How significant was Russia’s defeat in 1917 to the course of the war on the Western Front?
Level
O LEVEL
Year Examined
2020
Topic
THE FIRST WORLD WAR, 1914–18
👑Complete Model Essay
How significant was Russia’s defeat in 1917 to the course of the war on the Western Front?
Was Russia's Defeat in 1917 a Turning Point in World War I?
Russia's departure from World War I in 1917 was undoubtedly a significant event, but its impact on the Western Front's outcome is complex and debated. While it provided Germany with a temporary advantage, arguing that it single-handedly determined the war's course overlooks other crucial factors.
Arguments for significance:
The Bolshevik's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Brest-Litovsk">Treaty of Brest-Litovsk</a> in 1918 provided tangible benefits for Germany. Freed from the Eastern Front, Germany transferred troops westward, bolstering manpower for the 1918 Spring Offensives. The influx of resources from ceded Russian territories also eased Germany's wartime shortages. Moreover, Russia's collapse had psychological repercussions, fueling socialist and communist movements within Germany and demoralizing the remaining Allied powers.
Arguments against significance:
However, Russia's military performance had been faltering before 1917. Crushing defeats like the Battle of Tannenberg (1914) already strained their war effort. Rampant mutinies and desertions plagued the Russian army, diminishing their strategic importance. Furthermore, Germany's gains from Brest-Litovsk proved double-edged. The occupied territories became a logistical burden, diverting manpower from the Western Front.
Other factors contributing to the outcome on the Western Front:
Crucially, the war's outcome hinged on more than just events in the East. The United States' entry in 1917 proved decisive, replenishing Allied manpower and resources. Technological advancements like tanks and aircraft, coupled with innovative tactics like the convoy system, significantly hampered German efforts. Furthermore, Germany's strategic blunders, such as the costly Verdun offensive, had already taken their toll before Russia's collapse.
Conclusion
Russia's 1917 defeat provided Germany with a temporary respite and fueled anxieties among the Allies. However, attributing the Western Front's outcome solely to this event would be an oversimplification. The war's course was shaped by multifaceted factors, including American intervention, technological advancements, strategic miscalculations, and the resilience of the remaining Allied powers. While Russia's departure provided Germany a brief advantage, it was not the decisive factor in determining the war's final outcome.
Sources:
⭐Stone, Norman. "The Eastern Front 1914-1917."
⭐Keegan, John. "The First World War."
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Outline
Thesis:The defeat of Russia in 1917 was significant to the course of the war on the Western Front.
Body Paragraph 1: Impact of Russian Withdrawal
- Bolshevik Decree on Peace and Treaty of Brest-Litovsk removed Russia from the Allied side.
- Loss of territory and resources gave Germany access to vital supplies.
- Germany focused its efforts on the Western Front, sending troops and resources.
Body Paragraph 2: Contribution to German Prolongation
- Russia's exit allowed Germany to concentrate its forces on the Western Front.
- German reserves strengthened the German position and prolonged the fighting.
Body Paragraph 3: Political and Social Repercussions
- Loss of Russia as an ally weakened the Allied morale.
- Encouraged German socialism and communism, contributing to the 1918 German Revolution.
Counterargument Paragraph
- Russia's limited victories and heavy casualties prior to 1917 diminished its impact on the war.
- Mutinies and desertion weakened the Russian army, limiting its effectiveness.
Additional Factors
- US entry into the war provided significant troops to the Western Front.
- Allies developed tactics to counter German submarine warfare.
- Technological advancements (machine guns, tanks) influenced the battles on the Western Front.
- German losses at Verdun and the Somme weakened their war effort.
- Ludendorff Offensive and Battle of Amiens marked the decline of German power.
- British blockade brought shortages to the German Home Front, contributing to the armistice call.
Conclusion
- The defeat of Russia in 1917 significantly shifted the dynamics of the war on the Western Front, giving Germany an advantage and prolonging the fighting.
- However, other factors played a role in shaping the outcome of the war, including the US entry and the technological advancements.
Extracts from Mark Schemes
How significant was Russia’s defeat in 1917 to the course of the war on the Western Front? Explain your answer.
YES:
⭐- Bolsheviks in Russia issued a Decree on Peace in October 1917 and signed Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in 1918.
⭐- Russia lost 290,000 square miles of land including Finland and the Ukraine, 25% of its population, and 25% of its industry, giving the Germans access to vital mineral, fuel, and agricultural resources.
⭐- Germany no longer facing a war on two fronts, it now concentrated on winning on the Western Front.
⭐- Germany sent most of its reserves to the Western Front, prolonging the fighting in 1918.
⭐- Allies lost Russia as an ally.
⭐- Helped to encourage German socialists and communists to form soviets in Germany and led to the ‘revolution from below’ in 1918 (German Revolution) etc.
NO:
⭐- Russia only had relatively few victories in 1914 and suffered heavy defeats at the hands of Field Marshal Hindenburg in 1914–15, with 1.5 million casualties in total.
⭐- Much of Russia’s focus had been on the loss of land on the Austrian Front rather than Germany.
⭐- Mutinies and desertion had weakened the Russian army by 1917 – many soldiers had formed committees and disobeyed their officers and refused to fight.
⭐- More significant – US entry into the war in 1917 saw over 1.1 million troops sent to the Western Front by July 1918.
⭐- War at Sea – unrestricted submarine warfare saw Allies come up with new tactics to prevent Britain from being starved out of the war such as the convoy system.
⭐- New technology – machine guns, tanks, aircraft, artillery, and gas weapons.
⭐- Battles of Verdun and Somme – huge German losses that could not be recouped.
⭐- Ludendorff Offensive and Battle of Amiens – the final offensive saw a massive counteroffensive by Allies that finished off the German war effort.
⭐- British blockade led to shortages on the German Home Front and increased calls for an armistice etc.