Foreign Policy, 1905-1914 Russia in World War I
War Aims and Strategies






World War I : the War



A.) The events leading to World War I

Following the assassination of it's archduke Franz Ferdinand by Serbian secret agent Gavrilo Princip on June 28th 1914, Austria-Hungary on July 28th declared war on Serbia. Russia, which had signed a mutual defense pact with Serbia, immediately declred a partial mobilization (July 29th), then a total mobilization (Jult 30th) of it's forces. Germany demanded Russia in a 12-hour ultimatum to discontinue it's mobilization (July 31st). Russia did not respond; Germany, on August 1st, declared war on Russia. World War I had begun.


B.) Russia's reasons for entering the War

Russia, with the largest population among Europe's nations, hoped to be able to use it's superior numbers. Russian policy also counted on the Slavic population of countries under Austro-Hungarian rule being sympathic to Russia's cause. Russia regarded the situation an opportunity to finally get even with Austria-Hungary (France had reassured Russia of it's loyalty to the Russo-French alliance of 1894 on July 23rd), which had spoiled Russian policy in the Balkans for too long. And the war was regarded a distraction to a Russian population unruly, dissatisfied with the economic and political situation.
In addition, the Russian administration believed that a war might rally the population, considerable groups of which were critical of the political system, to the national cause and thus unify the nation, stabilize government.


C.) The German/Austrian Front in 1914

Germany had assumed that in the event of a two-front-war, 2/3 of it's soldiers had to be deployed on the western front and 1/3rd on the eastern front. However, Russia was well-prepared when the war broke out, occupying much of East Prussia and most of GALICIA as well as the BUKOVINA by the end of the year. The Galician fortress of PRZEMYSL, regarded as impregnable, fell within days.
The swiftness of Russia's advance forced the German OHL (High Command of the Army) to withdraw troops assigned to the offensive against France in the west and deploy them eastward. Here, the German Army, under the command of PAUL VON HINDENBURG and ERICH LUDENDORFF, faced a Russian army of 160.000 in the BATTLE OF TANNENBERG (Aug. 26th-30th). The German line repulsed wave after wave of Russian attack and was able to encicle the larger part of the Russian army. 50.000 Russians fell, 90.000 were taken prisoner, General ALEXANDER SAMSONOV, the Russian commander committed suicide. In the BATTLE OF THE MASURIAN LAKES (Sept. 6th-15th), the Russians were again defeated. The front was stabilized.


D.) The Armenian Front in 1914

Here it was Ottoman forces who initially penetrated into Russian Caucasus territory, occupying Kars and parts of Georgia.


E.) The German/Austrian Front in 1915-1916

In 1915, the central powers launched an offensive, liberating most of the areas occupied by Russia in 1914 as well as occupying most of Congress Poland, Lithuania proper and Courland. In August 1916 Rumania declared war on Germany and Austria-Hungary. Russia took the initiative again by launching the 1ST BRUSSILOV OFFENSIVE (June-Dec. 1916) which resulted in heavy losses and small gains (Russia, aided by Rumania's entry into the war, managed to reoccupy the Bukovina). Things came to a halt in the severe winter months.


F.) The Armenian Front in 1915-1916

In the course of 1915 the Russian army expelled the Ottoman forces from (Russian) Georgia and pushed into Ottoman (Armenian) territory. Until August 1916 they advanced, occupying vast areas including Erzurum and Van. Then the Ottoman forces again took the offensive.







EXTERNAL
FILES 		The Battle of Tannenberg, from Spartacus Schoolnet
Russia at War, 1914-1916, from Library of Congress, Country Studies (scroll down)
DOCUMENTS Images from Chronik 2000 Bilddatenbank : Russians surrendering in the Battle of Tannenberg, 1914
REFERENCE


This page is part of World History at KMLA
First posted in 2000, last revised on November 8th 2004

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