How World War 1 significantly contributed to the fall of the Romanov DynastyTarnee Voglsinger
The beginning of the 20th century brought radical changes to the social and political structure of autocratic Russia. It was a period of regression, reform, revolution and eradication. Eradication of a blood line that had remained in rule for over 300 years; the Romanov Dynasty.
World War 1 was a crucial and defining factor which led to the collapse of the Romanov Dynasty in February, 1917. Without it a revolution would not have happened at this point in time. This is not to say a revolution would not have eventually happened, as there were many other contributing factors that sparked the revolution. However, what World War 1 essentially did was to heighten discontent throughout society enough for it to revolt.
Before the 20th century, the Romanov family was viewed by the people of Russia as leaders ‘sent from God’. However as the 20th century neared, this admiration the public possessed for the royal family receded and was replaced by intellect. A growing sense of political and social awareness of the lower classes, as well as the introduction of democratic ideas from the West had sparked a change. The twentieth century saw the birth of new ideologies such as Leninism, Marxism, Liberalism and Socialism. These ideologies proposed new models of government techniques and questions the ruling of the Romanov Dynasty.
The Tsar saw World War 1 as a chance to restore Russia’s faith in his authority and regain support for autocratic rule. Political differences were put aside as Russians joined to fight the common enemy defending their homeland. Even urban discontent, which had been expressed in an increasing number of political and economic strikes in the first half of the year, vanished.
But WWI was an absolute disaster to Russia, which all Russia had brought home, was shame and terrible defeats. The soldiers were poorly equipped, which of 10 soldiers, only 7 had proper artilleries or weapons to fight with. Insufficient communication had disconnected the government with the military. There was shortage in food supply, as well as medical services. Most peasants were named to fight in war, no matter if they were young or old, weak or sick, they all had to attend war, under the system of autocrat. The poor war condition had resulted thousands of deaths. At the battle of Tannenburg, Russia lost 160,000 men to Germans and there were also great defeats in Poland, Baltic, Ukraine as well as White Russia. Because of such situation, soldiers demanded for peace, but the government decided to keep fighting, much until 1917. As the war defeat continu...
