WWI

Question 1

Why was Russia involved?

Answer 1

• Rivalry between great powers in Europe = two cold war style defensive alliances (Entente + Alliance)
• Russia becomes allied with Britain
• Growth of Germany power was a threat to Russia

Question 2

How big was Russia’s army?

Answer 2

1.4m which grew to 4m

Question 3

When was the peak of mobilisation?

Answer 3

Jan 1917 = 7m

Question 4

How did mobilisation mask serious problems?

Answer 4

Officer class depleted because of the stem of exemption, elderly + incompetent (like the terror) = promotion depended on nepotism

Question 5

What was Russia’s birth rate and death rate in 1911?

Answer 5

Birth rate = 43 per 1000
Death rate = 27 per 1000
- sign of a backwards nation

Question 6

How did the national incomes of Britain compare with Russia?

Answer 6

5x more

Question 7

How did coal production in Britain compare to Russia?

Answer 7

292m tons compared to 36m

Question 8

By WWI what made up Russia’s economy?

Answer 8

58% agriculture + 28% industry

Question 9

How were Russia’s methods old fashioned?

Answer 9

• Little railways to move troops

- Did not code messages

Question 10

By 1917 what was Russia’s position in the war?

Answer 10

Retreated 500km and pushed out of Poland back into Russian soil

Question 11

When did Nicolas take personal command of the army and why was this a mistake?

Answer 11

August 1915:

• personally responsible
• could not oversee gov
• Rasputin influence Tsarina = appoints corrupt and incompetent ministers

Question 12

Why did the situation worsen in the winter of 1936?

Answer 12

• Temperature fell to -35
• Professional troops replaced by peasants
• Disobedience and mutiny were becoming rife

Question 13

When did NII travel back to Petrograd and what happened?

Answer 13

1st March 1917:

Train was stopped as he was told to abdicate

Question 14

What were the military impacts of the war?

Answer 14

• huge losses = estimated 10m dead, injured or captured

Question 15

What were the economic impacts of the war?

Answer 15

• reduced foreign trade due to G/A blockade of the Dardanelles
• gov. revenue down 30%
• 4x prices
• food shortages due to depopulation of the countryside + low price paid by gov

Question 16

What were the political impacts of the war?

Answer 16

• united opposition to the Tsar

- Duma = perfect forum for these groups, made focus on the revolution

Question 17

How do some historians believe the war delayed the end of Tsarist?

Answer 17

Claimed it stirred up patriotic feeling which strengthen support for the Tsar