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Recap. World War One And Rasputin. St. Petersberg Petrograd. Reasons for going to war in 1914. Victory = Popularity for the Tsar Allied with Britain and France they had the upper hand. Expectation that it would be a short war. Defeats instead of Victories.
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Recap World War One And Rasputin
Reasons for going to war in 1914 • Victory = Popularity for the Tsar • Allied with Britain and France they had the upper hand. • Expectation that it would be a short war.
Defeats instead of Victories • Russia had been slow to modernise compared with the industrialised, resourceful Germany. • Couldn’t cope with mechanised war. • Early defeats – Tannenberg and Masurian Lakes. • Economic problems – cost of the war – borrowed money – increased national debt.
However.. • All of the allies suffered economic difficulties. • It was the impact of this on the unique Russian social/political system that proved explosive.
The process of industrialisation in Russia gained pace in an attempt to keep up with the demands of war. • Populations in towns and cities ballooned. • Strain on working/living conditions. • Food shortages. • October 1916 – wave of strikes.
Tsarina Alexandra • German background • Eccentric • A lack of intellect: ‘a will of iron, linked to not brain and no knowledge’ (Paul Benckendorff) • Obsessed with Russian Orthodoxy • Tendency towards mysticism and spiritualism
Tsarina and Rasputin • Belonged to a Sect. • Faith healer. • Strong friendship meant he was able to influence her choice of ministers and appointments. • Dismissed ministers she saw as a threat e.g. Minister of War Alexei Polivanov.
Were they really to blame? • In reality the Tsar made all of the crucial decisions but he was influenced by his wife and Rasputin. • At the time, Rasputin’s influence was taken seriously. • A leading noble, Felix Yusopov murdered Rasputin in 1916.
By 1917 the Tsar was feeling optimistic: ‘I know the situation is very alarming…(but)…..soon, in the spring will come the offensive and I believe that God will give us victory, and then moods will change.’