Первая мировая война (World war one / Đệ nhất thế chiến / 第一次世界大戰)

1917 was approaching,

a year that would prove to be fateful for all of Russia.

Defeats at the front gave way to victories, but problems kept mounting in the rear.

Ministers kept changing one after another, the State Duma was weak,

there were strikes, revolutionary propaganda,

and artificial shortages of foodstuffs.

Not in the heat of battles, but in the very heart of Russia originated treason,

that lead to a catastrophe which brought down the Russian Empire.

World War I Episode 8

ROMANIAN FRONT. HEADQUARTERS OF THE 8th ARMY CORPS, 4th ARMY, 3 March 1917

What’s the matter? Are you drunk?

Not at all! A t-telegram from the army h-headquarters

addressed to You, "p-personally".

Your Excellency!

Anton Ivanovich! What’s the matter? You’re pale as death!

There’s an uprising in Petrograd.

The State Duma took over.

Important acts of State will be made public.

Why all the fuss so early…

I guess something happened.

Their excellencies are acting strange today.

Soldiers! In the nearest time you will hear…

an important government…

important manifesto.

It was 1917. The third year of war.

Everything happened so suddenly and seemed chaotic.

Even revolutionary leaders that were abroad

found out about what happened in Russia from the Swiss papers.

The Russian Emperor Nicholas II abdicated the throne…

On 22 February 1917, Nicholas II visited the High Command in Mogilev

to prepare for a spring offensive.

The following day, on 23 February in old style calendar (8 March in new style),

there was a demonstration in Petrograd by women celebrating Women's Day.

This procession was joined by factory workers.

The demonstration comprised over 100 thousand people, and its key slogan

was "Bread and Peace".

The demonstration ended in riots and clashes with police.

There was more than enough bread in Petersburg,

But it was white bread and it cost somewhat more than rye bread.

Shipment of rye bread was delayed due to snow blockades on the railroads.

There were long lines in front of shops that sold cheaper bread.

Someone spread a rumour about introduction of “bread cards”,

which in fact wasn’t in plan.

The following day, a national strike began.

(over 214 thousand workers form 224 factories).

The next day, on 25 February, things escalated to armed conflicts.

By 27 February, what basically began as an all-women’s meeting,

turned into an armed rebellion.

Workers were on strike, soldiers from reserve regiments were rebelling,

policemen were killed in the streets, marauders were looting.

On 28 February the Petrograd garrison of 170 thousand soldiers began to mutiny.

On 1 March, an uprising happened in Moscow.

Liberal politicians headed by the Chairman of

the State Duma Mikhail Rodzianko

have long been planning to remove Nicholas II from power,

and prepared a whole conspiracy.

While the leader of the Russian liberals, Pavel Nikolayevich Milyukov,

descended to using the blatant lies from enemy papers.

On 1 November 1916, during his famous speech

called “Stupidity or treason”, in the State Duma

he accused the Russian authorities of treason.

They aimed at establishing a constitutional monarchy,

and instead of Nicholas II on the Russian throne

they wanted to see his younger brother, Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich.

Upon hearing about the rebellion, Nicholas II went to the capital.

But the striking railroad workers didn’t let the imperial train pass.

The Emperor was forced to go to Pskov,

to the Northern Front’s headquarters, where he fell into a trap.

Rodzianko kept sending the emperor one telegram after another from Petrograd,

while in Pskov he was under constant pressure

from the commander of the Northern Front, General Russkiy.

They tried to persuade the Tsar to make a change in the government once again,

and then started persuading him to abdicate the throne.

The Russian Emperor asked advice of all the fronts’ commanders.

And suddenly all of them, even his uncle, Grand Duke Nikolay Nikolaevich,

spoke in favour of abdication.

All except for the commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Kolchak.

On 2 March 1917 at 3:05 p.m. the Emperor signed a manifesto:

"In these decisive days in the life of Russia,

We thought it Our duty of conscience

to facilitate for Our people the closest union possible

and a consolidation of all national forces for the speedy attainment of victory

In agreement with the Imperial Duma We have thought it well to renounce

the Throne of the Russian Empire and to lay down the supreme power".

The emperor abdicated on behalf of himself and his son, Tsarevich Alexei.

Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich was supposed to become the new sovereign.

It seemed that the aim of the conspirators was achieved.

But having caused chaos, they soon became its victims.

The rebels in Petrograd didn’t want any kind of tsar at all.

Michael was forced to abdicate as well.

The Provisional Government took charge of Russia.

I swear on my honour as an officer, a soldier and a citizen.

I swear on my honour as an officer, a soldier and a citizen.

I hereby pledge to obey the Provisional Government.

I hereby pledge to obey the Provisional Government.

That is currently in charge of Russia.

That is currently in charge of Russia.

How will we live without our Sovereign?

I don’t know, Holy Father, I don’t know…

The important thing is to end the war, not much longer now.

War… What’s the big deal? It’s not our first war.

Who will you serve?

In my acceptance of this sworn oath I hereby cross myself!

In my acceptance of this sworn oath I hereby cross myself!

God Almighty, save Your people and bless Your patrimony...

We solemnly swear to serve Russia and the new government,

that has taken the place of the old regime to lead our Homeland

onto the path of happiness and prosperity.

We shall forget all our political quarrels and national grudges,

and march ahead to victory!

Hoorah! Hoorah! Hoorah! Hoorah! Hoorah! Hoorah!

Hoorah! Hoorah! Hoorah! Hoorah! Hoorah! Hoorah!

And so, on 3 March 1917 the Russian monarchy,

one thousand years old, came to an end.

To the sound of French Marseillaise the country

and its people were entering a time of severe hardships.

War had forever changed the face of Europe...

Abolishment of monarchy will change Russia beyond recognition…

At first, the February Revolution

spread a wave of enthusiasm throughout the country.

Complete strangers embraced each other

right in the streets of Petrograd and Moscow,

congratulating on the beginning of the new epoch of freedom,

equality and brotherhood.

But far from everyone was happy.

Those, who couldn’t separate the notions of “Tsar” and “Homeland”

rejected the new regime.

The war hero Fedor Keller was among them.

Most of the population of the huge country didn’t even

understand what exactly happened.

Why, on what ground did the Tsar abdicate the throne.

Neither the course of war, nor economic circumstances demanded such a change.

Russia suffered far less casualties in the war than its enemies or allies.

The mobilization rate in Russia amounted to just 39%

of all men aged from 15 to 49.

While in Germany it was 81%, in Austria-Hungary 74%,

in France 79%, and in England 50%.

In Russia, for every 1000 mobilized soldiers

there were 115 dead, compared to 154 in Germany, 122 in Austria,

168 in France and 125 in England.

11 ministers of the Provisional Government

were supposed to support the country’s order, successfully end the war

and summon the National Constituent Assembly

to determine the new form of government in Russia.

But at the same time throughout the country

spontaneously began to emerge completely new governing bodies:

Soviets (councils) of soldiers’, sailors’, workers’ and farmers’ deputies.

The country was ruled by dual power.

Soviets — representative governing bodies elected by the people.

On 1 March the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies was established

and tried to extend its jurisdiction as a national governing body.

In total, there were nearly 600 Soviets established in Russia,

headed for the most part by Mensheviks

(a faction of the Marxist Social Democratic Party),

and the SRs — the non-Marxist Social Revolutionary Party,

most numerous of all the left parties in Russia.

Despite the widespread opinion,

the Soviet regime originally had nothing to do with the Bolshevik Party.

Only in the second half of 1917

the number of Bolsheviks in the Soviets will reach 90%.

Within days, the country was swept by economic problems.

Everyone understood the so-called “freedom” their own way,

many took it as an opportunity not to work at all.

Instead of artificial food shortages, a real food crisis began.

Within one month, “bread cards” were introduced in Petrograd:

one person could get 1 pound of bread a day,

a half of today’s loaf,

and by September this amount was reduced to half a pound.

Every next day, the country was drawing closer to chaos and catastrophe,

while the Petrograd Soviet issued its first military order,

which undermined the Russian army within a few months.

Order Number 1 was issued March 1, 1917

and transferred the power within military units

from the hands of the officers to special committees elected by the soldiers.

All orders had to be obeyed only if they did not contradict the committees.

All weapons were to be handed over to these committees as well

and by no means were to be issued to the officers.

Soldiers reported to the committees

in case of any misunderstanding with their commanders.

Although "Order Number 1" was issued only for the Petrograd garrison,

soon the whole army knew about it.

Committees were established everywhere, completely undermining military discipline.

It’s hard to imagine anything more bizarre that could completely

ruin the Russian army at the front right in the middle of war.

Any officer’s order could be disregarded. A soldier could refuse to attack,

he could refuse to carry his wounded comrade from the battlefield,

he could abandon his trench when the enemy began to attack.

And all this happened right before the decisive offensive,

that had been long prepared for

and was supposed to bring Russia the much awaited victory.

Under the cover of liberal slogans, benevolent wishes,

and harmonious speeches the country and the army were

engulfed in total anarchy and lawlessness, and as a result — in chaos and ruin.

Upon signing his abdication,

the Emperor left his post of Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

This position was taken by General Alekseyev —

Chief of Staff of the Imperial High Command.

But not for long.

Alekseyev’s reluctance to remove all army generals supporting the monarchy

made the Provisional Government rather dissatisfied.