starter activity

A priest blessing soldiers in a Russian field hospital in WWI. From the Tsar’s perspective, what were some of the advantages and disadvantages to be gained from taking part in the Great War?

What impact did What impact did WWI have on the WWI have on the

government? government? To assess the level of support for To assess the level of support for

the Tsar on the eve of WWIthe Tsar on the eve of WWITo examine the impact of the War To examine the impact of the War

on the govton the govt

Aims

Your taskYour task Imagine you have been asked to compile report Imagine you have been asked to compile report

on the state of the nation on the eve of WWI on the state of the nation on the eve of WWI (1914). (1914).

First read sources 19 and 20 on p. 76 (Oxley) First read sources 19 and 20 on p. 76 (Oxley) and discuss how the views differ.and discuss how the views differ.

Work in small groups. Your teacher will give Work in small groups. Your teacher will give you an evidence collection sheet. Divide up you an evidence collection sheet. Divide up among your group who will investigate each among your group who will investigate each area in the given time. Come together as a area in the given time. Come together as a group, share your knowledge and produce a group, share your knowledge and produce a report on socio-economic conditions in Russia report on socio-economic conditions in Russia on the eve of WWI. Which of the sources do you on the eve of WWI. Which of the sources do you agree with most? Use pages 64-77 (Oxley)agree with most? Use pages 64-77 (Oxley)

Your taskYour task

Read Lynch p.60-1 and list the Read Lynch p.60-1 and list the reasons why Russia entered the War.reasons why Russia entered the War.

Member of Triple Entente (with Fr. Member of Triple Entente (with Fr. & GB)& GB)

Support for Slav nationalism in Support for Slav nationalism in BalkansBalkans

Fear of over-powerful Austria-Fear of over-powerful Austria-HungaryHungary

Mobilisation of its army provoked Mobilisation of its army provoked Germany into declaring warGermany into declaring warKaiser Wilhelm

IITsar Nicholas II

Your taskYour task

Examine the impact of the war on these Examine the impact of the war on these areas of the economy:areas of the economy:

InflationInflation FoodFood TransportTransport ArmyArmy

InflationInflation

17,000 m. roubles spent on War 17,000 m. roubles spent on War (1914-17)(1914-17)

Increased tax, loans, borrowing from Increased tax, loans, borrowing from abroadabroad

Gold standard abandonedGold standard abandoned Average earnings doubled, while Average earnings doubled, while

price of food & fuel quadrupled price of food & fuel quadrupled

Russian troops, WWI

Food suppliesFood supplies

Manpower diverted to war effort – Manpower diverted to war effort – 15m men taken from countryside15m men taken from countryside

By 1917 36.7m men conscripted in By 1917 36.7m men conscripted in armyarmy

Requisitioning of farm horses & Requisitioning of farm horses & supplies, e.g. chemicals for fertilisers supplies, e.g. chemicals for fertilisers used to make ammunitionused to make ammunition

Grain hoardingGrain hoarding Army 1Army 1stst in queue for food supplies (at in queue for food supplies (at

expense of towns & cities) expense of towns & cities)

TransportTransport

Strain on supply chainStrain on supply chain Integrated network caused delays Integrated network caused delays

across the country if lines were across the country if lines were blockedblocked

Archangel, supplies sank into ground Archangel, supplies sank into ground due to build-updue to build-up

Trucks tipped down embankments to Trucks tipped down embankments to make way for othersmake way for others

Moscow, wagons of food declined Moscow, wagons of food declined from 2,200 (1914) to 700 (1917) from 2,200 (1914) to 700 (1917)

ArmyArmy

4,000,000 troops killed or wounded 4,000,000 troops killed or wounded (1914)(1914)

Lack of ammunition, uniforms & Lack of ammunition, uniforms & equipmentequipment

Shipment of resources poorly organisedShipment of resources poorly organised DesertionsDesertions Nicholas II assumed leadership of armyNicholas II assumed leadership of army Possibility of ‘Bolshevik fabrication’ Possibility of ‘Bolshevik fabrication’

(Norman Stone)(Norman Stone)

Source investigationSource investigation

PlenaryPlenary

Do you agree with Norman Stone Do you agree with Norman Stone that the state of Russia’s army that the state of Russia’s army during WWI was just a ‘Bolshevik during WWI was just a ‘Bolshevik fabrication’?fabrication’?

Write a judgement paragraph Write a judgement paragraph explaining your answer.explaining your answer.