One part of GCSE History is Russia in the first half of the 20th Century. A very major event in this topic is the Russian Revolution and the circumstances which brought it about - mainly it's poor performance in World War One.
Russia did not perform well in World War One (the Great War). Harsh conditions at home led to the February Revolution, which toppled the Tsar, and ushered in the Provisional Government. This government chose, perhaps unwisely, to continue Russia's involvement in World War One - whilst Lenin prepared to unleash the Bolshevik Revolution, which was his life's ambition.
Test you understanding of how revolution came to Russia in this quiz.
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You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Lenin and the Russian Revolution
Russia's armed forces looked impressive on paper, but they were slow to assemble. Hence the German plan to attack France first, and then to strike east at the Tsarist Empire
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Russia was much more likely to succeed against Austria-Hungary than against Germany. Hence these spring offensives were directed against the southern flank of the Eastern Front
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When her husband the Tsar left St. Petersburg to take over overall command at the front, political power resided with the Tsarina. She did not lack for advice
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Nicholas was in an unenviable situation. He felt bound to heed his ministers' advice, but was reluctant to break the oath that he had made at his coronation to keep autocratic power intact for his successors. He was conscious at the same time of the dire state of the Russian war effort and of the imminent danger of a communist revolution
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The Provisional Government concentrated on winning the war, always hoping that something would turn up
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This was an unenviable task. The new government consisted of many difference parties and factions. It had decided to prosecute the war, and at the same time keep a wary look out for signs of further revolutions
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Leadership of the government became increasingly difficult as the war effort flagged
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The Russian government was well aware that it was far from winning the war, that it had gone to war in the beginning to support a fellow Slav state and that it had also acquired allies in Britain and France. The more perceptive members of the regime realised that the war was not proceeding well, and that it was deeply unpopular among the Russian people
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Lenin feared that the Provisional Government would be less lenient with him, now that he had been directly involved in a violent attempt to supplant them
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The Baltic fleet was based at Kronstadt, a short distance downstream in the Gulf of Finland from St. Petersburg. Thus it would be easy for ships from this fleet to intervene on one side or the other in the event of a further revolutionary outbreak
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