Chapter 13
How did nationalists in Eastern Europe view the Russian revolutions?
- Polish nationalists saw it as an opportunity to establish their independence, making
self-determination with new borders
- Pan-Slavs were encouraged by the provisional government to 'decide their own destinies'
- those hoping for political reform were inspired after ordinary Russians had proved it was
possible to force the abdication of a monarch
What were the ambitions of Hungarian nationalists?
- eager for some time to end the country's partnership with Austria
- saw an opportunity for independence as the Emperor's authority waned
How were conditions in Russia's home front by the winter of 1916-1917?
- bread rationing was introduced
- a lack of fuel caused factories to close
- citizens and soldiers focused their anger on Tsar Nicholas
Why was Russia losing WW1?
- poor training of Russian troops
- inadequate supply lines
- lack of imagination of generals
- poor leadership of Tsar Nicholas after he assumed command of the army
What happened during the Russian revolution which started 8 march 1917?
- strikes and rioting broke out in the cities
- people demanded first bread and then the abdication of the Tsar
- Tsar Nicholas ordered the militia to put down the strike but soldiers protested at shooting
citizens protesting their hunger, stopped supporting the Tsar
What were the effects of the Russian revolution on 8 March 1917?
- Nicholas abdicated 15 March 1917
- prompted formation of the Provisional government
Why did the provisional government lose the support of Russians?
- the Russian people demanded an end to the war but the provisional government could not
resign from the war
- daily life under the provisional government was almost indistinguishable from life under the
Tsar with the loss of western credit and hardships of the war effort
How did the Bolsheviks seize power in Russia?
- won support from suffering citizens with the promise for 'peace, land and bread'
- the authority of the Provisional Government was so thin that the Bolsheviks storming of the
winter palace was met with very little resistance
,What was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk? Why did Russia agree to it?
- a harsh peace treaty between Germany and Russia, signed on 3 march 1918
- Most Russian soldiers and citizens were war weary and ready for peace even with such
punishing terms
- Lenin was determined to focus on resolving Russian domestic problems
- Lenin believed revolution in Germany would remove the treaty
What were the terms of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
- Russia lost its territorial rights to Poland, Lithuania, Estonia etc. which Germany and Austria
Hungary had the right to decide its fate
- Russia had to evacuate Finland and recognise the independence of Ukraine
- Germany was given permission to exploit the rich agricultural land Russia had given up
How were conditions in Germany's homefront from 1915?
- the British naval blockade made rationing necessary, preventing receiving resources from
colonies and prevented transportation of goods into Germany
- 763,000 died of starvation or disease, women's mortality rose to around 40%
- harsh winters of 1916-1917 caused citizens to rely on a diet of turnips
Why was Germany facing military defeat in WW1?
- superior economic assistance provided by the USA to the allies after their entry to the war
(manpower, resources, funding)
- the failed gamble of the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare which brought USA into
the war and underestimating British responses to the invasion of Belgium which brought them
into the war
- Bulgaria asking the allies for a ceasefire which left Austria-Hungary exposed to enemy
penetration
What were the criteria Germany had to comply with first before the USA would accept an
armistice?
- the evacuation of all territory occupied by Germany
- the end of submarine warfare
- the guarantee that the new German government would be fully democratic with no military
influence
What changes were made when Germany became a parliamentary democracy on 28
October 1918?
- the chancellor was now answerable to the Reichstag
- to the ordinary citizen, little changed as:
- Kaiser was still the head of state
- military still had a strong influence in government
- strikes were still illegal
- war continued
, What sparked the German revolution?
The Kiel mutiny on 3 November 1918, involving 20,000 sailors who had felt betrayed upon
hearing the news of Germany's military defeats in the war (news of this was not readily
available, some thought Germany was still winning). It spread resistance across Germany
pressuring the Kaiser to abdicate
What were the terms of Armistice presented to Germany?
- it would have to immediately evacuate France and Belgium
- pay compensation to the allies
- surrender naval fleet
- until Germany agreed to the terms, Britain would continue to maintain its blockade
why was Austria-Hungary facing military defeat in WW1?
- Italy opened up another front in the Alps
- Bad harvest in 1916
- Heavy impacts of the allied blockade
- Russia occupied Galicia
- different regions in the empire were encouraged to operate independently to ensure their own
economic survival (Hungary worked independently, closing off to Austria when the war started)
- Karl I lacked the authority to restore the bonds of the empire
What led to the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian empire?
- In October 1918, Emporer Karl sought an armistice from the allies in return for granting political
freedom to the provinces
- US could not consider offering peace on the same basis as the 14 points (Czechoslovakia
gained independence and was fighting AH) and encouraged regions within the empire to seek
independence as "political freedom" within the empire would not be true
- pressure from nationalists and republicans for Karl I to abdicate
What were the ambitions of Slav nationalists?
- Slavs in Austria grew restless and disloyal in response to the introduction of martial law
-Czechs approached the French to obtain the support for the creation of an independent
Czechoslovakia
- Serbs and Croats worked together on the birth of Yugoslavia
How did the allies encourage nationalists?
the congress of oppressed nationalities met in Rome in April 1918 seeking self determination,
whom the allies encouraged to seek independence from the Austria-Hungarian empire
What were the agreements between Arab nationalists and the allies which shaped their
relations?
- 1915 McMahon-Hussein agreement where the British promised Arabian independence in
return for starting an uprising against the Ottoman Empire to provide relief for the allies
How did nationalists in Eastern Europe view the Russian revolutions?
- Polish nationalists saw it as an opportunity to establish their independence, making
self-determination with new borders
- Pan-Slavs were encouraged by the provisional government to 'decide their own destinies'
- those hoping for political reform were inspired after ordinary Russians had proved it was
possible to force the abdication of a monarch
What were the ambitions of Hungarian nationalists?
- eager for some time to end the country's partnership with Austria
- saw an opportunity for independence as the Emperor's authority waned
How were conditions in Russia's home front by the winter of 1916-1917?
- bread rationing was introduced
- a lack of fuel caused factories to close
- citizens and soldiers focused their anger on Tsar Nicholas
Why was Russia losing WW1?
- poor training of Russian troops
- inadequate supply lines
- lack of imagination of generals
- poor leadership of Tsar Nicholas after he assumed command of the army
What happened during the Russian revolution which started 8 march 1917?
- strikes and rioting broke out in the cities
- people demanded first bread and then the abdication of the Tsar
- Tsar Nicholas ordered the militia to put down the strike but soldiers protested at shooting
citizens protesting their hunger, stopped supporting the Tsar
What were the effects of the Russian revolution on 8 March 1917?
- Nicholas abdicated 15 March 1917
- prompted formation of the Provisional government
Why did the provisional government lose the support of Russians?
- the Russian people demanded an end to the war but the provisional government could not
resign from the war
- daily life under the provisional government was almost indistinguishable from life under the
Tsar with the loss of western credit and hardships of the war effort
How did the Bolsheviks seize power in Russia?
- won support from suffering citizens with the promise for 'peace, land and bread'
- the authority of the Provisional Government was so thin that the Bolsheviks storming of the
winter palace was met with very little resistance
,What was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk? Why did Russia agree to it?
- a harsh peace treaty between Germany and Russia, signed on 3 march 1918
- Most Russian soldiers and citizens were war weary and ready for peace even with such
punishing terms
- Lenin was determined to focus on resolving Russian domestic problems
- Lenin believed revolution in Germany would remove the treaty
What were the terms of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
- Russia lost its territorial rights to Poland, Lithuania, Estonia etc. which Germany and Austria
Hungary had the right to decide its fate
- Russia had to evacuate Finland and recognise the independence of Ukraine
- Germany was given permission to exploit the rich agricultural land Russia had given up
How were conditions in Germany's homefront from 1915?
- the British naval blockade made rationing necessary, preventing receiving resources from
colonies and prevented transportation of goods into Germany
- 763,000 died of starvation or disease, women's mortality rose to around 40%
- harsh winters of 1916-1917 caused citizens to rely on a diet of turnips
Why was Germany facing military defeat in WW1?
- superior economic assistance provided by the USA to the allies after their entry to the war
(manpower, resources, funding)
- the failed gamble of the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare which brought USA into
the war and underestimating British responses to the invasion of Belgium which brought them
into the war
- Bulgaria asking the allies for a ceasefire which left Austria-Hungary exposed to enemy
penetration
What were the criteria Germany had to comply with first before the USA would accept an
armistice?
- the evacuation of all territory occupied by Germany
- the end of submarine warfare
- the guarantee that the new German government would be fully democratic with no military
influence
What changes were made when Germany became a parliamentary democracy on 28
October 1918?
- the chancellor was now answerable to the Reichstag
- to the ordinary citizen, little changed as:
- Kaiser was still the head of state
- military still had a strong influence in government
- strikes were still illegal
- war continued
, What sparked the German revolution?
The Kiel mutiny on 3 November 1918, involving 20,000 sailors who had felt betrayed upon
hearing the news of Germany's military defeats in the war (news of this was not readily
available, some thought Germany was still winning). It spread resistance across Germany
pressuring the Kaiser to abdicate
What were the terms of Armistice presented to Germany?
- it would have to immediately evacuate France and Belgium
- pay compensation to the allies
- surrender naval fleet
- until Germany agreed to the terms, Britain would continue to maintain its blockade
why was Austria-Hungary facing military defeat in WW1?
- Italy opened up another front in the Alps
- Bad harvest in 1916
- Heavy impacts of the allied blockade
- Russia occupied Galicia
- different regions in the empire were encouraged to operate independently to ensure their own
economic survival (Hungary worked independently, closing off to Austria when the war started)
- Karl I lacked the authority to restore the bonds of the empire
What led to the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian empire?
- In October 1918, Emporer Karl sought an armistice from the allies in return for granting political
freedom to the provinces
- US could not consider offering peace on the same basis as the 14 points (Czechoslovakia
gained independence and was fighting AH) and encouraged regions within the empire to seek
independence as "political freedom" within the empire would not be true
- pressure from nationalists and republicans for Karl I to abdicate
What were the ambitions of Slav nationalists?
- Slavs in Austria grew restless and disloyal in response to the introduction of martial law
-Czechs approached the French to obtain the support for the creation of an independent
Czechoslovakia
- Serbs and Croats worked together on the birth of Yugoslavia
How did the allies encourage nationalists?
the congress of oppressed nationalities met in Rome in April 1918 seeking self determination,
whom the allies encouraged to seek independence from the Austria-Hungarian empire
What were the agreements between Arab nationalists and the allies which shaped their
relations?
- 1915 McMahon-Hussein agreement where the British promised Arabian independence in
return for starting an uprising against the Ottoman Empire to provide relief for the allies
