February Revolution | davisonhistory

WHY WAS THERE REVOLUTION IN RUSSIA IN 1917?

In 1913 the Russian people enthusiastically celebrated 300 years of Romanov rule. Tsar Nicholas II seemed genuinely popular despite criticisms that had been made of him. Yet 4 years later Russia was in the grip of Revolution and the Tsar was forced to abdicate. Why? You need to be able to argue between the importance of long term factors such as autocracy and failure to listen to the Duma, the influence of Rasputin and the impact of World War One.

Failures in World War One: By December 1914 Russia was in retreat. Initial enthusiasm for the War had evaporated and the army was on the verge of collapse. The soldiers were underfed and badly equipped. Some reports indicate that only 1/3 had a rifle and that some did not even have boots. Russian industry could not produce enough bullets or shells and the transport system could not supply the army. Russia suffered terrible defeats at Tannenburg and the Masurian Lakes.
In 1915 the Tsar, Nicholas II, took personal command of the army. This was a fatal mistake. He was not a very able commander; he also now became personally responsible for any failures. It also left the Tsarina (German born Alexandra) and Rasputin in full command back in Petrograd (The city had been renamed during the War).
Inefficiency on the Eastern Front was matched by inefficiency at home in Russia. 13 million men had joined the Army (9.15 million were casualties of War). Agriculture and Industry were devastated. Vital munitions factories had to close because of a lack of workers. The Russian transport system could not supply the cities with food. There were food shortages and prices rose astronomically. The average workers wage in 1917 was 5 roubles a day. In 1913 this would have bought 2 bags of flour, 5 bags of potatoes or 20 kilos of meat, but in 1917 it only bought 1/3 of a bag of flour, ¾ of a bag of potatoes or 4 kilos of meat. What was worse was that there was plenty of food in Russia, but it was sat piled up rotting next to railway tracks because of a lack of trains. Coal was also scarce and the winter of 1916-17 was bitterly cold.
Rasputin was seen as an immoral influence over the Government and the Tsarina was distrusted because she was German. When lest in charge they dismissed able ministers, replacing them with hopeless ones. Rumours began that Rasputin and the Tsarina were lovers. In December 1916 some aristocrats murdered Rasputin, but the damage had already been done.

THE FEBRUARY REVOLUTION: 1917

By January 1917 Russia was in chaos. Despite the assassination of Rasputin in December 1916, it was too late to save the Tsar. Some key factors are:

The freezing weather of 1917: it was -12.1 degrees, compared to the usual -4 degrees. 340,000 soldiers were sent to protect the Tsarina and defend Petrograd, but they were inexperienced peasants and often cold and hungry.
Food and fuel shortages: Piles of snow and ice prevented trains getting supplies to the cities. The secret police reported that “workers are on the verge of despair….the cost of living has trebled, the impossibility of finding food, the loss of time through queuing for hours outside shops have become unbearable”.
The Tsar had lost the support of the army: terrible conditions, lack of food and medical supplies, defeats, heavy losses of soldiers etc The Tsar was blamed because he had taken control of the army in 1915 (leaving his German wife and Rasputin to run Petrograd).

THE EVENTS OF THE REVOLUTION

Women factory workers went on strike first, followed by the men.
Fuel shortages caused factories to stop working.
Bakeries closed around the cities. Rationing was introduced. Bread began to run out.
23rd February was International Women’s Day. Thousands of women marched in the streets of Russia, some carried banners against German women. The General in charge of Petrograd (Khabalov) ordered that the demonstrations be stopped. Bridges across the river Neva were closed to prevent demonstrators getting too close to the city centre, but people walked across the frozen river. Soldiers were ordered to fire on the people -they shot about 40, but then refused to keep firing. The soldiers then joined the demonstrators.
Workers form the Putilov steelworks joined the strikes.
The DUMA sent an urgent telegram to the Tsar telling him that the situation was serious and that he should allow the Duma to form a government.
12 Duma Deputies formed a PROVISIONAL (temporary) GOVERNMENT. The workers, sailors and soldiers of Petrograd formed a SOVIET (council) to keep an eye on the Provisional Government.
The Tsar caught a train to Petrograd. The train was stopped and he was told that his generals would no longer support him. Nicholas abdicated for himself and his son. He hoped his brother Michael would become Tsar, but he refused.

Russia was without a Tsar, but it now there were 2 centres of power:

The Provisional Government (DUMA)
The Petrograd Soviet

They agreed to hold elections in November 1917 to elect a new Parliament – the first democratic elections in Russia. Revolutionaries like Lenin, Trotsky, Stalin and Kamenev began to return to Russia.