In discussing Russias role in the past World War, it is customary to cite the losses sustained by the Russian Army, losses running into many millions. There is no doubt that Russias sacrifices were great, and it is just as true that her losses were greater than those sustained by any of the other Allies. Nevertheless, these sacrifices are by far not the only standard of measurement of Russias participation in this gigantic struggle. Russias role must be gauged, first of all, by the efforts made by the Russian Army to blast the German war plans during the first years of the War, when neither America, nor Italy, nor Romania were among the belligerents, and the British Army was still in the process of formation. Secondly, and this is the main thing, the role played by the Russian Army must be considered also in this respect that the strenuous campaign waged by Russia, with her 180 millions of inhabitants, for three years against Germany, Austro-Hungary and Turkey, sapped the resources of the enemy and thereby made possible the delivery of the final blow. This weakening of the powers of the enemy by Russia was already bound at various stages of the War to facilitate correspondingly the various operations of the Allies. Therefore, at the end of the War, three years of effort on the part of Russia had devoured the enemys forces, enabling the Allies to finally crush the enemy. The final catastrophe of the Central Powers was the direct consequence of the offensive of the Allies in 1918, but Russia made possible this collapse to a considerable degree, having effected, in common with the others, the weakening of Germany, and having consumed during the three years of strenuous fighting countless reserves, forces, and resources of the Central Powers. Could Germany have won the War? A careful analysis of this question brings home the conviction that Germany was very close to victory, and that it required unusual straining of efforts on the part of France and Russia to prevent Germany from winning out.
Question: If it were not for Russia, Germany would have won the war
Options:
A. true, B. false, C. uncertain
Answer: A