The History of~World War 1 (Part 5: Russia Out, America in)

As we left off from our last page (click here), we talked about how both sides made a breakthrough on both fronts (the Western Alliance made a breakthrough on the Western front, and the Central Powers made a breakthrough on the Eastern Front.

But the war is still very much in a stalemate.

In this part of this wiki page series, we'll talk about how the Western Alliance lost (and gained) an ally as Russia got out of the war, and America got into the war. How did it happen? Well, let's begin.

## Russia Out

Since the outbreak of World War 1, Russia fought in many battles in an attempt to help out Serbia. Before the war, Russia (like Germany) came up with a plan in how to deal with their enemies, Russian General *Yuri Danilov* came up with what is known in English as *"Plan 19"*, this plan was made upon hearing about the Schlieffen Plan (which is Germany's plan to invade France through Belgium). Because Germany would be preoccupied with invading France, Russia wanted to invade Germany. Originally, Plan 19 was to have 4 Russian army divisions to Invade Germany from East Prussia. But, arguments emerged about the plan and some other Russian high commanding officers said that Austria-Hungary would also be a threat (even more so than Germany), so the plan changed and had the 4 army divisions plot into 2 (as 2 would invade Austria-Hungary, and the other 2 would defend Russia's holdings and the Baltic Regions from invading Germany.

As the 2 divisions invading Austria-Hungary had success, the 2 divisions defending what would be known as Poland (like Tannenberg and Ludz~pronounced as "Wootch") proved disastrous for the Russian army.

As the war went on, Russia's problems would escalate, and not just for the Russian Military, but its civilians back home.

### Russian Revolution (February)

**Forward:**This is going to be a summary of the event. For the Russian Revolution in more detail, click here.

At the beginning of 1917, and as the Russian Military would suffer more defeats on the frontlines, this made the Russian Tsar *Nicholas the 2nd* look bad among the Russian public, and because the Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers they also created a blockade in the Black Sea, blocking Russia's access to precious supplies. This would also cause an economic crisis in Russia.

The combination of the war, an economic crisis, food such as bread on very short supply, and a labor strike led to a series of protests all over western Russia by February 23 (or March 8 on the current calendar), and many blame the Tsar for these series of events.

As is tradition, going against the Tsar is going against the god Orthodox Christians worshiped. So Nicholas ordered his army of cossack guards to fire upon the protesters. Although some shot at them (killing some of them in the process), most did not, and some of them even joined in on the protest against the Tsar.

Eventually, as the Tsar's train was stopped by protesters (as the Tsar was coming back from leading troops on the Eastern Front). This forces Nicholas to abdicate the throne on March 2 (or March 15 on the current calendar), and because Alexei was too young (and physically unfit to rule) the Tsar dynasty ends.

The State Duma (which formed by Nicholas in 1905 after a small revolution) became the provisional government, led by Alexander Kerensky, the government turned Russia into a republic. They did try to make some political reforms and even turned over some of the decisions of the Tsar.

### Summer Troubles

Despite this, the provisional government decided to keep Russia in the war (due to its allies: Serbia and Romania) this also continued the food shortages and took land away from the peasants.

This made the Provisional Government unpopular with the Russian Public. Thus an organization was fired called the *"Petrograd Soviet Council of Worker's Deputies"* (or just Soviets) to represent them.

Meanwhile, a follower of Karl Marx's communist teachings, *Vladimir Lenin* went over Europe to begin communist revolutions, he was then given funds by Germany to help begin a revolution in Russia in hopes to knock Russia out of the war. Lenin then formed a radical Communist group known as the *"Bolsheviks"* and after launching a failed attempt at a coup in July, he was sent into exile. But after a failed offensive by the Provisional Government, as well as another coup by Russian general *Lavir Kornilov* on August 22 (or September 4 on the current calendar). The Bolsheviks were given a second chance at another coup as the Bolsheviks had a flood of party membership (including men like Joseph Stalin and Lenin's former friend Leon Trotsky).

### Russian Revolution (October)

On October 24 (or November 7 on the current calendar), the Bolsheviks led another coup against the Provisional Government at the Winter Palace, this time the Bolsheviks were successful and they overthrew the Provisional Government.

### Russia finally out

On March 3, 1918. Leon Trotsky negotiated with the Germans to a treaty known as *"The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk"*. Officially ending Russia's involvement in the war.

However, this would have some consequences. First, all of the German and some of the Austrian-Hungarian military that was fighting in the Eastern Front are now recalled to fight on the Western Front, bolstering Germany's defenses there.

Another consequence is that Romania who was also fighting a losing battle against the Central Powers and lost Russia which has been Romania's ally was forced to surrender, dropping them out of the war too.

Just as it seems that the Central Powers were turning the tide of the war in their favor, and the Western Alliance may lose the war, the Alliance will get more help, from a better national power. The United States of America.

## America In

At the beginning of the war, the USA (under the leadership of Woodrow Wilson) decided to declare neutrality, largely due to Wilson's disinterest in getting the USA into the war, and the large population of the country's immigrants is from Germany.

But that changed in 1915 when the Germans used their "unrestrictive" U-Boat warfare and destroyed the British cruise ship, the *RMS Lusitania* which had a large number of American passengers on board.

A year earlier, the Germans were.............not so nice to the Belgians as they invaded their nation (to follow the Schlieffen plan). This prompted America's banks to help fund the Western Alliance to bring Britain and France more money as well as more precious supplies such as weapons, ammo, and food.

A while after that, Germany also had the idea of bringing Mexico into the war (under the fear of the USA joining the war on the side of the Western Alliance), to keep the USA occupied fighting against Mexico and keep them from helping Britain and France, and also promised that if the Central Powers win the war, Mexico can have the southwestern US region (the region Mexico lost in the Mexican-American War, including California and Texas).

Though, Germany eventually tried to relay the message to Mexico. But the message was intercepted by intelligence agents from Britain, who then sent the message to the USA.

With this message, as well as German U-Boats sinking American Merchant ships bringing crucial supplies to Britain and France. The USA finally decided to join the war on the side of the Western Alliance on April 6, 1917.

But, the USA wouldn't be ready for a war for another year. US Troops didn't come in until the summer of 1918 in a major battle in the Aisne.

But this is still anybody's war. But by 1918, the Central Powers will find their backs up against the wall, and eventually, they would lose.

That is what we'll talk about in the last part of this wiki page series. How the war ended, and what happened after the war. Until next time, this is JohnnyOTGS signing out.