Transition in RussiaRussia’s failure in WWI and the Entry of Communism

Reasons for Russian Defeat in WWI

1. Russia lacks industrial base to support a modern war. Could not produce the coal, iron, ore, and particularly the steel to succeed.

2. Grave shortages of the essentials of war eg. Boots, rifles, shells, artillery.

3. Poor Military leadership 4. Tremendous casualties on the battlefield. (2 million in Eastern

campaigns, 1/3 of a million taken prisoner) 5. High desertion rate, particularily after Czar Nicholas II

abdicated in March, 1917. (40,000 a month) 6. Russia lacks a modern railway to move troops and war

materials to the fighting front. 7. Russian public turned against the war-they wanted out. (The

Czar keeps them in=they hate him) 8. Unselective military call-ups lead to dramatic declines in

agriculture and industrial sectors of the economy. 9. The impact of enemy blockades. Germans and Turks are

occupying areas that cut off Russia’s natural trade links.

Duma

Provisional Gov.

Petrograd Soviet

Mensheviks

Bolsheviks

Socialist Revolutionaries

Cadets (CD)

BolsheviksMensheviks

(“majority”) believed that socialism could be achieved through swift, violent, and radical changes to society. MINORITY IN SD PARTY

Party membership is to consist only of dedicated, professional revolutionaries.

Did not see a reason to cooperate with wealthy groups (BOURGEOISIE) against the Tsar. Didn’t like them anyway.

MEAN AND VIOLENT

(“minority”) believed socialism could be achieved through gradual and moderate reforms such as higher wages, increases suffrage, and social welfare programs. MAJORITY IN SD PARTY

Open Membership as long as you support the party ideals.

Wanted cooperation with wealthy factory owners to overthrow the Czar.

LESS MEAN AND VIOLENT

Social Democrat Split (1903)

The People Aren’t Ready for Another

Revolution..yet

Mensheviks and SR’s win a majority of the Petrograd Soviet.

Of the 1500 soldiers and workers delegates in the Soviet-Bolsheviks only have 40.

Bolsheviks are tiny and rather unimportant at first

Only 23,000 people in all of Russia are members of the Bolshevik party.

Lenin is in exile.

Not Ready

Lenin: Leader of the Bolsheviks

Middle-class background and well educated.

Wanted workers to join the peasants to seize power and establish

SOCIALISM

Based loosely on the philosophies of German Revolutionary Karl Marx.

Came back from exile and immediately gathered Bolshevik supporters and advocated to overthrow Provisional Gov., end war, hand land over to peasants.

“Peace, Land, and Bread” “All Power to the Soviets”