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The Russian Revolution: Russia Bows out of WWI
Russia Defends it’s Little Cousin….
How did Russia end up in this mess?
• Russia entered the war in 1914 to protect Serbia from Austria-Hungary after the Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by Serbian terrorists
• Germany – sticking to their alliance with Austria-Hungary – declared war on Russia
How is Russia Ruled?
• Russia was ruled by Tsar Nicholas II. • He was an autocratic (in control of everything) emperor and
not very popular. He took command of the army in 1915. • He was an inept (incapable) military leader and this resulted
in disaster for the Russian army.
Q: If you had control of a massive country like Russia during war, how would you move your army from place to place?
Russia’s Military Woes
• The Russian military was massive but under-equipped.
• A lack of transportation made it difficult to move troops and supplies around quickly.
• There was a shortage of materials and resources. At one point there were 6,553,000 soldiers but only 4,652,000 rifles to arm them!
Q and Review:
• World War I was a “Total War.” • What does that mean for the people of
Russia?• Where are most of the raw materials (food,
clothing, metal, etc.) going? Why?
Civil Unrest at Home
• By 1917 the Russian people were tired and hungry.
• A shortage of bread in the cities led factory workers to strike (refuse to work).
• They demanded political change and began to call for the Tsar to step down from power.
Q:
• What is a strike? • What were the Russian workers striking for?• What effect do you think these strikes might
have on Russia’s war efforts on the Eastern Front?
Unrest on the Eastern Front
• The Russian army’s last major offensive against the Germans came in 1916.
• It was a disaster and resulted in the loss of nearly one million Russian soldiers.
• Russian soldiers, hearing of the unrest and starvation back home - and angry with their ineffective military leadership - began to refuse to fight and as many as 2 million soldiers deserted.
“I can’t do it anymore!”
• In 1917 the ruler of Russia Tsar Nicholas II abdicated (gave up) the throne and a power vacuum was left in Russia.
Q:
• What effect do you think this revolt will have on the war?
• What is a power vacuum? (hint: it doesn’t clean floors…)
• Who do you think might take power now?
Profile: Vladimir Lenin
• Lenin was a socialist • He believed that only a government
ruled by the working class (proletariat) could make life better for Russia’s people.
• Lenin called World War I an “Imperialist War” – a war that was fought by poor workers only to benefit the rich Imperialists and the ruling class
What did Lenin do for Russia?
• Many Russians liked Lenin’s message and were drawn to his slogan of “Land, Peace and Bread!”
• In October 1917 he and his Bolsheviks took power in Russia.
• Lenin asked for an armistice with the Central Powers (Germany, Austro-Hungary, Ottoman) which gave up Russian territory in exchange for peace.
• Russia is no longer fighting in World War I!
WWI Alliances in late 1917
• Allied Powers:• England/Great
Britain• France• Italy
• Central Powers:• Austria-Hungary• Germany• Ottoman (Turkey)
• Russia• United States