Tsar +WW1

• Russian soldiers fought bravely but suffered major defeats at Tannenburg and the Masurian Lakes
• Army officers were members of the aristocracy who were mostly ineffective military leaders who treated the men poorly
• The Russian army faced shortages of rifles, ammunition, artillery, shells and uniforms
• The Tsar took personal command of the army


  He was not an able commander and now took the blame for the continuing military defeats
• By 1917 many soldiers were angry, on the point of mutiny


  Looking to the Bolsheviks to improve their situation
• Peasants who had extra grain


  Were able to make money supplying the government, but they were only paid a low amount
• Prices of everyday goods rose during the war but wages did not increase
• War contracts created an extra 3.5m jobs in industry but workers did not receive higher wages
• War pensions were not always paid to the widows of fallen soldiers
• Long queues for bread created resentment against the Tsar
• The army was largely made up of peasants and casualty figures were huge - 9.15m
• The railway network could not get sufficient supplies to the army, industry and civilians in cities
• From 1905, political parties were legalised and they could speak out against the Tsar
• Some Cadets and other deputies in the Duma created a Progressive Bloc which called for the Tsar to share power with them
• 1916 Council of the United Nobility called for the Tsar to step down
• 1917 Petrograd Soviet formed
• 13 million peasants were conscripted into the army, angering landowners who lost their workforce
• Regional and town councils began to organise the distribution of medical supplies and uniforms as the Tsar's government was not doing this
• Once he had taken personal control, the Tsar could be blamed


  For all casualties and losses in the war
• Nicholas II decided to take personal control of the army and left his German wife and Rasputin in charge in Petrograd
• Rumours spread about the influence that Rasputin had over the Tsarina
• Tsar ordered soldiers to put down revolts
• 1300 strikes by factory workers 1917
• February 1917 some soldiers joined the strikes
• International Women's Day + bread protest + Putilov Steel strike 8th March
• 12th March - soldiers begin refusing to put down revolts
• Loss of support for the Tsar


  • Aristocracy
  • Orthodox Church
  • The Army
  • Workers
• The February/March Revolution had the effects of the war on Russian soldiers, the effects of the war on Russian civilians, the decision to go to the front, the inability to suppress riots, and the loss of support from all classes
• Provisional Government


  A temporary government formed from those members of the Duma who had not fled after the abdication of the Tsar. They agreed to rule Russia until elections could be held to choose the new government to replace the Tsar.
• At the same time, The Petrograd Soviet was formed. This was a committee of workers and soldiers.
• The Petrograd Soviet issued Order No 1: claiming control over the army.
• The Provisional Government could only carry out is orders if the Petrograd Soviet agreed.
• Dual Power


  The situation where the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet both claimed authority
• The Provisional Government promised the allies (Britain and France) that they would continue to fight in the First World War.
• The Provisional Government asked peasants to wait until after the election before seizing land for themselves.
• Food shortages continued as poor harvests, reluctance to hand over grain and issues with the railway stopped supplies from reaching the people.
• The Petrograd Soviet grew more powerful as it earned the support of industrial workers and soldiers.
• Supported by the Germans, Lenin returned and made speeches calling for an end to co-operation with the Provisional Government. His ideas were written down in the April Theses and generated the slogan "Peace, Bread and Land."
• More soldiers deserted and returned to Russia to seize land. Many began to support Lenin and the Bolsheviks.
• Soldiers, sailors and workers turned to the Bolsheviks to lead them during the riots and demonstrations.