How far could the historian make use of source 1 and 2 together to investigate the condition of the Russian army in the summer of 1917?
Content: Posi+ves Inference Contextual / own knowledge
Source 1 1. “Some units desert their 1. From this we can infer that the army was undisciplined and prone to deser=ons. There had been 100,000 soldiers
posi=ons without even wai=ng This is because many of the soldiers were discontent with the con=nua=on of the deserted from Feb to June 1917.
for the approach of the enemy” war. The fact that they deserted before the clash with the enemy highlights that
2. “Discussed for hours at they were unpatrio=c as they did not wish to defend the country led by the The July Days demonstrate that the army
mee=ngs” Provisional Government. Thus, this source is accurate in portraying that the was unwilling to accept advances in the
condi=on of the army was poor as a result of deser=ons of soldiers some=mes war - First Machine Gun Regiment
“whole units”. This suggests that the poor condi=on of the army was not limited refused to supply 500 guns and 20,000
to a few bodies but was widespread. Again, this is accurate because army Kronstadt sailors revolted.
barracks across districts became discontent and unwilling to con=nue a war with
no peace prospects. Feb 1917 - the army refused to return to
2. You can infer that there was a lack of leadership in the army. They could not make the Western Front out of fear of the war.
key offensive decisions which prolonged the war and reflected the lack of Shows that from the beginning they
leadership in the PG. It also shows that many of the army were against were unwilling to support the war effort.
advancements in the war but others were patrio=c. The conflict in aMtudes to
the war led to a lack of leadership. As a result, the condi=on of the army was low Order Number One (March 1917) meant
with liNle form of discipline or order that was needed to win or end the war. that soldiers could elect their generals.
As a result, many soldiers were
Source 2 1. “Soldiers stole the property, not 1. Shows that the army was violent and militant which had an impact on society as
disordered and felt they could lead
only of the state but of private well as the army. A historian could also infer that the army had a poor reputa=on,
themselves which led to further
ci=zens” especially amongst the upper classes and right wing. The fact that they did
deser=ons
terrorise the city reflects their lack of discipline. And as there was no police force
(a^er the collapse of the Tsar it disbanded), the army was able to be lawless. This
is accurate because the army were militant and par=cipated in mass
demonstra=ons against Milyukov and in the July Days.
Combining Together, the sources are useful because they are an accurate portrayal of the state of the army as unorganised and undisciplined to a significant and widespread
sources extent. They both agree with each other in the overall condi=on of the army in the summer of 1917 and their points are also supported by outside evidence which
makes them more useful and accurate. It is also comprehensive because Source 1 expresses the effects of the condi=on of the army on the soldiers and Source 2
highlights the social impact the army had on the wider community. When used together they are more useful in showing the condi=on of the army on the Western
Front in terms of the German enemy and the condi=on of the army in ci=zen areas.
Content: Limita+ons
Content: Posi+ves Inference Contextual / own knowledge
Source 1 1. “Some units desert their 1. From this we can infer that the army was undisciplined and prone to deser=ons. There had been 100,000 soldiers
posi=ons without even wai=ng This is because many of the soldiers were discontent with the con=nua=on of the deserted from Feb to June 1917.
for the approach of the enemy” war. The fact that they deserted before the clash with the enemy highlights that
2. “Discussed for hours at they were unpatrio=c as they did not wish to defend the country led by the The July Days demonstrate that the army
mee=ngs” Provisional Government. Thus, this source is accurate in portraying that the was unwilling to accept advances in the
condi=on of the army was poor as a result of deser=ons of soldiers some=mes war - First Machine Gun Regiment
“whole units”. This suggests that the poor condi=on of the army was not limited refused to supply 500 guns and 20,000
to a few bodies but was widespread. Again, this is accurate because army Kronstadt sailors revolted.
barracks across districts became discontent and unwilling to con=nue a war with
no peace prospects. Feb 1917 - the army refused to return to
2. You can infer that there was a lack of leadership in the army. They could not make the Western Front out of fear of the war.
key offensive decisions which prolonged the war and reflected the lack of Shows that from the beginning they
leadership in the PG. It also shows that many of the army were against were unwilling to support the war effort.
advancements in the war but others were patrio=c. The conflict in aMtudes to
the war led to a lack of leadership. As a result, the condi=on of the army was low Order Number One (March 1917) meant
with liNle form of discipline or order that was needed to win or end the war. that soldiers could elect their generals.
As a result, many soldiers were
Source 2 1. “Soldiers stole the property, not 1. Shows that the army was violent and militant which had an impact on society as
disordered and felt they could lead
only of the state but of private well as the army. A historian could also infer that the army had a poor reputa=on,
themselves which led to further
ci=zens” especially amongst the upper classes and right wing. The fact that they did
deser=ons
terrorise the city reflects their lack of discipline. And as there was no police force
(a^er the collapse of the Tsar it disbanded), the army was able to be lawless. This
is accurate because the army were militant and par=cipated in mass
demonstra=ons against Milyukov and in the July Days.
Combining Together, the sources are useful because they are an accurate portrayal of the state of the army as unorganised and undisciplined to a significant and widespread
sources extent. They both agree with each other in the overall condi=on of the army in the summer of 1917 and their points are also supported by outside evidence which
makes them more useful and accurate. It is also comprehensive because Source 1 expresses the effects of the condi=on of the army on the soldiers and Source 2
highlights the social impact the army had on the wider community. When used together they are more useful in showing the condi=on of the army on the Western
Front in terms of the German enemy and the condi=on of the army in ci=zen areas.
Content: Limita+ons
