sabotaging the Russian war effort and confidence in the regime fell. Rodzianko (president of the fourth Duma, which reconvened in 1916) warned Nicholas but he did not respond. Rasputin was assassinated by Prunce Yus.
The Economic & Social Impact of the War
The war drained Russia. Costs rose from 1500 million roubles in 1914 to 14 500 million by 1918, while production slumped as workers and peasants were conscripted to fight. Industrial capacity as lost as Poland and Western Russia were overrun by the Germans ad naval blockades ended Russia's Baltic and Black Sea Trade. There were vital distribution inefficiencies, partly due to the inadequate railway system which was disrupted by fuel shortages, but also because railways were prioritised for soldiers and military supplies, leaving food destined for civilians to rot in railway sidings.
Peasants made the situation worse by hoarding grain because there was nothing to buy, whilst workers suffered unemployment as non-military factories were forced to close due to lack of raw materials. Petrograd in particular, where there was a 300 % rise in the cost of living, saw an escalation of strikes.
Peasants made the situation worse by hoarding grain because there was nothing to buy, whilst workers suffered unemployment as non-military factories were forced to close due to lack of raw materials. Petrograd in particular, where there was a 300 % rise in the cost of living, saw an escalation of strikes.