During the XIX century, almost all the major countries of the world in a state of open confrontation, with the result that not only decide the future of Europe.Leading states: England, France, Russia, Germany, and later, and Austria-Hungary - did not suit their economic situation, and no one was going to compromise.
developments did not stop even close blood relations - rulers of Russia, England and Germany were relatives.Above all, while putting their national interests.
Historically, the main allies of Russia in World War I were the UK and France.
anticipation of a critical situation, many states have converted factories for military needs.On the supply of troops worked weapons, gunpowder, snarjadnye, ammunition, shipbuilding and other industrial facilities.
Russia's national interests
As you know, the reason for the outbreak of war acted as the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand F. and his wife, a Serbian nationalist in 1914 in Sarajevo.
But of course, this was not the real reason.
For Russia there is a need to regulate the economic relations with Europe, thanks in no small measure contributed to the development of trade in Germany and Austria-Hungary.Industrial products from Germany "moved the" Russia, with its traditional trading positions and also began to fill the domestic market of the country.
This state of affairs could not but cause concern among large landowners of our country and living in her industrial magnates.In particular, these concerns are supported Petersburg.
At the same time, Germany is actively develop relations with Austria-Hungary.With this power, and Russia fought for supremacy in the Balkans among the Slavic nations.But Berlin has not sought to develop political relations with Russia, which was pounding it in unfavorable economic conditions.
ally of Russia in the First World
Against the background of such economic and political developments Russia was forced to join the military alliance with France and Britain.And this union became known as the Entente.
So is the complete list of the countries-allies of Russia in World War I:
- Andorra;
- Belgium;
- Bolivia;
- Brazil;
- China;
- Costa Rica;
- Cuba;
- Ecuador;
- Greece;
- Guatemala;
- Haiti;
- Honduras;
- Italy (c 23 May 1915);
- Japan;
- Liberia;
- Montenegro;
- Nicaragua;
- Panama;
- Peru;
- Portugal;
- Romania;
- San Marino;
- Serbia;
- Siam;
- USA;
- Uruguay.
agreement on maritime influence
Actually, interesting Russia were reduced to weaken the influence of Germany and Austria-Hungary.Also voiced claim to a number of German states and the need to gain control of the sea belonged to the Turkish straits of Bosporus and Dardanelles.
After Turkey was on the side of Germany in 1914, already in 1916 the Entente countries signed an agreement on the division of interests in the Middle East.Thus it was determined what the allies, Russia will be in the First World.
victories and failures in 1914
After the defeat in the war with Japan, Russia was able to draw conclusions about the state of its armed forces.And by 1914 the preparations for the fighting took place much better.
But allies of Russia in the First World War were not taken into account the factors long military conflict.All this could not but complicate the relations between these states.For speedy victory Russia sought to coordinate their actions, but she could not avoid the defeat and the Allies.And taking into account such factors, our country was around to meet the other members of the Entente.
During the First World it had a very large Russian human and food resources.If you take a percentage, it is the number of its troops represented about 40% of all the armies of the Entente.
The share of the Russian army had the task to pin down, and draw to themselves the armed forces of the Germans and Bulgarians.Moreover, it took more prisoners than the country's military ally of Russia (around 2.2 million. Soldiers), which accounted for about 60% of the total number of prisoners of war.
beginning of the war with the advent of Germany to France in August 1914, the First World War.Hoping to win a blitzkrieg, the main forces of the German rushed to France.At the same time, in the east it has been involved militarily weak 8th Army East Prussia.
Despite the fact that Russia's allies in World War I were more than twenty countries, Austria-Hungary was going to lead active actions specifically against the Russian group.
But Russia launched an offensive, and by mid-September at the Battle Galician Army of the Southwestern Front defeated the main forces of their opponents.In this battle, the Austrians lost 400 000 people, while a prisoner of the Russian army left 100,000 soldiers and captured 400 guns.Eastern Galicia was lost.
As a result of this victory, and significantly ease the plight of the Serbian army.
At the same time Russian military allies successfully fought in East Prussia.Above all puts the desire to maintain an offensive rush and launch an assault on Berlin.August 20 of the same year, the German army was defeated in the Battle of Gumbinnen and Russia could control almost 2/3 of the territory of the enemy.
But does the success of the Entente prevented serious mistakes in command, and the Russian troops suffered several major defeats and moved back to the border.
success of the armies of the enemy, however, impressed with the command of the German coalition.This forced him to divert part of the French troops from the front line and thus throw combat forces to the east.And it is possible to ease the pressure on Russia's allies.Such a tactical move of the German command had not been ignored and allies of Russia in the First World War.They were won a major victory at the Marne.
Against the background of such stunning defeat of the German plan of lightning war with France had failed.Germany hopes for a quick victory were destroyed.
Turkey's war
By early October, German troops, together with the Austrians took the offensive on the eastern front, but the Warsaw-Ivangorod battle predetermined complete victory Russian.German-Austrians were forced to move again as a result of their borders.
our troops attempted to break into the central Germany, but it turned out to be unsuccessful.Such activity of the Russian troops, however, will reflect positively on the outcome of fights in the Isere and Ypres.
By December of that year, the Germans had to double the number of its troops on the eastern front.This was done in view of how to fight Russian military allies.
Turkey joined the fighting in November 1914.On the Caucasian front initially scheduled some success, but in the end of December 3rd Turkish army suffered a crushing defeat in the Battle of Sarikamis.
Germany is fighting on two fronts
After major defeats Germany focused all their efforts on how to bring Russia out of the war.In this regard, the Eastern Front became the main.
Due to the delay of supply of ammunition, rifles, artillery shells and common problems with food Russia has suffered a series of defeats.And there was a threat to the environment of the Russian troops in Poland.
But the talented General MV Alekseev was able to take advantage of errors enemy and thwart the plans of the German command.To do this, we had to leave a number of territories - Russian Poland, Belarus and a number of the Baltic States.This allowed to get out of a threatening situation and gain a foothold in new frontiers.
military ally of Russia as a result of the battles on the eastern front were finally able to get a breather, to strengthen their power and consolidate the position.
At the same time on the Turkish front, our army has continued to successfully conduct offensive operations, thus inflicting a series of defeats.Russian troops in the Turkish direction commanded by the brilliant general NN Yudenich.Such successes positive impact on the situation of the Allies in the Mesopotamian front.
It should be noted that successful actions of the Russian corps commanded by Baratova in Persia did not allow that to happen to Tehran passed into the hands of our enemies.At the same time the success of the Russian army in Turkey saved the lives of thousands of Armenians who suffered from the Turkish genocide.
war at sea
While one could start World War II, Russia's allies did not have sufficient forces at sea.But the Russian Black Sea fleet had a significant advantage over the enemy in combat training and experience in the conduct of hostilities, which owned the majority of naval officers and sailors.
The fleet 6 battleships were still the old type 2 cruisers, 17 destroyers, 12 destroyers, 4 submarines.
During the war, they were joined by 9 destroyers, 2 air transport (prototypes of modern aircraft carriers) and 10 submarines.
fleet was located at the main base of the Black Sea (Sevastopol) and had a shipyard in Sevastopol and Nikolaev.
Despite the assistance of Turkey provided by Germany, Russia's allies (Army and Navy) had a significant advantage in the Black Sea.
During fighting battles with the Turkish Navy Russia adopted new methods and tactical innovations, derived from diverse power units.Were set up special crews continued support for troops on the ground and tracking cargo ships that transported military cargo.
also were used in the fighting battles landing craft, together with support for aviation.An unusual look and adjusting fire on shore targets with ship stations.
new fighting skills
blockade the Bosporus and the Coal District allies Russia (Army and Navy) to ensure broad engagement of submarines and naval ships.Another interesting fact was co submarines and aircraft to fight the enemy submarines.
particularly strained been fighting Russian fleet in the Black Sea in the 1916 campaign.It was necessary to act on several fronts at the same time and solve many different tasks with the use of ships, aircraft and submarines.
But the Russian fleet and command and managed could cause significant damage to German-Turkish fleet.
interaction within the Entente
Germany in 1916 failed to achieve victory over Russia in the strategic plan and transferred all his attention to the Western Front.
plans of the German command had put as much as possible damage to the Anglo-French forces.The Battle of Verdun was particularly significant for the battles, what abounded in the First World.Russia's allies were able to get a breather and time to prepare for battle, when the Russian army launched an offensive near Lake Naroch.
Although the battle ended in failure, it had a positive impact on the situation of the allied forces.
At the same time celebrating the success of our armies in Turkey.First Judenich Ezerum took the castle, and then Trabzon.
Remarkably, the greatest success was achieved by Russia in the summer of 1916.With the general approach of the Southwestern Front had taken the so-called Brusilovsky breakthrough, in which the Austrian army was defeated again.To rectify the situation could only intervene in Germany, which has allowed to stop the advance of Russian troops.As a result of the fighting near Kovel ended our armies in complete failure.
Revolution in Russia
new major offensive planned on 1917, and that could end the First World.Russia's allies also built their plans of attack.But these plans remained plans.The reasons why they broke down, varied.But mostly it is the socio-economic problems that have accumulated and matured in Russia for a long time.But against the background of falling morale in the army because of the high loss of these contradictions have become aggravated even more.
also even intensified socialist propaganda, political destabilization and active campaign against the government.All this together led to the revolutionary upheavals that broke the existing socio-political system in 1917.
They completely destroyed all the efforts and the progress that has been made by Russia.
Although it should be remembered that even in these circumstances, the situation at the front for the Allies could have been much more severe.Only Russia delayed for yourself, even in these conditions, more than a third of the German troops.Also, it had attracted and remained in combat formations and Austrian Division.
Now that it has become history, we must remember not only what the allies of Russia participated in the war, but that it is our army, staffed it with you by our ancestors helped the Allies win.
