Recap

World War OneAnd

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

• 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.’