The main short-term reason was undoubtedly the First World War and everything which concluded from it. It had major effects on the way people in Russia were thinking. The war was a very manipulating factor. If things went well, the atmosphere was good and support for the Tsar high. However when the Russians were loosing people’s anger against the Tsar arose. Unfortunately, after the first strike of enthusiasm, the Russians went through one defeat after another. The backward economic condition of the country made it unable to sustain the war effort against powerful, industrialized Germany. This was partly due to the fact that Russian industry lacked the required equipment to arm some 15 million men who were sent into war.
Back at home people were facing problems too. Many peasants were sent into the war. Accordingly there was a lack of farm workers causing serious food shortages. In addition the railway system was used to supply the army at the front with essential goods and could therefore not send enough food into the cities. Owing to the lack of food prices went sky high and even a piece of bread became unaffordable for many workers. To make matters worse many factories closed down resulting high unemployment. The workers who kept their job were asked to work longer hours for lower wages. Due to the war working conditions were worse than ever and the moral of many people was very low. It seemed as though the longer Russia stayed in the war, the more Russians’ hopes vanished and the lower the chance for a victory got. As the situation got worse the Russians lost confidence in the Government and the Tsar. They blamed him for the dreadful circumstances they were in.
However is was not only the people back at home who’s moral sunk. At the Russian front matters did not seem to improve. By 1914 over 1 million soldiers were killed, wounded or taken as prisoners. This number had risen to eight million by March 1917. They blamed their officers whom, in their opinion, showed sympathy for the Germans.
On top of the crisis situation Russia was in already the Tsar made a terrible mistake. In September 1915 he decided to leave his job in Petrograd to take care of the war himself at the Russian front. This had serious consequences. Firstly, any defeat of the Russians would now be blamed directly on the Tsar, increasing his unpopularity. Secondly, the Tsar handed over the day-to-day running of the country to the Tsarina who was heavily influenced by Rasputin. He seemed to be in charge of the government. The Russian people did not trust Rasputin or the Tsarina and because of her German background the latter was thought to be a spy. She completely failed at running the country. She refused to work with the Duma at all and dismissed able ministers, if they disliked Rasputin, and replaced them with Rasputin’s friends. As the situation got worse the Tsar lost more and more support. He was blamed for the sufferings, and the reputation of the Tsarina wasn’t any better. Some thought she even had an affair with Rasputin. In the winter of 1916 there was hardly enough bread to survive. The railway lines were so iced up that barely any food could get into Petrograd.
By March 1917 the people had had enough. The situation had become so desperate that 40000 workers from the giant Putilnov engineering works went on strike for higher wages. Instead of responding to this warning the Tsar ordered for the demonstrations to be put down by force. When the leader of the Duma told him, that the situation was at a crisis point he took no further notice of it. This was the beginning of the end of the Tsar.
The final kick to the uprising revolution was the decision of the Army. With it on his side the Tsar still had the required backup. However, when he sent the soldiers to shoot the protesting crowds an important change of sides took place. The soldiers refused to shoot at the people and instead, shot their officers, and joined in the demonstration themselves. They had had enough of the war and the conditions they were in. This made the demonstration of 1917 different from anything that had happened before because for the first time the Tsar had to fight against his own army.
As a conclusion I suggest that the war was the main cause of the Russian Revolution. It is the origin of all the further problems that were facing Russia at the time. If there had not been a war then perhaps the Tsar could have concentrated on the co-operation with the Duma and could have resulted changes for the better in Russia. However we cannot be certain that this would have been the case. It is possible that no changes would have occurred and in that case the Revolution might have taken place anyhow. In my opinion the war was like a catalyst which speeded up the outcome of all these crisis and problems in Russia.
By Ruth Krestin 4F
