AS HISTORY (F962/02). ESSAY ASSIGNMENT 4.

Plan:
Intro

Identify Question
Put forward argument with limited judgement/signpost

Impact of WW1

View
Discontent caused by economic strains Inflation Collapse of transport system
lack of food/fuel desperate people
Tsar away at front responsibility Rasputin/Tsarina take over gov. debauched
monk/german woman lack of support for regime
Incompetent generals army unprepared millions killed/mutinies/desertion.
Deserters added to protests in 1917 in St Petersburg

Protests in 1917 and Political Opposition

View
Growth of protest in Petrograd
Mutinies
Soviets
Abdication

Role of the Tsar and his ministers

View
Goes to front/assumes control
Incompetent ministers
Tsar uncompromising in autocracy

Conclusion

Overview
Judgement

Max Shah

The impact of the First World War was the main

reason for the fall of Tsar Nicholas II in 1917.
How far do you agree?
In 1914 there was patriotic support for entering the First World War and Tsarism
seemed popular. However in 1917, following an outbreak of mass protest in St
Petersburg and a complete loss of support for the Tsar amongst his Generals and the
Duma, the 300 year old Romanov Dynasty came to an ignominious end with the
abdication of Tsar Nicholas II. The impact of the First World War was an important
reason for the collapse of Tsarist autocracy, because of both the economic and
emotional strains it put on the Russian people. Other causes include political
opposition, events of 1917 and the role of the Tsar himself. Ultimately though, the
revolution came about due to the stubbornness of Tsar Nicholas II to compromise his
autocratic power and resolve problems that predated even the 1905 revolution.
The impact of First World War was an important reason for the fall of Nicholas II in
1917 because it put strains on Russias already weak economy that it couldnt cope
with and the loss of life severely impacted the morale of the Russian people. This
added to the discontent of the Russian people towards the Tsarist regime. In order to
pay for the war effort, government spending rose from 4 million to 30 million roubles
between 1914 and 1917 and increased taxation at home and heavy borrowing from
abroad were only partially successful in raising the capital Russia needed.
Furthermore, the gold standard was abandoned, allowing the government to put more
notes into circulation to pay wages, however this caused severe inflation. Between
1914 and 1916, average earnings doubled while the price of food and fuel
quadrupled. The requisitioning of horses, men and fertilisers by the military made it
difficult for peasants to sustain agricultural output with 15.3 million men having
experienced military service by 1916. Additionally, inflation made trading unprofitable
so peasants stopped selling food and began hoarding their stocks. However, it was the
disruption of the transport system that was the main cause of Russias war-time
shortages. The railway system simply couldnt meet the demands of war as the
military took first priority over freight. The signalling system broke down resulting in
blocked lines and trains stranded by engine failure or lack of fuel was commonplace.
By 1916, 575 stations were no longer capable of handling freight. As a result by 1916,
Petrograd and Moscow were receiving less than a third of their food and fuel
requirements. In the bitterly cold winters of Russia, hundreds of thousands froze and
starved to death, creating misery and also anger towards the Tsar and his government
throughout Russia at the mismanagement of resources. Although this was felt most
strongly in the cities where the situation was worst.
Worsening the problem, was the situation at the front. Many top officers had been
appointed because they were loyal to the Tsar; they had no experience or military
expertise. There was no clear command structure and no clear war plan developed. In
addition, the breakdown of the transport system meant there was a huge lack of
supplies and equipment. Soldiers frequently had to pick up rifles from men shot in
Max Shah

front of them or simply head into battle without a gun. Due to this there was many
fled the army with 1.5 million deserting in 1916. Many of these men would escape to
Petrograd and actively contribute to the protests of 1917 as a result of their
experience at the front. In August 1915, the Tsar made matters even worse by
assuming direct command of the army. From then on, he became personally
responsible for the conduct of the war, from poor management of supplies to
humiliating defeats against superior armies. As a consequence, the Tsarina Alexandria
and Rasputin were effectively left in charge of Russia whilst the Tsar was away. This
created chronic instability in the government as competent ministers were dismissed
and flatterers of the Tsarina were appointed. Known as the debauched monk and the
German Woman, the regime became deeply unpopular. The formation of the
Zemgor, merely compounded this view of an incompetent government. Whilst the
regime did nothing to help the injured of the war, Zemstvas run by Liberals set up
hospitals and supplied soldiers with uniforms and equipment. This highlighted an
alternative form of government that was proving effective. At first glance, it seems as
though the war was a cause of numerous, severe problems for Russia of which the
blame would be put upon the Tsar. However it was not the war itself, but the complete
and utter mismanagement of it that caused the problems. From the Tsar assuming
command of the army, to the poor organisation of the transport system leading to
food and fuel shortage, these were to some extent avoidable problems.
By 1917, the pressures on the workers in Petrograd had become too great and their
patience with the Tsar was up. In February strikes were revolutionised and mutinies in
the army resulted in a forced abdication of the Tsar on March 2nd. After a hard winter
and with no light visible at the end of the tunnel, workers in Petrograd went on strike.
On February 14th 100,000 workers from 58 factories in Petrograd left work to demand
basic provisions. On International Womens Day men from the highly politicised Putilov
engineering works and other factories joined the march. By February 25 th 200,000
people, half the workforce of Petrograd were on strike. The Tsar dismissed calls to
appoint a new government which shared power with the Duma as he wouldnt
compromise his autocratic rule. Furthermore his position away from the city, at the
front meant he didnt fully appreciate the magnitude of the problem. When the Tsar
ordered the army to fire on protestors, the Petrograd garrison mutinied, joining the
protestors, many of whom were deserter soldiers, and arming them with 40,000 rifles.
Many other units then joined the protest, and after the Petrograd Soviet reforms, it
issues Order Number One with which it assumes control of the armed forces. The
revolution was now out of the Tsars control. This is shown by the Tsars last ditch
attempt to regain power by trying to return to Petrograd himself, however his train
was stopped and all but one of his Generals advised him to abdicate. Following this
workers, young people and soldiers take to the streets, burning statues of the Tsar and
burning Imperial emblems. The events and protests of 1917 certainly important
factors for the collapse of Tsarism because without the protests over food shortages,
there would never have been revolutionary protest. However this is a solely short term
factor, the problems it brought to the surface were caused by the Tsar and his
governments incompetence in maintaining the war effort at home and at the front.

Max Shah

World War One was undoubtedly a major cause of the fall of Nicholas II because it
exposed Russias weaknesses. The fragile economy was broken, as was the transport
system, and the governments inefficiency exposed. However these problems were not
caused by the First World War, they in fact stemmed from before the 1905 revolution,
because since then, little had changed, other than opposition groups had a louder
voice; in the Duma. As much as the Tsar wanted to make Russia stronger and more
powerful, he could not entertain the idea of compromising autocracy. As a result
competent advisors were ignored and dismissed such as Rodzianko, and the voice of
the people was ignored. An antiquated form of government such as this was doomed
in the modern era. It was simply a matter of time before it collapsed, and the First
World War was the catalyst that helped the Russian people realise this by bringing the
problems to the surface. It was therefore Nicholas IIs own delusion; of the possibility
of a continued Tsarist autocracy in modern Russia, that was the ultimate cause of his
downfall.

Max Shah