Harsha Kuchampudi St.

Petersburg High School Analysis on the Russian Revolutions of 1917 March 18, 2012
Topic C Analysis: Evaluate the Influence of Foreign Nations on the Russian Revolutions of 1917 Introduction to the Terminology Found in the Topic Question: Before we begin to analyze this topic, it is imperative that we define (or at least understand) several key terms in the question. Firstly, evaluate means to make an appraisal by weighing up the strengths and limitations (IB command terms). Influence means any factor that has the capacity to have an effect on the development of an event or idea. With these two definitions in mind, lets frame what we are going to be writing about. To answer this topic question completely, we must discuss how foreign nations affected the events leading-up to or in the Russian Revolutions of 1917; and then analyze the significance of these events with regards to what ideals they were strengths or weaknesses to. Pretty self-explanatory, right? Introduction to the Topic: So, why would foreign nations be involved to any extent in either of the Russian Revolutions? To approach this question lets consider anything that would cause Russia to have contact with foreign nations. WWI should be the first thing that pops into your mind. Furthermore, the Marxist ideology was a key facet of the Russian Revolutions; Lenin would overthrow Kerensky with the Bolshevik Party. After the February Revolution German officials arranged for Lenin to pass through German territory, hoping that his activities would weaken Russia or lead to Russia's withdrawal from the war.

Area of Analysis 1: The Influence of WWI on the Russian Revolutions of 1917 As a summary, Russia fought WWI on the Eastern Front and on August 17, 1914 the Russians moved through East Prussia and forced Germans to divert troops away from the Western Front. Though the Russians faced initial success in the war effort such as occupying the province of Galicia and helping to cause the failure of the Schlieffen Plan (Pearson 45), ultimately they were defeated by German troops at Tannenberg and the Masurian Lakes. This exposed the consistent failure of the Russian troops to be able to defeat Germany, while they could easily defeat Austria-Hungary. 1915 was not a better year for the Russians either; they were once again defeated by the Germans who captured Warsaw (Poland). By this time (as we know from Allan Todd), Russia faced a plethora of debilitating economic and social problems (you should cite a few: Allen 14-15). This further demoralized the Russian troops and forced them to question the integrity of their government. o So how can we correlate this back to the topic? Well, we know that victories of foreign nations such as Germany and Austria-Hungary against Russia and the inherent weaknesses of the Tsarist state and the role of revolutionary parties and leaders had the capacity to have an effect on inciting the Russian Revolutions of 1917. Essentially, what these foreign nations forced Russian citizens to do was reconsider the role of their government, and if their government was truly doing what was in the best interest of its citizens. o So, what did the Russians do? Since Nicholas II was away from his throne, this gave rise to people like Gregori Rasputin who helped alienate the political elites who previously supported the Tsarist system. Till his death, Rasputin continued to draw the support of influential people away from the Tsarist system. By 1917, many people were too angry or too weary to attempt to save Nicholas II. o Therefore, we can conclude the Russias involvement with foreign nations (such as Germany and Austria-Hungary) strongly influenced the Russian Revolutions for the reasons cited above.

Secondly, not only is there a direct causal link between Russias involvement with Russia during WWI and incentive to start the March Revolution, but Germany (a.k.a. a foreign nation) also played a direct role in the outbreak of the November Revolution. Lenin along with a group of exiles were given permission by the German Foreign Minister to travel through Germany back to Russia. German officials arranged for Lenin to pass through their territory, hoping that his activities would weaken Russia or even (especially if the Bolsheviks came to power) lead Russia's to withdraw from the war. Lenin and his associates, however, had to agree to travel to Russia in a sealed train because Germany would not take the chance that he would cause revolution in Germany. o What does this mean? Lenin, who was the key instigator of the November revolution after he delivered his April Thesis, was allowed to go back to Russia by the Germans who fully anticipated that Lenin would cause a revolution by spreading his Marxist ideals! Based off of this understanding, we can determine that Germany had a strong influence on the Russian Revolutions of 1917.

Area of Analysis 1 Summary: WWI largely influenced the Russian Revolutions of 1917. Russian conflicts with Germany crippled Germany both socially and economically. This led Russians to reconsider the role of their government, and in-turn the Russians forced Nicholas II to abdicate the throne. Furthermore, by the end of the March Revolution, Germans will send Lenin back to Russia under terms of diplomacy (but actually for self-interest). Therefore, because Germany caused economic and social problems in Russia and because they knowingly sent the instigator of the Marxist Revolution back to Russia, Germany (a foreign nation) had a strong influence on both Russian Revolutions of 1917.

Area of Analysis 2: Russias Involvement in the Russo-Japanese War The Russo-Japanese War (as the name suggests) was fought by Japan and Russia from 1904-1905. As a summary, during this war imperialistic conflict that grew out of the rival designs of Russia and Japan on Manchuria and Korea. Russian failure to withdraw from Manchuria and Russian penetration into North Korea were countered by Japanese attempts to negotiate a division of the area into spheres of influence. The Russian government was willing to risk an armed conflict in the belief that Japan was bound to be defeated and that a Russian victory would head off the growing threat of internal revolution in Russia. Japan broke off negotiations and severed diplomatic relations with Russia. Two days later, without a declaration of war, Japan attacked Port Arthur and bottled up the Russian fleet. A series of quick Japanese victories culminated in the fall of Port Arthur, the victory of troops under General Oyama at Shenyang, and the destruction of the Russian fleet under Rozhdestvenski at Tsushima by Admiral Togo's fleet. o Essentially, the Russo-Japanese War had disastrous outcomes for Russia. The Russo-Japanese War portrayed Russia as a nation living on past glories and blind to the chronic problems that were developing in agriculture and industry. During this time period, Russia (just as it was preceding the Russian Revolution of 1917) faced difficulties in agriculture and industry. Ultimately, the goal of Tsar Nicholas II during this time period was to divert the attention of Russians away from the difficult domestic issues that took place during that time. The war against Japan was meant to rally the people to support the tsar. Ultimately, it created a divide between Nicholas and his people because of the embarrassing outcome of the Russo-Japanese War. As Leon Trotsky cites in The History of the Russian Revolution, The events of 1905 were a prologue to the two revolutions of 1917, that of February and that of October. In the prologue all the elements of the drama were included, but not carried through. The Russo-Japanese war had made tzarism totter; this destabilization of tzarism led to the Russian Revolution of 1905.

Just as Trotsky said, the events of 1905 were a prologue to the Russian Revolutions of 1917 meaning that the results of the Russo-Japanese War led to destabilization of tzarism. Remember that the March Revolution focused around the failures of Nicholas II and the results of his decision to get involved in WWI. This caused him to lose the support of more of his people officers. Therefore, we can argue that Russias involvement in the Russo-Japanese War had a strong influence in causing the Russian Revolutions of 1917.

Area of Analysis 3 Possible Arguments: The influence of Karl Marx on the Russian Revolution The role of other nations views of capitalism influenced the Russian Revolution