Russia and the First World War

Russia's involvement in the First World War (1914–1918) was a catastrophe that destroyed the Tsarist system. Military defeats, economic collapse, food shortages, and the Tsar's disastrous personal decisions combined to make revolution inevitable. This lesson covers Russia's war experience and its consequences for the AQA GCSE History specification.

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Russia Enters the War

Russia entered the First World War in August 1914 in support of its ally Serbia, after Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia and Germany declared war on Russia.

Initial Enthusiasm

• There was a wave of patriotic enthusiasm at the start of the war.
• St Petersburg was renamed Petrograd to sound less German.
• Strikes and protests temporarily ceased as workers rallied behind the war effort.
• The Tsar appeared on the balcony of the Winter Palace to cheering crowds.

However, enthusiasm quickly faded as the scale of the disaster became apparent.

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Military Disasters

The Russian army suffered a series of catastrophic defeats.