Russian Economy

• Russian workers and peasants in the 1905 revolution were unhappy; late industrialisation, outdated agricultural techniques and transport, rigid social structure

• WWI economic issues; two years of war brought all issues back to the surface and deepened economic issues

  • Labour shortage on peasant land

  • Reduced food production

  • Near total collapse of industry

  • Lack of weapons, ammunition and supplies to frontlines

  • Breakdown of transport infrastructure, limiting troop movement and supply movement between cities and battlefields

• Government response; printed more money leading to hyperinflation, leaving money worse

Russian Society

• Society became disillusioned with a war they were losing

• Peasants couldn’t produce enough food for themselves or Russia, workers launched massive strikes and soldiers were tired of sacrificing land and lives for nothing

• Resulting anti-war sentiment threatened social stability and fighting capacity

Russian Politics

• The Tsar’s decision to control the army in 1915 caused the political sphere to suffer

• The Tsar abandoning his homefront for the war meant that Tsarina Alexandra stood in

• Tsarina Alexandra grew close with the mystic Rasputin who was believed to be manipulating the government; the royal family quickly lost its credibility

• Tsar seen as directly responsible for Russia’s failing military and his poor leadership and strategy became attached to his reputation

• Soldiers lost faith in the commanders leading to mass mutiny and desertion

• WWI exacerbated the issues that existed in Russia prior to the 1905 Revolution