5Russia at War

A. Themes

B. Into the Brink: Decision for War

C. War and Diplomacy

D. Domestic Impact of War

E. Politics of War and Defeat

F. Society at War

G. Conclusion

A. Themes

1. Catastrophic military defeats, but turnaround in 1916

2. Defeats bring diplomatic triumphs, making separate peace unthinkable

3. Enormous social and economic strains generated by war, compounded by ethnic tensions

4. Politics of defeat: erosion of regime’s legitimacy, reemergence of united opposition

5. Society: polarization, radicalization, and re-emergence of revolutionary situation

B. Into the Brink: The Decision for War

1. Domestic tensions

2. Panslavism, patriotism, and politics

3. Durnovo memorandum (February 1914)

International Situation 1914

• June 28 - Franz Ferdinand Assassinated

• July 28 - Austria declares war on Serbia

• July 30 - Nicholas orders mobilization

• August 1 - France mobilizes, Germany declares war

Russia at War: Images

August 1914: Cheers at the Winter Palace

Nicholas Greets Crowd (August 1914)

St. Petersburg: Conscription

Conscription in the Village

Tsar at “Stavka” in 1915 (Military HQ in Mogilev)

Tsar Inspects Troops (1916)

1914: Russian POWs after Dannenberg

1915: More Russian POWs

Russian POWs in Berlin

Russian Cemetery of Fallen in Battle

C. War and Diplomacy

1. Poor military preparedness

2. Diplomatic triumphs

3. Military record

War Record: 1914

War Record: 1915

War Record: 1916

D. Domestic Impact of War

1. Human and material losses

2. Economic dislocation

3. Refugees

4. Fears of treason

E. Politics of War and Defeat

1. Dynamics

2. Union with the Tsar: first five months

3. Defeat, opposition, concessions

4. Crisis of August 1915

5. Government: disarray and disintegration

6. Duma parties go left

F. Society at War

1. Privileged: nobles, bourgeoisie, professionals

2. Workers

3. Peasants

4. Minorities

5. Soldiers

G. Conclusions

1. War: from unity to polarization

2. Military defeats, diplomatic victories, and stabilization of the front

3. Extraordinary stress generated by war

4. Politics of war: defeat and delegitimation

5. Social polarization: Two Russias—privileged and “masses”