World War I and the Crisis of Tsarist Leadership

The internal divisions and crises within Russian society. The outbreak of World War I and Russia's place in Europe; reasons for going to war and the significance of the Russian Army; military successes and failures (Tannenberg, the Masurian Lakes and the Brusilov Offensive); conditions on the home front; and the leadership of Tsar Nicholas II, including his decision to take personal control of the army and the impact of Tsarina Alexandra and Rasputin ('ministerial leapfrogging').