The Perfect Storm Events leading up to the death of the Romanovs

Russia in World War I 1914: Russia enters World War I under the leadership of Czar Nicholas to support and protect Serbia from German invasion. Russia is largely defeated during this period due to poor leadership, weak intelligence, lacking technology etc. Over 2.25 MILLION Russians were killed in the war. Scattered war involvement led to extensive poverty and suffering throughout Russia.

February Revolution February Revolution: February of 1917 a coup is staged against Czar Nicholas. Nicholas is forced to abdicate and is sent with his family into exile in Ekaterinberg in the Ural Region of Russia. A provisional government is set up led by George Lvov and Alexander Kerensky. Newly formed government continues to fight in war. July: Kerensky leads enormous military debacle known as the July Offensive.

Bolshevik Revolution The Bolsheviks, a Marxist Social Democratic Labor Party formed in the late 19 th early 20 th century gained traction in 1905, establishing itself as a major organization of the “revolutionary working class.” Bolshevik Revolution, October 1917: the Bolsheviks, overthrow the provisional government and establish the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Government. The Bolsheviks are led by Leon Trotsky and Vladimir Lenin.

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk Treaty of Brest-Litovks, April 1918: Bolshevik Leaders sign the Treaty of Brest- Litovsk, effectively ending Russia’s involvement in the war. Treaty demands Russia makes large territorial concessions. Many Russians saw this Treaty as a sign of weakness and betrayal on behalf of the new government.

Civil War and Other Complications Russian Civil War (approx.): – Tremendous infighting between multiple factions vying for power in the new Russia: – Red Army (Bolshevik Socialists) – White Army: A group of Imperial sympathizers, monarchists, and those striving for a capitalist system or alternative form of socialism. (Disappointed by the Treaty of Brest-Litosk, this group allied with the Czechs to fight the Red Army, with hopes of re-establishing an Eastern front against the Germans).

Plans for the Romanovs? Ural Soviets (Bolsheviks in the Ural Region) in Ekaterinburg hoped to execute the Royal Family. Leon Trotsky hoped to put the family on a public trial as a means to establish the authority of the Bolsheviks. Vladimir Lenin wished to keep the family in exile for potential usefulness later as political pawns. White Army and sympathizers: Various plans, it is argued they sought to free the Czar as a symbol of the White Movement (not likely for future leadership).

Romanovs Execution Reaction to the Brest-Litovsk Treaty made all Red plans to put the family on trial or use them as a political pawn superfluous. As a result, Yakov Sverdlov, a Bolshevik Party Leader took it upon himself to give the order to execute the family on July 16. Early in the morning on July 17, the family is executed in the Ipatiev house in Ekaterinburg.

Open Book Reading Quiz How was news of the execution of the Romanov family released? (explain the events that led up to the public understanding of their death). Who was Sokolov? How did Sokolov become the main investigator into the deaths of the Romanovs? Why did people come to question Sokolov’s account? (What were the holes in Sokolov’s story?)

Homework Read and text-mark Chapter 3 of The Romanovs: The Final Chapter AND the 2009 article from The Independent, Mystery Solved as Tests Prove Tsar’s Entire Family Was Murdered Next class: – Romanovs true burial – The Romanov sisters, mystery solved – How did it come to this? Czarist Russia and preparation for Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev