Effects of the Great War Upon Russia

The Russian Army – The Eastern Front

Russia had promised France to attack into East Prussia if a war was to break out. In effect, that was what they did when the Great War began. Initially they were successful in pushing their forces forward, but as German resistance grew, the problems with the Russian Army began to show.

The Russian Army had millions of men, but were poorly trained, led and equipped. In many cases Russian soldiers were sent into combat without weapons. They were expected to pick up the rifles of comrades who had been killed or wounded and carry on the fight. The troops often did not understand the language of their officers or fellow soldiers, as they were drawn from all over the Russian Empire. Officers and generals distrusted each other and in many cases refused to work together during battles. These and many more possible examples showcase the war effort by Russia.

By 1917 the army was near collapse. The Russian solider who had a reputation of being brave, tough and loyal had been broken. Massive losses, no medical treatment for wounded, limited weapons and food, and began to lose morale and a willingness to fight.

The Home Front

With the war going badly for Russia, the Tsar decided to take matters into his own hands. He believed that under his personal command his armies would fight like never before. While he was at the front, he left his wife Empress Alexandra in charge of affairs. She was not trained in the inner workings of government and listened to the advice of Rasputin.

Rasputin used his influence to put his friends into powerful government positions. During this time, many false rumors began to circulate among the people that Rasputin and Alexandra were lovers. Other rumors were spread that Alexandra was trying to lose the war on purpose because she was German (the same rumors were spread about the British royal family and they promptly changed their name from Saxe-Coburg to Windsor as it sounded more English).

Although the rumors were false, many in Russia began to believe them. Ultimately, Rasputin was killed by a group of men trying to protect the prestige of the Russian throne. These problems, combined with the poor performance of the army, led to political great unrest.

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