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Impact of World War I on Russia. Russia enters war in 1914 very unprepared Weak generals, poorly equipped troops Loses more than 4 million in the 1st year While Nicholas II is on the Front, wife Alexandra is running things with Rasputin
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Impact of World War I on Russia • Russia enters war in 1914 very unprepared • Weak generals, poorly equipped troops • Loses more than 4 million in the 1st year • While Nicholas II is on the Front, wife Alexandra is running things with Rasputin • Soldiers mutiny & desert; food & fuel supplies dwindle, prices wildly inflated http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W1b6j8U46k
Rasputin & Alexandra • Czarina Alexandra controls daily operations during WWI • Under influence of Rasputin • Thought he could ‘cure’ Alexi’s hemophilia • Life in St. Petersburg becomes corrupt • Generates disgust & mistrust
March Revolution • Strikes flare up everywhere over shortages • Soldiers refuse orders to shoot the rioters • Czar Nicholas II forced to abdicate • Provisional Government created - Kerensky
First Soviets • Lenin – exiled radical returns • Underground radicals emerge to lead revolts • Radicals organize workers, peasants & soldiers into soviets • Believed that industrial workers would overthrow the Czar • After the revolution, the workers would rule: ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’
Bolsheviks favored revolution by a small number of committed revolutionaries • Other groups want less radical reform – like the mensheviks and Social Democrats
Lenin in Power • TREATY OF BREST –LITOVSK • LAND REFORM
Civil War in Russia CHEKA
A German Revolution Too? • Similar to Russia • Popular uprising from below • Brought down Ancien Régime • Established Liberal Provisional Government • Socialists take control of government • Workers & soldiers create alternative governments
Why is German Case Different? • Liberals & moderate socialists ally • They triumph over more radical forces in councils • German Marxists not as radical as Russian Marxists - more revisionist
German Social Democrats • Accepted defeat (unlike Kerensky) • Puts a stop to drop in soldier morale • Limited by status as defeated aggressor of WW1
Spartacists • Co founders: Karl Liebknecht & Rosa Luxemburg • Favored uprisings that would give workers political experience (vs. Russian Marxists) • Based in councils • Attempt to seize power crushed by Social Democrats with help of army • Murdered by army leaders- with support of Social Democrats