- Initial patriotism (1914): When war began, most Russians supported the tsar. National pride was high, and strikes and protests briefly stopped.
- Military disasters: Russia suffered huge defeats at Tannenberg and the Masurian Lakes in 1914. Millions of soldiers died or were captured during the war.
- Weak army: Russian soldiers often lacked rifles, boots, and food. Many were sent to the front unprepared, which destroyed morale.
- Economic collapse: The war caused shortages of food and fuel. Railways focused on moving troops, leaving cities starving. Prices rose, and inflation made life harder for workers and peasants.
- Tsar’s mistakes: In 1915, Nicholas II took personal command of the army. This made him directly responsible for defeats and left the government in the hands of his unpopular wife, Alexandra.
- Rasputin’s influence: Alexandra relied on Rasputin, a mystic who advised her. Many Russians believed he corrupted the court, which weakened respect for the monarchy.
- Loss of support: By 1916, both peasants and workers were angry at shortages, while nobles and generals blamed Nicholas for disasters. Even the Duma called for change.
- February 1917 protests: Strikes and bread riots broke out in Petrograd in February. Soldiers sent to stop the protests mutinied and joined the crowds.
- Collapse of tsarist power: Nicholas tried to return to Petrograd but lost all support. Railway workers stopped his train, and generals urged him to give up power.
- Abdication: In March 1917, Nicholas II abdicated. The 300-year-old Romanov dynasty ended, and a Provisional Government took over.
Common Mistake
- Blaming only food shortages: While hunger was important, military failures and Nicholas’s personal mistakes were just as crucial.
- Ignoring elite opposition: It was not only peasants and workers. Nobles, generals, and even the Duma had lost faith in Nicholas by 1917.
Exam technique
- Balance social and political factors: Show how war affected all levels of society, from peasants to generals.
- Use Nicholas’s decisions: Mention his choice to command the army and reliance on Alexandra and Rasputin to show his role in the collapse.
Self review
- To what extent was the First World War responsible for the collapse of tsarist autocracy in 1917?
- How far was Nicholas II himself to blame for the February Revolution?
- Assess the political, social, and economic effects of the First World War on Russia up to March 1917.
