The Challenges Facing Tsar Nicholas II

1. The Challenges Facing Tsar Nicholas II 1914-17

2. 1. It is summer, 1914, and Serbia has asked for your help in its conflict with Austro-Hungary after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Do you: • Do nothing, as no-one from Russia is involved? • A poor decision. You are seen as a weak leader who does not support his allies (0 points) • Act as an intermediary between them, getting them to talk through these difficulties? • A bit better but still seen as an option taken by a weak leader (5 points) • Support your ally Serbia, and declare war on Austro-Hungary? • An extremely popular decision. The people are fully behind you in this decision and come to cheer you as you prepare the army. (10 points)

3. What did Tsar Nicholas do? • c. The Tsar declared war. Crowds came out in support. He had never been quite so popular. Give him 10 points.

4. The war goes badly! • By the end of 1914, over one million soldiers had been killed or wounded. • Food was getting short because peasants had been forced to fight in the army so less food was being produced. • Because of the food shortage, the price of food in the cities rose. • Defeats continued into the start of 1915 and the casualties increased.

5. 2. In August 1915 you sack the current Army Commander for incompetence. You replace him with . . . • Yourself to keep a close eye on things? • A massive mistake. Now you will be blamed for all of Russia’s military defeats (0 points) • Another experienced military officer? • A good idea. Hopefully they know what they’re doing and, if they do badly, you can blame them for all the mistakes. (10 points) • A relative of yours, for example your brother Michael? • A little bit too close to you and looks like favouritism but at least he can still be a scapegoat if things go wrong! (5 points)

6. What did Tsar Nicholas do? • a. Nicholas made a terrible mistake. In August 1915, he decided to take over the running of the war • The defeats continued. By 1917, eight million people had been killed or wounded. • (0 points)

7. 3. It is September 1915 you decide to take control of the army and its fighting. Who will run the government back in Petrograd (the capital) while you are away? • You continue to run the government as well as the army. • Not ideal, it will take a long time for decisions to be made but certainly not the worst of these options. (5 points) • You hand over government affairs to your German wife. • German wife! You are fighting the Germans! (0 points) • You hand over responsibility to the Duma (the Parliament). • Yes, this is the best decision. Keep your Parliament onside. (10 points)

8. What did Tsar Nicholas do? • b. He handed over the day-to-day running of the country to his German wife. (0 points) • People mistrusted her because of her German background – was she a spy? • Added to this, there were rumours she was having an affair with Rasputin – was he actually running the country? • She made a mess of running the country and refused to work with Parliament. • She appointed Rasputin’s friends to important positions in government. • These people were rubbish at organising food, fuel and other supplies. • The railway system fell into chaos and food was left rotting by train stations.

9. 4. It is late autumn, 1916, and food is running short in the cities. Do you: • Take food by force from the people who have it in the countryside? • The peasants might rise up in revolt against you – it would be a big risk! (5 points) • Nothing – it will sort itself out in the Spring? • There are people in the cities starving, they need food now! (0 points) • Take peasants from the army and send them to the countryside to produce more food? • Not a good idea. Your army is already doing badly, you need as many soldiers as possible! (0 points)

10. What did Tsar Nicholas do? • b. The Tsar did nothing. There was plenty of food in the countryside but it simply wasn’t being taken to the cities. He considered taking it by force but was too scared it might start a revolt. • 0 points

11. 5. It is November 1916. The workers in the cities are unhappy with their wages, which have stayed the same throughout the war, as they cannot afford as much food as before because of price inflation. What do you do? • Force the factory owners to pay their workers a higher wage. • It won’t be popular with the factory owners and they might decide to stop producing weapons for war. (0 points) • Do nothing – it is up to the workers and their bosses to sort this out. • The workers will go on strike and stop producing weapons and equipment for the war (0 points) • Say to the workers that you will address their problems, but after the war when there is less chaos. • A risky strategy, but you probably convince them for the time being (5 points)

12. What did Tsar Nicholas do? • b. He did nothing. The workers in the cities went on strike and started demonstrating against the Tsar. • (0 points)

13. 6. You cannot get food to the cities because your trains are being used for the war effort. Your nobles have allied themselves with the Parliament because they are unhappy with the way you are handling the war and the workers are on strike in the cities. Do you . . . • Redeploy trains from the war effort to transfer the food to the cities. • This won’t work. Your railway system isn’t good enough – you only have one train line! (0 points) • Do nothing – it will sort itself out in the Spring. • Oh dear! The problems will only get worse. (0 points) • Surrender to Germany. Try and negotiate the best possible terms with them and focus on your problems at home. • Probably the best option. The Germans would probably let you off lightly as they are desperate to use their whole army against the British and French on the Western Front. You will be able to get food to the cities to stop the strikes. (10 points)

14. What did Tsar Nicholas do? • The Tsar did nothing. His decision to go to war in 1914 had been really popular but now it was creating ALL his problems. • 0 points

15. 7. It is December 1916. The Council of the United Nobility (key allies of yours in Russia) want you to resign for the ‘good of the country’. They are unhappy that so many of their sons have died in the war. They also don’t like the fact that it seems like Rasputin is running the country. What do you do? • Accept their advice and resign. • This might end your problems, but it isn’t holding onto your power. (0 points) • Show that you understand their concerns by getting rid of Rasputin and giving them more of a say in running the country. • A good idea – you need to keep the nobles on your side. (10 points) • Ignore the request – you are too busy running the war effort. • They will be furious and might take matters into their own hands. (0 points)

16. What did Tsar Nicholas do? • He ignored the advice and the request for his resignation. • The nobles were furious and gave their support to the Russian Parliament saying they should take power from the Tsar and force him to abdicate. • In December 1916, a group of Russian nobles murdered Rasputin.

17. 8. It is March 1917 and most of the workers in the capital city, Petrograd, have gone on strike. What do you do? • Send in the army to crush the revolt – show them who is boss! • The army don’t really like you (0 points) • Do nothing – the cold will drive them indoors soon enough. • Things will just get worse! (0 points) • Send a key advisor to listen to their problems – say they will look into it as soon as possible. • It might work, they do think you are chosen by God but might not be willing to listen for long (5 points)

18. What did Tsar Nicholas do? • a. The Tsar ordered that the demonstrations be put down by force. • But the soldiers in Petrograd refused to fire on the crowds, they actually joined the demonstrations demanding that Parliament take over the running of the country.

19. 9. The troops you have sent to put down the strikes have joined them instead and refuse to obey your orders! What do you do? • Appeal to a foreign ally (Britain or France) to send troops over to crush this rebellion. • They are fighting against Germany. They haven’t got any troops to spare! (0 points) • Return to Petrograd (the capital) to try and take control of the situation. • It’s too late now! (0 points) • Ask loyal Russian troops to put down the rebellions and strikes – with force if necessary. • There are no loyal troops anymore! (0 points)

20. What did Tsar Nicholas do? b. He tried to return to Petrograd but it was too late. Railway workers refused to let his train into the city. It was from his train that, on 15th March, the Tsar finally decided to abdicate. The Parliament takes over the running of the country. (0 points)