The Kornilov Affair weakened both the Army and the Russian government, such as it was. The only people coming out of those events with their reputation enhanced were the Bolsheviks.

In early November (late October by the Julian calendar) the Bolsheviks are at last ready to seize control of the government.

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Fanfare

Opening War Theme

Symphony No. 5 in E minor
Composed in 1888 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Public domain.
Public domain recording. Source. 

Closing War Theme 

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Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

Almost as soon as he appointed Lavr Kornilov commander-in-chief of the Russian Army, Alexander Kerensky began to worry that Kornilov was plotting a counter-revolutionary coup.

Then came the moment Kerensky had long feared…but was it merely a misunderstanding?

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Fanfare

Opening War Theme

In the Steppes of Central Asia
Composed in 1880 by Alexander Borodin. Public domain.
Performed by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. Public domain recording. Source. 

Closing War Theme 

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Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

The Russian Provisional Government was looking weaker than ever, and the Kerensky Offensive only made the situation worse.

The Russian General Lavr Kornilov seemed to be the right soldier to revive the Army, but was he plotting a right-wing coup?

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Fanfare

Opening War Theme

Symphony No. 4 in F minor
Composed in 1878 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Public domain.
Performed by the United States Navy Band. Public domain recording. Source. 

Closing War Theme 

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Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

Alexander Kerensky became Minister of War and set to work revitalizing the Russian Army and planning a new offensive against the Austrians.

But word of the new offensive did not sit well with socialists, and particularly with the Bolsheviks in the Petrograd Garrison, who rose up against the Provisional Government.

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Fanfare

Opening War Theme

“Farewell of Slavianka”
Composed in 1912 by Vasily Ivanovich Agapkin. Public domain.
Performed by The United States Coast Guard Band. Public domain recording. Source.

Closing War Theme 

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Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

The question of war aims comes to the front and center when the liberal ministers of the Provisional Government repeatedly refuse to renounce Russian territorial claims and agree with the Petrograd Soviet on a “peace without annexations or indemnities.”

The resulting government shake-up brought socialists into the Provisional Government and made it a government of national unity like the ones in London and Paris…except for the Bolsheviks, who refuse to temper their criticisms.

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Fanfare

Opening War Theme

Piano Sonata No. 3
Composed in 1917 by Sergei Prokofiev. Public domain.
Performed by Peter Bradley-Fulgoni, and used pursuant to a Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 license. Source. 

Closing War Theme 

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Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

The Russian Provisional Government, under the watchful eye of the Petrograd Soviet, declared an amnesty for political prisoners.

Among the political exiles taking advantage of this amnesty to return to Russia were Leon Trotsky and Vladimir Lenin, with an assist from the Imperial German government.

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Fanfare

Opening War Theme

Piano Trio No. 1
Composed in 1894 by Anton Arensky. Public domain.
Performed by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and used pursuant to a Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 license. Source. 

Closing War Theme 

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Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

The USA entered the Great War in April 1917. The US has the military and industrial potential to be a decisive force, but it will take time to “ramp up” America’s army and war production.

Brazil also entered the war in 1917, and in Canada, the introduction of conscription led to a divisive general election.

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Fanfare

Opening War Theme

“Hail, Columbia”
Composed in 1789 by Philip Phile. Public domain.
Performed by the United States Navy Band Ceremonial Band. Public domain recording. Source. 

Closing War Theme 

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Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

By 1917, many high-ranking German and Austrian government officials, including the new Austrian Emperor, had come to the conclusion that the Central Powers could not win and wanted to discuss peace terms.

Hindenburg and Ludendorff, however, insisted that victory was near and fought to remove defeatists from power in Germany and in Austria.

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Fanfare

Opening War Theme

Wiener Blut
Composed by Johann Strauss Jr. in 1873. Public domain.
Public domain recording. Source. 

Tragic Overture
Composed by Johannes Brahms in 1880. Public domain.
Public domain recording. Source. 

Closing War Theme 

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Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

With the war in the East in a de facto armistice because of the revolution in Russia, we shift attention this week to the war in the West. Robert Nivelle, the new French commander in chief, has a plan for the latest “final” offensive to end the war at last, although the fate of this offensive will be the same as every previous “final” offensive.

Also, a Christmas bonus! Manfred von Richtofen, the Red Baron. What does the Red Baron have to do with Christmas? If you don’t already know, find out!

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Fanfare

Opening War Theme

Cello Sonata
Composed by Claude Debussy in 1915. Public domain.
Performed by David Requiro, cello, and Elizabeth DeMio, piano, and used pursuant to a Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 license. Source. 

“O Canada”
Composed by Calixa Lavallée in 1880. Public domain.
Performed by the United States Navy Band. Public domain recording. Source. 

Closing War Theme 

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Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

The February Revolution rapidly led to remarkable new freedoms in Russia, historically a repressed nation. The new justice minister, Alexander Kerensky, boasted that overnight Russia had become the freest country in the world. But much remained to be done. The Provisional Government was basically self appointed. Russia needed a democratically elected government and a constitution laying out its powers and responsibilities.

If Russia had been at peace, it might have been the political space needed to work all this out. But Russia was at war, and the Provisional Government had to balance her obligations to her wartime allies against the war-weariness of the Russian people. They could not afford to alienate either.

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Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening War Theme

Pictures at an ExhibitionComposed by Modest Mussorgsky in 1874, arranged by Maurice Ravel. Public domain.
Performed by the Skidmore College Orchestra. Public domain recording. Source.

Closing War Theme

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Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.