The Eastern Front: Russia in 1914

• 1914: Russia was the worlds fourth largest economy, covered 15% of the worlds landmass, and from its huge population had, by far, the biggest army
• Been ruled for two decades by Tsar Nicolas II

  • Peasents wanted a constitutional monarchy (Tsar denied)
  • Army was last modernized in 1861 after being beaten by the French and the British
  • Idea of serfs abolished - everyone is now a peasant
• Tsar Nicolar was largely unprepared to take the throne, but he believed in divine right so he refused to abdicate.
• When WW1 started, the Tsar called all citizens to stand against the Central Powers, and the people did. Russia was expected to survive the war better off than other countries because of its population + trade
• in 1915, the Tsar personally took control of the army

  • resulted in strikes, high taxes, hunger/starvation, people wanted the Tsar to abdicate
• 1915-1917:

  • losing borders, brutal campaign resulting in disasterous defeats against the allied powers in 1914/15
  • Army almost destroyed Austro-Hungary in 1916, but troops are getting worn out; keep getting told that offensive X will end the war over and over again
• end of 1917:

  • Russian Revolution, army sided with revolting side
  • Russia promised Britain and France to do a big offensive in May, after the revolution, people wanted to do it, then they didn't, then they changed their minds again and did it - risking everything on it
  • Russia pushed back Austro-Hungary, and then gave up when the Germans counter attacked