The Eastern Front, 1917

By 1917 internal conditions in Russia were in disarray. Strikes, riots, and mutinies in Petrograd (St. Petersburg) led to the March Revolution and the abdication of Czar Nicholas II (March 15). A provisional government was formed, headed first by Prince George Lvov and later by Alexander Kerensky. In the hope of again establishing discipline and fighting spirit, Kerensky decided to launch an offensive on the Galician front.

The offensive began July 1. It was successful at first, but by July 20 discipline had almost completely disappeared. When the Germans and Austrians counterattacked, the Russian forces along the entire front in Galicia fell back in disorderly retreat. By August all that Brusilov had won in 1916 was lost. In September the Germans easily captured Riga. Shortly afterward, a German fleet entered the Gulf of Riga and the Germans gained a foothold in Estonia and Livonia. The Germans were now within striking distance of Petrograd.

Meanwhile, the Germans had allowed V. I. Lenin to pass from Switzerland through Germany to Russia, hoping that the Bolshevik leader would stir up trouble for the provisional government. Lenin's forces overthrew the government November 7. The Bolsheviks began peace negotiations in December. However, these talks failed and a new German drive into Russia (February, 1918) forced the Russians to accept Germany's terms. The Bolsheviks signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk on March 3, 1918. The Germans were free to concentrate all of their efforts on the Western Front.