Russia in WW1

• Inflation

  • In 1914 - thanks to Stolypin, Russia's economy was fairly stable,
  • Taxes went up to pay this war:
  • Inflation occurred
• Food Supplies

  • Food, horses, trains, and fertilisers, were all taken over for the Army:
  • Leads to a shortage of goods,
  • Any food in Russia could not be transported across the country:
  • Leads to serious hunger;
  • Hunger was worse in cities
• Transportation

  • Signalling system on trains broke down in 1916 - trains stuck
  • Lack of transport at home, meant food lying undelivered in train stations
  • e.g. Archangel station in 1916 - undelivered food so massive, sank into the ground
  • Lack of transport meant soldiers not getting supplies
• Army

  • Not well equipped
  • Defeated by the Germans in 1914:
  • Tannenburg,
  • Mansurian Lakes
  • 1 million soldiers killed in 1914
  • 8 million soldiers killed by 1917
  • Soldiers did not have:
  • Food,
  • Weapons,
  • No boots
  • Soldiers began deserting
• Tsar

  • 1915 - Tsar decides to take over as Commander of the Army
  • Leaves Tsarina in charge

  Tsarina

  • Hated as she is German
  • Relied too much on Rasputin