*** Tsar Nicholas World War I









Tsar Nicholas: World War I (1914-18)


Figure 1.--

Russia was unprepared for War. It had huge army once mobilized, but did not have the industrial base to properly equip them with modern weapons. The Russian soldiers fought bravely, but suffered devestating losses, bith from the Germans and from inadequate supplies. Tsar Nicholas assumed command of the Army at the front. This was probably a mistake necause it made him personally responsible for the military disasters. And in addition to the disasters at the front, with so many men conscripted from rural areas, the harbests were inadequate to feed Russia. And the Allies had no way of supplying Russia because the Germans doiminated the Baltic and the Turks masinaimned control of the straits leading o the Black Sea ports. The result was Revolution. Nicholas II abdicated on March 2, 1917, in favor of his brother Michael. No fool, Michael renounced his claim the next day. After the abdication, the royal family first remained in Czarskoe Selo then, by decision of the interim government, were transported to Siberia. The Bolshevik government in April 1918 decided to move the Imperial family to Ekaterinburg in the Urals. Here Lenin ordered them to be shot on July 17, 1918. The bodies were hidden and have only recently been found and identified. They were given a Christian burial in 199?.

Willie-Nikki Telegrams (1914)

In the days leading up to World War I, the two exchanged telegrams in a vain attempt to avoid war--the famous Dear Nikki and Willi telegrams. Nicholas wanted to only mobilise against Austria-Hungary, but is generals explained that this was impossible. He thus ordered a general mobilisation (meanig against Germany as well as Austria-Hungary). The two attempted to renew the "personal diplomacy" of Bj�rk�. They tried to avoid war with Russia by an exchange of telegrams. Nicholas assured Wilhelm in a telegram that the mobilisation was NOT against Germany. This was unacceptable to Wilhelm and his ministers. Thus the the telegrams proved futile. Wilhelm ordered the activization of the Schlieffen Plan launching World War I. The major powers declared war.

War Declared

When war was initially declared with Germany, the Royal Family was at sea, enjoying the glorious summer weather. On one occasion, as they were returning to port, Nicholas and the Captain went ashore to discuss tactics with some generals. The ship was to remain circling around the fjords. It was raining, so visibility was low. With the Captain and the Tsar absent, Alexei was in command. While he was playing with a friend in his state room, he was summoned to the bridge. When he arrived, they informed him that an unidentified ship was approaching. Knowing well that the war had just started and they could be in danger, he made his decision. He had the crew plot an intercept course and load all weapons. Once they were in weapons range, without hesitation, he ordered them to fire. It was a direct hit on their aft section of the other ship which came about and was preparing to return fire. Knowing this, Alexei ordered evasive maneuvers. The unidentified ship returned fire, but missed. Then as it closed on them, one of the crewman was able to see it clearly with some binoculars. He recognized it as being the Polar Star, his grandnmother's yacht. Then, Alexei ordered the Standart to all stop and he had the crew run up the white flag. The Polar Star slowed it's approach. Alexei finally ordered the Standart to go alongside of the Polar Star to bring survivors aboard. This incident was not reported at the time Alexei was not punished for what he did. Dispite the result, he did do the right thing. An unidentified ship was approaching them during a time of war. He had no way of knowing that it was his grandmother's ship, since their radio was out. A HBC reader questions the accuaracy of this account. HBC will look into it.

Eastern Front Disasters

The war on the eastern front with Germany proved a steady stream of disasters. Two entire Russian armies were desimated by the German tandum of Hindenburg and Lundendorf. This disaster and the preformance of a poorly armed and led Russian army resulted in enormous losses and untold suffering to the Russian people. The disasters of 1914 in reality saved France. The French Army could have nevered stopped the German juggernaught on the Marne had the Germans not been forced to divide their forces. Only minor British units were able to be marashalled in August and that first month the French and the gallant Belgians led by Leopold II fought the Germans alone.

Personal Command

The Tsar disappointed with the course of the war, decided to take personal command of the Army. The generals thought this was the wrong decision. They were probably correct. Nicholas had no military experience or ability. As the generals advised him, if the war continued to go badly, the people would blame Nicholas persionally. Even worse it meant that he was away from the capital and unable to deal with the worsening political situation. Alexandra proved unequal to the task. Her political efforts and her German heritage just further weakened the status of the royal family.

Alexei Joins His Father

Alexei was eventually allowed to join his father at the front. While Alexei was at the front, he stayed at the military base at Stavka. Alexei's presence had a profound effect on the troops. He was a sign of hope for the future to these troops. He would accompany his father on inspections, and diplomatic functions. He did all this for around 9 months, then something (only rumored and not proven) may have profoundly affected his relatiinship with his father. Unsubstantiated rumors suggest that one day in mid-summer 1915, Alexei, his Tutor Pierre Gilliard, The Tsar, and a General went into a military hospital.

Shortages

In addition to the disasters at the front, with so many men conscripted from rural areas, the harbests were inadequate to feed Russia. And the Allies had no way of supplying Russia because the Germans doiminated the Baltic and the Turks masinaimned control of the straits leading o the Black Sea ports.

Revolution

The war continued to go very badly for the Russians. Back home the Tsar's popularity fell drastically in Petrograd as conditions deteriorated. His wife was running the government into the ground. And from the sideline, Alexei watched as his future fell apart. With reports of riots in Petrogard, the Tsar attempted to return, but was stopped and forced to abdicate his throne (March 2, 1917). He abdicated in favor of his brother Michael. This mean that Alexei was no longer in line to inherit the throne. No fool, Michael renounced his claim the next day. After Nicholas abdicated, the Duma formed a Provisional Government. When Nicholas returned to Tsarskoe-Selo, the Provisional Government placed him and his family under arrest. At first the royal family first remained in Czarskoe Selo then, by decision of the interim government, were transported to Tobolsk in Siberia. arrest. The new Provisional Government was willing to allow the royal family to leave Russia. Foreign Minister Miliukov asked British Prime Minister Lloyd George to grant the family asylum. The British, however, refused. King George V feared that the offering asylum to the Tsar who was seen by many as a despot would weaken his position. Primeminister Alexander Kerensky moved the royal family to an run-down mansion in Tobolsk on Liberty Street. The Government restored it and created a comfortable residence. Nicholas and Alexandra haa bedroom. The grand duchesses shared another bedroom and Alexei had a room. the Provisional Government apprpriated a pension of 200,000 rubles a year. Soldiers guarded them more for protection than inprisonment. Nuns and farmers nearby helped to provision them. The Bolsevicks seized power overthrowing the Provisional Government (November 15, 1917). The Bolsheviks made changes in the treatment of the royal family.





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Created: 12:43 AM 8/16/2009
Last updated: 5:14 AM 6/9/2014