War and Feb Revolution

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Created by
Chloe Howdle

Cards (10)

  • Tsar's Decision to go to War
    August 1914 (Political Problems)

    Wave of patriotism
    Strike activity stopped
    Duma voted war credits then dissolved itself to avoid "unnecessary politics"
    St Petersburg renamed Petrograd
    Huge army assembled
    End of 1914 - discontent due to heavy defeats, Tannenburg (August) & Masurian Lakes (Sept)
  • Wartime Gov & Organisation (Political Problems)
    End 14 - disputes over wartime org = changes:
    Jul 14: Gov est "military zones" where civilian authority suspended
    Aug: Zemstva est a "Union of Zemstva" providing medical facilities
    May 15: Factory owners & businessmen est "Congress of Representatives of Industry & Business" to help co-ordinate production
    June: Zemstva Union joined with cities to form "All Russian Union of Zemstva & Cities" (Zemgor)
    Aug: Some Fourth Duma Deputies organised into "Progressive Bloc" & demanded Tsar establish "gov of public confidence". NII refused.
  • "All Russian Union of Zemstva & Cities" (Zemgor)
    Jun 1915 (Political Problems)
    Chaired by Prince Lvov
    Wanted to help in war effort
    Not allowed direct influence
    Became focus of Liberal discontent
  • Tsar NII Appointed Himself Commander-in-Chief of Russian Army/Navy Sep 1915 (Political Problems)

    Poor decision
    NII lacked military experience & lost confidence/support of General Staff
    Further distanced from Petrograd developments & could be blamed for military failures
  • Petrograd 1915-1916 (Political Problems)
    Rasputin had more power
    Tsarina accused of sabotaging war effort
    Liberals/Socialists demanded gov change
    Dec 1916: Rasputin murdered
    NII horrified, but still ignored opposition
  • Military Issues 1914-1917 (Economic & Social Problems)

    Gov mobilised approx 15 million men, but soldiers lacked weapons, warm clothing & suitable footwear
    Mid 1916 munitions situation had improved, but most experienced officers had been killed
    End 1916, morale plummeted - 1-5 million deserted in 1916
  • Political Collapse
    Feb/March 1917

    Early Feb - Strikes took place in 58 factories in Petrograd
    23rd Feb Striking workers, students & women joined International Women's Day march in Petrograd
    24-28 Feb:
    Strikes & demos, nearly brought Petrograd to standstill. Duma President demanded NII act, NII ignored
    Approx 40 demonstrators killed & soldiers mutinied
    Duma set up provisional committee supported by army's High Command
    Revolutionaries formed Petrograd Soviet
    NII left Petrograd
    NII abdicated in favour of brother, Grand-Duke Mikhail
  • Provisional Government Promises

    Amnesty for political prisoners
    Basic civil liberties
    The abolition of legal discrimination based on class, religion & nationality
    Right to organise trade unions & to strike
    Elections to a Constituent Assembly
    Allowed freedom of religion & the press
    Abolished death penalty at frontline
    Replaced the Tsarist Police force with a "people's militia"
    Dismissed Provincial Governors, giving their work to the Zemstva
  • Provisional Government in Action 1917
    Strikes & desertions continued, peasant disturbances increased
    April 1917 - anti-war demonstrations due to war continuing. 2 ministers resigned & replaced by socialists from Petrograd Soviet
    July 1917 - Lvov replaced as chairman by Kerensky
  • Kornilov Revolt 1917 

    General Kornilov, Commander in Chief of the army mounted a right wing coup
    Kerensky initially supported Kornilov & then panicked, releasing the Bolsheviks & allowing them arms to halt Kornilov
    Coup collapsed