Events
Russia enters the war. The outbreak is greeted with enthusiasm as workers and peasants participate.Battle of Tannenberg: more 30 000 Russian troops killed/wounded and 90 000 captured.
Initial enthusiasm for the war starts to disappear.The Tsar assumed supreme command of the Russian Army fighting on the Eastern Front. His wife stayed in charge at home.Due to disastrous attempts to halt the Germans' Gorlice-Tarnow Offensive, Russia had now lost 1.7 mil soldiers and 2 mil held as prisoners of war.The price of foods in Petrograd had increased sixfold.In order to increase their wages, industrial workers went on strike and Petrograd people took the street demanding food.A large crowd marched through the streets of Petrograd breaking the shop windows and shouting anti-war slogans.The workers of Putilov Ironworks locked out its workforce after they demanded higher wages. The soldiers were told to disperce the crowd but they refused and many even joined instead.International Women's Day
Protestors demanded bread and marched to nearby factories bringing out over 50 000 workers on strikeNicholas II oredered the Dume to close down. Memberrs refused and continues to meet and discuss what to do.
President of the Duma Rodzianko sent a letter to Tsar suggesting that he appoint a new government.
When the Tsar didn't reply, the Duma nominated a provisional government lead by Prince George Low.200 000 workers were on strike. Nicholas II oredered the commander of Petrograd to suppress "all the disorders on the streets of the capital. Troops either fired on the strikers or joined them.The Tsar abdicated leaving the Provisional Government in control of the countryPeriods
The winter was severe. Food shortages in cities and high food prices - got worse in the countryside.
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