Impact of the First World War

After studying this section you will know:

• how the First World War was not the short war Russia expected
• the ways in which the strain of war showed up the weaknesses in the Russian state
• that Nicholas II’s efforts to improve Russia’s effectiveness in battle were nearly successful
• why collapse occurred at home

The War's Effects

In August 1914 the Russian army mobilised much more quickly than the Germans had expected. Reinforcements had to be switched from the Western Front (the Schlieffen Plan) to the East, weakening the German thrust into France. However, at the battles of Tannenburg and the Masurian Lakes, the Russian army was beaten and forced to give up Poland.

In 1915 the Russian army suffered a severe shell and rifle shortage, partly as a result of the West’s failure to supply as promised. Russia made immense efforts to put this right. This probably contributed towards the revolution.

By 1916 the Russian army was recovering. Under Brusilov, it fought the only successful offensive of the year. But it was weakened further when Romania surrendered later that year.

In early 1917, Russian generals were confident that the shortages were over and expected a successful year. However, the March Revolution destroyed troop morale and the planned offensive against Austro-Hungary was a fiasco.

Russia had been expecting a short war and was not ready for the severe strain of

a ‘war of attrition’.

• The government was forced to spend more money than it took in taxes. This created inflation (money was worth less). Workers had fixed wages and peasants received fixed prices for their produce, so they quickly became poorer.
• Nicholas II went to the army HQ at Mogilev in 1915 and took over command from his uncle, Grand Duke Nicholas.
• In Petrograd (St Petersburg) the Tsarina, Alexandra, was left in charge of government. She was unpopular because of her relationship with Rasputin. a holy man thought to have miraculous powers of healing Prince Alexei. She was also a German and suspected of being a spy.
• The Tsarina was determined not to compromise on home policy. In addition, chaos and economic dislocation increased as transport broke down through the huge strain of supplying the Front.
• Workers began to strike in protest at the long hours of work needed to supply the army. Food was short because the peasants would not sell it at low government prices. The real cost of living shot up, as food was only available on the black market.