Russia's Entry into the War
Why Did Russia Enter the War?
Any analysis of the causes of and build-up to the First World War is complex, and the factors that drew Russia into the conflict are no different. The reasons for Russia's involvement are best described as a mix of long-term and short-term causes that chiefly concerned its relationship with other European countries and its perceived standing as a European superpower.
The following diagrams summarise the long-term and short-term reasons for Russia's entry into the First World War.
The following diagrams summarise the long-term and short-term reasons for Russia's entry into the First World War.
Source A
In the final event, Russia's involvement was confirmed when the Tsar signed the order to fully mobilise its military. Although it was intended as a diplomatic move, designed to bide time, it in fact prompted Germany to declare war on Russia under the terms of its 'Schlieffen Plan.' A few days later, Austria-Hungary followed, and Russia found itself at war.
Source B
Germany's Declaration of War with Russia
Source B
Germany's Declaration of War with Russia
Russia's Military
Russia's army was by far the largest of all of the participants in the First World War. In 1914, it numbered 5.9 million men, and more than twice that number would be mobilised before Russia's withdrawal from the war in 1917.
Despite its size, Russia's army suffered the consequences of its country's political and economic backwardness. In 1914, 5.9 million troops were supplied with only 4.6 million rifles, while considerable sums were spent on field artillery that proved to be both ineffective due to their lack of mobility, which left Russia's infantry exposed. Poor administration was ultimately responsible for much of the difficulty suffered by Russia's army.
Source C
Source D
Key Events
July 31, 1914: Russia begins full mobilisation of its armed forces.
August 1, 1914: Germany declares war on Russia.
August 6, 1914: Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia.
August 26-31, 1914: Russia suffers a heavy defeat to Germany at the Battle of Tannenburg and is driven out of East Prussia.
February 7-22, 1915: The Russian 10th Army is decimated by German troops at the Battle of Masurian Lakes.
March 22, 1915: A series of offensives in Galicia sees Russia defeat Austria, causing Germany and Austria-Hungary to regroup and begin a counter-offensive.
May 2, 1915: German and Austro-Hungarian troops drive Russia back from their position in Galcia. Russia is driven back further a month later.
June 25, 1915: Members of the duma form the Progressive Bloc in a bid to encourage changes to the Tsar's war policy.
August 5, 1915: Germany takes control of Warsaw, ending a century of Russian occupation.
September 5, 1915: Tsar Nicholas II assumes personal command of Russia's armies.
March 18, 1916: A Russian offensive around Vilna and Lake Naroch is easily beaten by Germany, despite the Russians having much greater numbers.
June 4, 1916: Brusilov offensive begins. Russian troops launch an offensive against a 300-mile wide area, taking Austro-Hungarian troops by surprise and capturing 350,000.
September 20, 1916: Following heavy Germany reinforcements, the Brusilov offensive grinds to a halt after a loss of nearly one million soldiers.
March 8, 1917: Mass protests in Russia erupt into full-scale revolution. Russian soldiers mutiny.
March 15, 1917: Nicholas II abdicates. Russia's new Provisional Government commits to remaining in the war.
May 19, 1917: Russia reiterates that it will stay in the war, despite mass support within the army for the anti-war Bolshevik Party.
July 1, 1917: A major offensive to recapture the city of Lemberg ends in humiliating defeat after battle plans are leaked to the Germans.
September 1, 1917: Germany attacks and captures Riga. Russian troops abandon the city and are pursued by the Germans.
November 6-7, 1917: Following the October Revolution, the Bolshevik Party seizes power in Russia and announces its withdrawal from the war and the renunciation of all existing treaties with the Allied Powers.
December 5, 1917: Soviet Russia signs an armistice with Germany.
August 1, 1914: Germany declares war on Russia.
August 6, 1914: Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia.
August 26-31, 1914: Russia suffers a heavy defeat to Germany at the Battle of Tannenburg and is driven out of East Prussia.
February 7-22, 1915: The Russian 10th Army is decimated by German troops at the Battle of Masurian Lakes.
March 22, 1915: A series of offensives in Galicia sees Russia defeat Austria, causing Germany and Austria-Hungary to regroup and begin a counter-offensive.
May 2, 1915: German and Austro-Hungarian troops drive Russia back from their position in Galcia. Russia is driven back further a month later.
June 25, 1915: Members of the duma form the Progressive Bloc in a bid to encourage changes to the Tsar's war policy.
August 5, 1915: Germany takes control of Warsaw, ending a century of Russian occupation.
September 5, 1915: Tsar Nicholas II assumes personal command of Russia's armies.
March 18, 1916: A Russian offensive around Vilna and Lake Naroch is easily beaten by Germany, despite the Russians having much greater numbers.
June 4, 1916: Brusilov offensive begins. Russian troops launch an offensive against a 300-mile wide area, taking Austro-Hungarian troops by surprise and capturing 350,000.
September 20, 1916: Following heavy Germany reinforcements, the Brusilov offensive grinds to a halt after a loss of nearly one million soldiers.
March 8, 1917: Mass protests in Russia erupt into full-scale revolution. Russian soldiers mutiny.
March 15, 1917: Nicholas II abdicates. Russia's new Provisional Government commits to remaining in the war.
May 19, 1917: Russia reiterates that it will stay in the war, despite mass support within the army for the anti-war Bolshevik Party.
July 1, 1917: A major offensive to recapture the city of Lemberg ends in humiliating defeat after battle plans are leaked to the Germans.
September 1, 1917: Germany attacks and captures Riga. Russian troops abandon the city and are pursued by the Germans.
November 6-7, 1917: Following the October Revolution, the Bolshevik Party seizes power in Russia and announces its withdrawal from the war and the renunciation of all existing treaties with the Allied Powers.
December 5, 1917: Soviet Russia signs an armistice with Germany.
References for this page
Clevelode Battlefield Tours (n.d.). Russia in the First World War. Retrieved from http://clevelode-battletours.com/the-first-world-war/russia-in-ww1/
firstworldwar.com (n.d.). Primary Documents. Retrieved from http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/index.htm
Llewellyn, J., Rae, J., Thompson, S. (2014). Russian in World War I. Retrieved from http://alphahistory.com/russianrevolution/russian-society
Lynch, M. (1992). Access to History: Reaction and Revolution: Russia 1894-1924 Fourth Edition. London: Hodder & Stoughton Educational.
Millar, R. (2004). Encyclopaedia of Russian History. New York: Macmillan Reference USA.
Clevelode Battlefield Tours (n.d.). Russia in the First World War. Retrieved from http://clevelode-battletours.com/the-first-world-war/russia-in-ww1/
firstworldwar.com (n.d.). Primary Documents. Retrieved from http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/index.htm
Llewellyn, J., Rae, J., Thompson, S. (2014). Russian in World War I. Retrieved from http://alphahistory.com/russianrevolution/russian-society
Lynch, M. (1992). Access to History: Reaction and Revolution: Russia 1894-1924 Fourth Edition. London: Hodder & Stoughton Educational.
Millar, R. (2004). Encyclopaedia of Russian History. New York: Macmillan Reference USA.