The Great War

The Build-up to the February Revolution of 1917

Good morning Year 12!

As you read this I am probably in quite some pain waiting for my swollen foot to be x-rayed! (Millie will explain!)

Many apologies for not being there this morning as I know time is pressing… this is the first one I’ve missed all year so I’m sure you can forgive me

Anyway, what do you need to do?• Have a go at the task on slide 4 – organise the events and find a date for

each (there is a printed copy in my room somewhere)• Read through the slides on Russia’s involvement in the Great War and

make notes• Highlight any examples of war/individuals/opposition etc. causing

social/economic change in Russia.• Do a little background research on why on earth Russia are fighting in

WWI if you’re not sure.

CONTINUE ON NEXT SLIDE

• Make a list of questions of anything you are not sure about. If you have no questions for me I’ll assume you know everything and I will demand your answers to my questions when I’m back (hopefully Thursday)… make sense?

• Watch the Rasputin doc on YouTube and make some notes (he’s a good example of an individual causing change).

• Read the mini-chapter on WWI in your little red book and add to your notes!

• Update your timelines

Bingo! That should be enough to keep you busy

For those students who missed stuff last week (Tamara I’m looking at you) – follow the most recent link on the Twitter for all the recent PowerPoint's. Work your way through them and ask the others if you are unsure – it will be good revision for you all!

See you soon and email/tweet with any questions!

How many of these can you date?

What order do they go in?

• Nicholas II becomes Tsar• Russo-Japanese War• October Manifesto• Trans-Siberian Railway opened• Narodniks go to the Peasantry• Assassination of Alex II• Lena Goldfields Massacre• Bolsheviks and Mensheviks split• World War I begins• Bloody Sunday• Great Famine• Emancipation of the Serfs• Petyr Stolypin becomes Prime

Minister• Crimean War

So far… So Russia1. Russia – an introduction2. The Crimean War3. Alexander II – Reform4. Opponents of Alex II and Alex III5. Alexander III & Industrialisation6. Russo-Japanese war 19057. Revolution of 19058. Nicholas II, Stolypin and Russia on the eve of war9. World War 110. Revolutions of 191711. The Russian Civil War / Lenin12. Rise of Stalin13. Five Year Plans, Collectivisation and the Great Terror14. World War Two15. Last Years of Stalin

QuestionTo what extent did war provide a catalyst for change in Russia between 1853-1953?

What do you know about The Great War?

• How do you think the Russian people would respond to war?

• Russia entered WW1 due to a complex web of alliances

• Russia defending her fellow Slavs in the Balkans strengthened commitment of Russian people.

• The outbreak of war brought a genuine but fragile unity to Russia

• Russians were traditionally loyal to the state and many anticipated victory.

• Strikes and civil unrest ceased as did criticisms of the government

• People fell to their knees and sang ‘God Bless the Tsar.’

Was the optimism justified?

• Industrial and agricultural productivity had not increased in Russia as much as in other nations.

• GDP in Russia was below Germany and Austria-Hungary• Russia did hold the eastern front-line for three years against a

industrially superior war machine.• Defeats in Crimea and Russo-Japanese War cast doubts on military

capability• Revolution of 1905 and previous defeats encouraged neighbours to

pursue interests in the Balkans (Russia shown as weak)• Nicholas II and generals did not want war in 1914. they knew

Germany was stronger – army reforms not due until 1917-18• Tsarist regime did not want to be humiliated on the world stage

and chose political considerations over military caution.

How disastrous was Russia’s performance?

• Russia had huge manpower but were ineffectually led and supplied.

• Supplies improved by 1916 but the damage had been done.

• Some success was enjoyed against Austria and even the Germans (Brusilov offensive 1916)

• Victory was likely to go to the country whose home front held out the longest due to the nature of WW1 warfare.

• Initial optimism soon gave way to concern and despair

• Supplies did not get through to the cities due to poor communications and priority given to the military

Crisis of the Regime• Attempts to reform the taxation and administrative system

failed.• Borrowing and printing money led to rapid inflation• Economic, financial and military problems destroyed unity of

ruling group. (Tsar, ministers, Duma.)• Tsar – seen to rely heavily on wife and Rasputin – took charge

of army in 1915.• Historians tend to downplay the influence of Rasputin – but

was harmful to the Tsars reputation. P. 82-83• Duma – dominated by liberals calling for a govt. based more

on popular support.• Tsar refused to listen – lost support of upper classes, liberals

and intelligentsia who wanted increased war roles.• Nicholas II believed strongly in the Triple Entente and would

not make a separate peace with Germany.• Working classes became increasingly militant, organised

and opposed to the war (and how it was conducted)• Radical revolutionary movements beginning to have

involvement .• War weariness and declining morale reduce effectiveness of

army.• Nicholas II increasingly regarded as an obstacle to success.

Summary• War offered a chance for national unity. • ‘Civil society’ was being created out of

an emergency.• Initial Russian enthusiasm for the war

soon evaporated. • Army was ill-prepared for a long

struggle – inadequately trained, poorly supplied and led, successive defeats.

• Economic crisis during war - inflation, communications disrupted and conscription created labour shortages.

• Nick II reputation sullied by defeat, he took command of armed forces. Empress being German did not help, corruption and treachery in court?

• War industry committees could not solve problems.

• Strikes, growing discontent with war.

• Tsar and family under influence of Rasputin,

• Aristocracy given limited role by Tsar and were afraid of collapse.

• Russia was not ready in 1914 but by 1916 the state was controlling transport, industry, food and fuel distribution.

• Revolution in February 1917 changed everything….

Rasputin

P1http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o6B_aq5-2s

P2http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvTRh9C2GxY

P3http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxAUQnh8-4o