I definitely think that these Revolutions were seen as a first step in a long series of trials and tribulations moving forward, that would help ultimately bring Russia back to a great power status on the international stage. I also think that the revolutions had a long term strategic goal of making Russia a great ideological influencer on the international stage as well.
Author: zaneg96
Comment on Order No. 1 by zaneg96
I really enjoyed your analysis of Order No. 1, Thomas. I had never thought of it before as the military being used as a testing ground for the bureaucracy (as you said) implemented within the Soviet Union moving forward. I do wonder how getting rid of the honorifics used to address officers, and the attempts to create a more balanced playing field and less formality overall, impacted the effectiveness and discipline of the Russian (and later) Soviet military forces?
Comment on The Treaty of Brest Litvosk by zaneg96
Kelly,
Your post on the Treaty of Brest-Litvosk was really informative. How you highlighted the role the Treaty played, and how it linked many of the underlining factors of instability in Russia, helped me paint a better portrait in my mind of the grand web of factors leading to the Revolutions of 1917. I think it speaks to how the blows to the “great-power” status of Russia at the time influenced displeasure, and ultimately insurrection, against what was waning Russian power at the hands of the autocracy.
Comment on Revolution within the Russian Army by zaneg96
Phil, I really enjoyed your post and how you focused in on the specifics of how the military played a role in the February Revolution of 1917. You really captured the quick progression of the Revolution’s spread among the rank and file of the Russian military, and the causation behind the mass desertion that took place, in a succinct yet informative manner. My question for you is, based off of your readings on the subject, what caused some troops to remain loyal to the Tsar while so many others were abandoning? I know for the officer corps there was probably much more reason to stay, but what about the drafted and enlisted that kept their loyalty to the Tsar?
Comment on A shifting world captured in an industrial town by zaneg96
Kathryn, I thought your analysis of Gorskii’s “Three Generations” was magnificently done. I like how you not only discussed the fashion styles and differences, but also gave an explanation of how and why the fashion changed over the three generations, discussing the impact of modernization and westernization and the “Disillusionment” of the younger generation, which led to the “modernization” you speak of. I also enjoyed that you shared a picture of the Arms plant they worked at and explained its significance in Russian history as well.
Comment on Alter of Virgin Mary by zaneg96
Claire, I thought your post on the Alter of the Virgin Mary was very informative. I liked on how you touched on the religious aspect of the Russian Empire in the pre-Marxist era and its sacred role in Russian lore in regards to “repelling enemies from the west”. It is interesting how a religious figure was also idolized into a relationship with war and conflict as well. It is interesting to see how Russia’s religious history in these times contrast with its later history in the 20th and 21st centuries as a rather non-religious state
Comment on Christianity and the Church Before the Revolution by zaneg96
Nicholas, the picture and topic you discussed in your post is very intriguing. To be honest, my knowledge of Russian history is pretty limited, so your discussion of the role Christianity played in Russia pre-Marxism and pre-Communism was informative to me. In addition, I was unaware of Lenin’s outlook on the clergy and the clergy’s role in pushing towards the Revolution. Finally, I too used some comparative analysis in my post, but instead of comparing different aspects of one photograph, I discussed two of Gorskii’s photographs and the contrast between the architecture and landscape in each. Like you, one of the photographs I analyzed and broke down talked about the beautiful architecture of a church-like building.
