Russian+Aims+in+WWI


 * __Russian Aims in World War I__**

ruled Russia as an autocrat and Tsar from 1894 until 1917 after the death of his father, Alexander III. Nicolas and his father did not follow ’s, ideas and philosophies regarding government and politics. Alexander II ruled from 1855-1881and was interested in radically reforming Russia by freeing serfs and producing new councils at a local level. However, Nicolas was very influenced by his father. As Tsar, Nicolas tried to follow in his father’s footsteps by attempting to institute the same policies. Nicolas II attempt to rule Russia on his own, but Russia was too large. During the first couple years of the 20th century, the Russian army was the largest in Europe. At this time, the number of troops that could be called to fight meant more state power. However when Russia came across issues with shortages of funds the Russian government could only call on parts of the draft to serve in the army. (http://www.historyman.co.uk/Russia/index..html).

In the summer of 1914 a sequence of events occurred that ultimately led to the beginning of the First World War. The [|assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand] by the [|Black Hand], a Serbian nationalist secret society, made Austro-Hungarians believe that the best way to punish Serbia was to issue an ultimatum; demanding that the assassins be brought forth. Serbia refused. Because Russia had signed a treaty to aid Serbia, Russia stood up for Serbia and declared war on Austria-Hungary. Russia developed elaborate war aims. Before the First World War, Russia had been working on different political aims due to the transformation of surrounding governments. Russia completed two diplomatic aims after the mobilization against Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1914: 1) the mobilization showed the world that Russia was a strong country andhad a great deal of power; 2) the mobilization showed the world that Russia was not afraid of defending their allies. At the time it seemed that mobilization was the only option for Russia. If they hadn’t mobilized, both these aims would have been incomplete and Russia would have shown the world weakness. Since the 1700s, Russia had been interested in taking over the Turkish Straits, which was one of Russia's only access to the Mediterranean Sea and other trade routes in the south. However,Russia was denied the acquirement of the Turkish Straits especially by members of the [|Triple Entente] and World War I allies. Russia was interested in taking over the Polish territories and mutilating its enemies (Germany and Austria-Hungary). Russia also looked to expand its boarders southward into the Balkans one of its main reasons for entering the war (http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/russia_and_world_war_one.htm).

Although Russia's army did not have significant numbers in the early 20th century, by 1914 the Russian army was the largest in the world. Russia was proud of its 1,400,000 soldiers and, when fully mobilized, an army of over 5,000,000 soldiers. In the fall of 1914, the First and Second Russian Army went against the German Eight Army in lakes and swamps. This battle was to be called the [|Battle of Tannenberg]. After the movement of the First and Second Russian Army, the German Army turned West and attacked a part of the Russian Second Army. The Russian Second Army was eventually defeated. Germany later completely forced the Russian First Army out of Prussia. Near the end of the war, on October 26, 1917, "the Russian government insisted that all belligerent powers open immediate negotiations for peace without annexations, and guarantee the right of every nation to self-determination&quot. The members of the Entente refused to even recognize the decree and continued the war until the Soviet government signed the, which ended four years of hatred between Russia and Germany. ([|marxists.org]) After the war Russia was 8,000,000,000 rubles in debt. They had lost between 900,000 and 2,500,000 troops (http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/RUSfww.htm).

Works Cited Churchill, Winston. //The World Crisis 1911-1918//. Vol. 1. England: Odhams Limited. Print. Gilbert, Martin. //The First World War: A Complete History//. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1994. Print. Griffiths, William R. //The Great War//. Avery Group, 1986. Print. Herwig, Holger H. //The First World War, Germnay and Austria-Hungary, 1914-1918//. New York: St. Martin's, 1997. Print. Keegan, John. //The First World War//. Random House, 1998. Print. Ross, Stewart. //The Causes of World War I//. Austin: Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 2003. Print. "Russia before 1914." History Man. Web. 17 Dec. 2010. Stokesbury, James L. //A Short History of World War I//. New York: William Morrow and Company, 1981. Print. Stone, Norman. //World War One: A Short History//. Basic, 2007. Print. Straubing, Harold Elk. //The Last Magnificent War//. New York: Paragon House, 1989. Print. Winter, Jay. //The Great War and the Twentieth Century//. New Haven: Yale UP, 2000. Print.