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Period: to
Bolshevik October Revolution
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WW1
Russian Empire announces general mobilisation in support of Serbia; motivations: maintain international status, influence in Balkans, neutralise threat of Austria-Hungary and Germany. Germany declares war against Russia (August 1, 1914) after expiration of ultimatum (demands to demobilise), followed by Austria-Hungary (August 6, 1914). -
Russia + WW1 - Homefront Crisis
Homefront Crisis → fuel, food shortages (no men available to gather harvest, Russia having pre-industrial methods of agricultural production); Tsarina Alexandra → German background, political incompetence leading to oblivion of Russia’s dire situation (1917), detrimental influence of Rasputin (destructive advice), dismissal of ministers, leading to destabilisation of government. -
Russia + WW1
Defeats → Battles of Tannenberg, Masurian Lakes (1914), soldiers being infected with health conditions typhus, other diseases, heavy loss of life. This resulted in the disintegration of the Russian Imperial Forces, disillusion.
Total War → resources were relocated to aid the war/military effort → large amounts of food, raw materials alike metals used to produce weapons, means of communication like railways required to transport armies, conscription of young men. -
Russia + WW1 - Economic Crisis
Economic crisis → Vodka prohibition (28% of state budget, largest single source of government revenue) Inflation → money was printed to aid war effort, the value of ruble declining, creating instability and exorbitant prices, shortages due to breakdown in communications causing inflation of price - prices of flour (99% increase), meat (232%), butter (124%), salt (483%) → increased taxation + high inflation + food, fuel shortages -
Abdication of Tsar Nicholas II
Tsar Nicholas II abdicates throne of Russian Empire, Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich (brother) continuing Romanov Dynasty. Authority is left to two political parties --> The Provisional Government, Petrograd Soviets Russia = Republic -
First All Russian Congress of Soviets
Congress was convened by National Conference of the Soviets (Soviet: governing council), dominated by pro-government parties alike the Socialist Revolutionaries. Drafted laws, elected Council of People's Commissars (government). -
Rasputin's Assassination
Alexei (heir) → haemophiliac (cannot clot blood), condition is hidden from public in fear of monarchy’s longevity.
Rasputin ‘miracle worker’ → manages to stop Alexei’s bleeding, becoming indispensable to the Tsarina, ‘Holy Man’, ‘Our Friend’. Hence, Rasputin held major influence over Romanov family. Assassination; gunshot wounds, drowning. -
Putilov Strike
20,000 Putilov steel workers are on strike.
8/03; 90,000 workers on strike.
9/03; 200,000 workers on strike, holding meetings.
10/03; 250,000 on strike; Cossacks refuse orders = lack of food, transport, media.
11/03; Capital = anarchy (due to strike). -
Provisional Committee
Duma creates Provisional Committee of the State Duma (chairman of Duma Rodzianko); Revolutionaries creates Soviet (government council).
Abolished Okhrana, political prisoners released, press censorship abolished, trade unions legalised.
Provisional Government was unable to make decisive policy decision due to political factionalism (created on weak basis, popular foundations), and breakdown of state structure, open to strong challenges from right and left of political spectrum. -
April Theses
Series of 10 directives issued by Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin upon his return to Petrograd from exile in Switzerland via Germany and Finland. Soviets (worker's council) to seize state power, denounce liberals and socialist revolutionaries in PG, no other cooperation with other parties (government), communist policies. Slogan of PS: 'All power to the Soviets', 'Peace, Land and Bread' -
Kornilov Affair/Putsch/Revolt
Attempted military coup d'stat by commander-in-chief of the Russian Military, General Lavr Kornilov from 10-13 September 1917 against Provisional Government lead by Michael Kerensky and Petrograd Soviet of Solders' and Workers' Deputies. -
Bolshevik Revolution (October Revolution)
Bolsheviks seized power in Petrograd - the conflict leading to Bolshevik victory in the Russian Civil War, and establishment of Soviet Union in 1922. The Bolsheviks did not support this new, nobility-led government - where Lenin and his communist policies appealed to the proletariat. It is referred to as the October Revolution as Russia used the Julian Calendar, and in the Gregorian Calendar, the date is November 6-7, 1917. -
Red Guard's Invasion of Winter Palace
Cossacks deserted upon approach of Red Guard (transitional military force of the collapsing Russian Military, base formations of Bolsheviks during October Revolution and first months of Russian Civil War), Cadets and women's battalion surrender.