From Brusilov to Abdication

Who was the Russian commander who planned the ambitious summer offensive in 1916 to break the stalemate on the Eastern Front?

• General Aleksei Brusilov

• Tsar Nicholas II

• Norman Stone

• General Ludendorff

What was the main goal of the Brusilov Offensive?

• To conquer Germany

• To relieve pressure on Allied forces by launching a coordinated attack on Austria-Hungary

• To invade France

• To defend Russian territory

Fill in the blank: The Brusilov Offensive began in ______ and was Russia’s most successful military operation of the war.

• June 1916

• August 1914

• March 1917

• September 1915

According to historian Norman Stone, what did the Brusilov Offensive mark for Russia in World War I?

• It marked the last time Russia held the initiative in the war and nearly knocked Austria-Hungary out altogether.

• It marked the first use of tanks by Russian forces on the Eastern Front.

• It marked the beginning of Russia's alliance with Germany.

• It marked the end of trench warfare on the Eastern Front.

Why could the gains of the Brusilov Offensive not be consolidated?

• The weather turned bad

• Other Russian generals failed to support Brusilov effectively

• Austria-Hungary received reinforcements from Italy

• The Russian army ran out of supplies

What was one of the main reasons the Russian army could not sustain its offensive during World War I?

• Lack of reserves and logistical support

• Superior German numbers

• Poor weather conditions

• Naval blockades

German counter-attacks and exhaustion on the Russian side eventually halted the advance.

• True

• False

How many Russian casualties (including dead, wounded, and missing) were there as a result of the offensive?

• 500,000

• More than 1 million

• 250,000

• 2 million

By 1916, how many railway stations were unable to handle military freight in Russia?

• 100

• 575

• 1,000

• 50

Petrograd and Moscow were receiving only a third of their required food and fuel by late 1916.

• True

• False