IGCSE History: World War I – Why did Russia withdraw from the war?

IGCSE History: World War I – Why did Russia withdraw from the war? Why did Russia join the war in the first place? ● Austria (supported by Germany) declared war on Russia’s ally Serbia. Resulting in Russia joining the war on Serbia’s side. ● Russia joined the war in August 1914. ● Russia also went to war to help France and Britain. ● Russia, France and Britain then formed the Triple Entente (Triple Alliance). What happened? ● By the end of 1914 Russia had lost 1 million men. ● End of 1915, 13% of the Russian population (16 million people) was under German and Austrian control. Early Stages of the Fighting: Russians advanced 160km into Austria then split into two groups to enter East Prussia. German army trapped the second army at Tannenberg resulting in the Battle of Tannenberg (26th – 29th August, 1914): ● 70 000 Russia troops were killed. ● 50 000 Russia troops were taken prisoner. ● General Samsonov committed suicide because of this. The first army, led by Rennenkampf, advanced to the Masurian Lakes leading to the Battle of the Masurian Lakes (5th – 9th September, 1914): ● 125 000 Russian soldiers killed and wounded. ● 45 000 Russian troops taken prisoner. May 1915. ● Austro-German offence then drove the Russians back 480km to their own territories but it was ended by the extreme Russian winter which saved Russia from defeat. ● Then the Russian’s counter-attacked with General Brusilov in the lead; this is known as the Brusilov Offensive (June 4th – September 20th, 1916). ● They retook much of the land they had just lost but the Germans counter-attacked and dealt one million casualties unto the enemy ● This counter-attack by Germany saved the Austrians from defeat.