The Russian Revolution

Russia, 1914 Russia’s government = autocracy –Autocracy: Rule by a self-appointed ruler –Tsar Nicholas II Never interested in politics Terrible leader Bloody Sunday (1905): His soldiers killed 92 Russians Dissent

Russia, 1914 Serbia asked Russia to help fight Austria- Hungary Nicholas II did not want war, but refused to abandon Serbia Russian army = “The Russian Steamroller” –Successful against Austria-Hungary and Ottoman Empire, but continuously failed against Germany

Russian Steamroller Didn’t meet expectations –Untrained –Poorly equipped First confrontation with Germany: –German casualties: 20,000 –Russian casualties: 120,000

War of Attrition War of Attrition: A war that gradually wears down each opponent until there is one victor With Nicholas II helping with the war, Russia began to fall to pieces –Economic collapse The result of a stalemate

Russia, 1917 Chaos –Food prices soared –Supplies were depleted –Riots began February Revolution of 1917 –Nicholas II was forced to “abdicate”/give up the throne Nicholas II tried to give the throne to his brother, but he refused –A temporary government formed

Russia, 1917 The Romanov (Nicholas II) family was placed under house arrest The Bolsheviks overthrew the temporary government –Bolsheviks: A political party led by Vladimir Lenin

The Romanov Family

July 17, 1918 –A counterrevolution by supporters of Nicholas II began –The Romanov family was awoken at 2:30 in the morning and led into the basement of a Bolshevik stronghold –Nicholas, his wife, his children, and three servants were shot and killed

The Legend of Anastasia Over the years, several women have claimed to be Anastasia, but in 2007, DNA results proved she died in 1918 with her family.

Russia, 1918 Civil War within Russia –Russia withdrew from World War I In 1922, the Bolsheviks maintained control and formed the Soviet Union –The earliest form of Communism was born Communism: A social organization where everyone is equal and shares everything; nobody receives more than another

World War I Without Russia, Germany only had to fight a one front war: the Western Front