The Russian Revolution: Russia Bows out of WWI

Russia Defends it’s Little Cousin….

How did Russia end up in this mess?

• Russia entered the war in 1914 to protect Serbia from Austria-Hungary after the Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by Serbian terrorists

• Germany – sticking to their alliance with Austria-Hungary – declared war on Russia

How is Russia Ruled?

• Russia was ruled by Tsar Nicholas II. • He was an autocratic (in control of everything) emperor and

not very popular. He took command of the army in 1915. • He was an inept (incapable) military leader and this resulted

in disaster for the Russian army.

Q: If you had control of a massive country like Russia during war, how would you move your army from place to place?

Russia’s Military Woes

• The Russian military was massive but under-equipped.

• A lack of transportation made it difficult to move troops and supplies around quickly.

• There was a shortage of materials and resources. At one point there were 6,553,000 soldiers but only 4,652,000 rifles to arm them!

Q and Review:

• World War I was a “Total War.” • What does that mean for the people of

Russia?• Where are most of the raw materials (food,

clothing, metal, etc.) going? Why?

Civil Unrest at Home

• By 1917 the Russian people were tired and hungry.

• A shortage of bread in the cities led factory workers to strike (refuse to work).

• They demanded political change and began to call for the Tsar to step down from power.

Q:

• What is a strike? • What were the Russian workers striking for?• What effect do you think these strikes might

have on Russia’s war efforts on the Eastern Front?

Unrest on the Eastern Front

• The Russian army’s last major offensive against the Germans came in 1916.

• It was a disaster and resulted in the loss of nearly one million Russian soldiers.

• Russian soldiers, hearing of the unrest and starvation back home - and angry with their ineffective military leadership - began to refuse to fight and as many as 2 million soldiers deserted.

“I can’t do it anymore!”

• In 1917 the ruler of Russia Tsar Nicholas II abdicated (gave up) the throne and a power vacuum was left in Russia.

Q:

• What effect do you think this revolt will have on the war?

• What is a power vacuum? (hint: it doesn’t clean floors…)

• Who do you think might take power now?

Profile: Vladimir Lenin

• Lenin was a socialist • He believed that only a government

ruled by the working class (proletariat) could make life better for Russia’s people.

• Lenin called World War I an “Imperialist War” – a war that was fought by poor workers only to benefit the rich Imperialists and the ruling class

What did Lenin do for Russia?

• Many Russians liked Lenin’s message and were drawn to his slogan of “Land, Peace and Bread!”

• In October 1917 he and his Bolsheviks took power in Russia.

• Lenin asked for an armistice with the Central Powers (Germany, Austro-Hungary, Ottoman) which gave up Russian territory in exchange for peace.

• Russia is no longer fighting in World War I!

WWI Alliances in late 1917

• Allied Powers:• England/Great

Britain• France• Italy

• Central Powers:• Austria-Hungary• Germany• Ottoman (Turkey)

• Russia• United States