World War One (Days 8/9)Learning Target: I can identify and explain the major events of the Eastern Front of World War One. Additionally, I can explain the historical importance of the Eastern Front of World War One. Directions: ? After each reading, answer the content-comprehension and reading-comprehension questions. The Eastern Front of World War One Kicks OffThe Eastern Front of World War One began on August 1, 1914 when Germany declared war on Russia. On August 6, 1914, the Austro-Hungarian Empire followed their German allies and declared war on Russia as well.The Russians, still recovering from a devastating war against Japan in 1905, and protests domestically, planned for six weeks of preparation before invading Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. However, rapid advances by the German Army on the Western Front forced the French to ask their Russian allies for an immediate attack on the Eastern Front to relieve pressure. Unprepared but ready to aid their allies, the Russians invaded the German province of East Prussia in August of 1914.1) The Eastern Front began when two Central Powers declared war on Russia. Who were those Central Powers?a) Answer =b) Answer =2) Despite declarations of war against them, the Russians planned for six weeks of preparation before invading Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Why?a) Answer =b) Answer =3) The Russians invaded Germany despite being unprepared. Why?a) Answer =4) The Russians kicked off the Eastern Front by invading what German province?a) Answer = The Battle of Tannenberg on the Eastern Front of World War OneWhile invading the German province of East Prussia in August of 1914, Russia sent in two armies. The First Russian Army attacked in the north, while the Second Russian Army attacked in the south. The goal was to surround the German forces and force them to surrender quickly, achieving victory on the Eastern Front.Separated by the great Masurian Lakes, the two Russian armies were unable to communicate effectively. On August 26, 1914, the Germans surprisingly attacked the Second Russian Army in the south in what became known as the Battle of Tannenberg. Unable to communicate with the First Russian Army in the north for aid, the Russians in the south were bombarded with heavy German artillery. After three days of brutal fighting, the Russians retreated. However, they quickly ran into German troops behind their front lines. They were surrounded and a massive slaughter ensued. In the wee hours of August 30, 1914, Russian general Samsonov committed suicide and the Russians surrendered. When the battle came to a close, Russia had lost 50,000 soldiers to death and 92,000 as prisoners of war.Despite the terrible losses on the Russian side, the Russian attack on East Prussia and the Battle of Tannenberg forced the Germans to send in reinforcements from the Western Front. This weakened their attack on France and allowed French and British forces to protect Paris, leading to the brutal trench warfare on that front. 5) What was the goal of the Russian attack on the East Prussian province of Germany?a) Answer =6) When did the Battle of Tannenberg begin?a) Answer =7) Which Russian Army was attacked at the Battle of Tannenberg?a) Answer =8) Why didn’t the First Russian Army in the north provide aid to the Second Russian Army in the south during the Battle of Tannenberg?a) Answer =9) How many men did Russia lose during the Battle of Tannenberg?a) Deaths =b) Prisoners of war =10) Despite terrible Russian losses at the Battle of Tannenberg, the attack on East Prussia was successful because it forced the Germans to send reinforcements from what other area?a) Answer =11) Because of this, the French and British forces prevented the capture of what city?a) Answer = War on the Eastern Front of World War OneWar on the Eastern Front of World War One was very different from war on the Western Front. Because of the large border between Germany/Austro-Hungarian Empire and Russia, war on the Eastern Front became a war of movement, in which large areas of land would be lost and gained. This was in stark contrast to war on the Western Front, which involved a war of trenches.Similar to the Western Front, however, the Eastern Front saw great numbers in terms of casualties. The primary reason for this revolved around Russia being the least industrialized nation of the war. Despite doing its best to produce rifles and other machines of war, the Russians lacked effective roads and railways to ship weapons to the front lines. As a result, the Russians were often under-armed in battle. As so, 1.7 million Russians lost their lives on the battlefields of the Eastern Front, second only to Germany (who fought on both fronts). In addition to that, Russia lost 4.9 million to injuries and 2.5 million as prisoners of war. Over 75% of its soldiers in the war met death, injury, or prison.12) War on the Eastern Front was very different from war on the Western Front. Explain.a) War on Eastern Front =b) War on Western Front = War of trenches13) War on the Eastern Front was similar to war on the Western Front because both saw great numbers in terms of what?a) Answer =14) Why were Russian soldiers often under-armed in battle?a) Answer =15) How many men did Russia lose on the Eastern Front of World War One?a) Deaths =b) Injuries =c) Prisoners = Eastern Front of World War One from 1914 to 1917Despite its early losses, the Russians continued to fight the Germans along its northern border and the Austro-Hungarians along its southern border.From August 23, 1914 until September 11, 1914, the Austro-Hungarians and the Russians fought in the Battle of Galicia. The battle was a success for the Russians, as they inflicted 350,000 casualties among the Austro-Hungarian Army. This failure on behalf of the Austro-Hungarian Army forced the German Army into a more active role on the Eastern Front, stretching their resources thin.After the Battle of Galicia, the Russians and the Germans (Austro-Hungarians) fought to a bloody stalemate during the years of 1914 and 1915. Then, in 1916, the Russians launched the Brusilov Offensive.The Brusilov Offensive was issued following a request from French forces, who were struggling with the Germans at the Battle of Verdun on the Western Front. To aid their allies, the Russians planned to launch an offensive attack on the Eastern Front. Meanwhile, the British were to launch an offensive at the Battle of the Somme on the Western Front. Both planned offensives were formulated to draw German troops away from Verdun on the Western Front.The Brusilov Offensive was led by Alexei Brusilov and began on June 4, 1916. The initial attack netted the Russians 26,000 Austro-Hungarian soldiers. Within two days, the Austro-Hungarian Army was on the brink of defeat. Needing support, they called on the Germans. The Germans then sent four divisions of soldiers from the Western Front to fight against the Russians.On September 20, 1916 the Brusilov Offensive was shut down due to a lack of supplies and unrest at home. Despite that, however, the Brusilov Offensive is considered the greatest moment for the Russians during World War One. It diverted German troops from the Western Front, allowing the Allied Powers to ultimately launch their own offensives and win the war. Additionally, it decimated the Austro-Hungarian Army, rendering it useless the rest of the war.16) From 1914 to 1917, the Russians continued to fight two enemies on the Eastern Front of World War One. Who were those enemies?a) Answer =b) Answer =17) From August 23, 1914 until September 11, 1914, the Russians defeated the Austro-Hungarians in what battle?a) Answer =18) In 1916, the Russians launched an offensive called what?a) Answer =19) The Brusilov Offensive was launched to aid what ally?a) Answer =20) The Brusilov Offensive was led by what man?a) Answer =21) When did the Brusilov Offensive begin?a) Answer =22) The Brusilov Offensive was the greatest moment for the Russians during World War One. Why?a) Answer =b) Answer = Russia Bows Out of World War OneIn 1918, Russia, coming off its most successful moment of World War One with the Brusilov Offensive, was forced to exit the fight due to its own problems at home called the Russian Revolution.Discontent among the citizens of Russia began with its leader, Czar Nicholas II. As leader of the army, citizens blamed him for the 1.7 million soldiers left dead on the battlefields of the Eastern Front. Additionally, they resented him for the rise in prices of fuel and food shortages. Their hatred boiled over when Czar Nicholas II left the capital of Russia to run the military efforts of the war. In his place, his wife appointed a man named Grigory Rasputin. Rasputin was unqualified and corrupt. He was murdered on December 29, 1916. Faced with no other option, the citizens of Russia revolted against its government in 1917. The Russian Revolution, or Bolshevik Revolution, put the Soviet Communists in charge of Russia. In 1918, Russia signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany, ending its role in World War One and ending the Eastern Front for good.Led by Vladmir Lenin, the communists, known as the Red Army, fought the White Army for control of Russia in a civil war. In 1922, with a Red Army victory, Russia was renamed the Soviet Union. The communist state seized land from the peasants, took control of the entire economy, arrested traitors en masse, and instituted censorship. From this point forward, communist Soviet Union would become the archenemy of capitalistic nations like the United States.23) In 1918, Russia was forced to exit World War One because of a revolution. What was that revolution called?a) Answer =24) Before the Russion Revolution, Russian citizens were upset with its leader, Czar Nicholas II. Why?a) How many dead in war? =b) Rising prices of what? =c) Shortages of what? =d) Unqualified and corrupt government official? =25) What is another name for the Russian Revolution?a) Answer =26) In 1918, Russia exited World War One by signing a treaty with Germany. What was the name of that treaty?a) Answer =27) After exiting World War One, Russia fought a civil war. What were the names of the two armies in that civil war?a) Answer =b) Answer =28) In 1922, Russia was renamed to what?a) Answer =29) The Soviet Union, run by communists, led through force and corruption. Provide four examples.a) What did they seize? =b) What did they take control of? =c) Who did they arrest en masse? =d) What did they institute? =30) Communist Soviet Union would become the archenemy of capitalistic nations like who?a) Answer = The Importance of the Eastern Front of World War OneThe Eastern Front of World War One is important for several reasons. First, it forced the Germans to move troops from the Western Front in order to fight the Russians. This made them weaker on the Western Front, ultimately helping the Allied Powers win there. Secondly, Russia’s heavy involvement in the war effort helped spur on the Russian Revolution, which led to the first communist state being born. Finally, Russia turning into a communist state made it the archenemy of the United States, a capitalist state. This feud would ultimately lead to the Cold War between the two states.31) The Eastern Front of World War One was important. Provide evidence:a) It forced what nation to move troops from the Western Front? =b) It helped the Allied Powers win on what front? =c) It spurred on what revolution? =d) It turned Russia into a communist state, making it the archenemy of what state? =e) It led to what “war” between the United States and the Soviet Union? = Video Clip: Russian Revolution