War chronicle · May–September · Petrograd, Russia
Russia under attack
After a disastrous year, Russian soldiers begin to ask if it’s all worth it.
Germany failed to achieve a quick victory over France in 1914. So now the German high command decides to concentrate on fighting the Russians.
With Austro-Hungarian support, German forces launch a series of major attacks between May and September. They want to destroy the Russian Army and force the government of Tsar Nicholas II to surrender.
The Germans fail to deliver a knockout blow. But they do succeed in conquering Russian Poland, advancing into Russia’s Baltic territories, and helping the Austro-Hungarians win back their province of Galicia. These victories cost the Germans 250,000 men and the Austro-Hungarians 750,000.
The Russians are having a disastrous year, driven back 480km in places and suffering over 2.5 million casualties. Morale plummets, and soldiers start to lose faith in their generals. Soldiers’ families also begin to question whether the sacrifices are worth it
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