The Eastern Front of the Great War
was just as deadly as its more famous Western counterpart. Mainly a conflict
between Germany and Russia, the Eastern Front did not fall into the same trap
of trench warfare as the West. Therefore, the lines were much more flexible and
subject to change; as an unfortunate side effect, they were also easily broken.
Russia, with its massive armies, seemed to be poised for a quick and easy
victory against German forces, especially since Austria-Hungary was teetering
on the edge of collapse for most of the war. However, Russia disorganization led
to an arduous campaign that ended in Russia’s defeat.
Russia’s army had never been tested
against a fully industrialized foe, and thus was extremely unprepared for war
against Germany. Although it began strong, Russia declined against superior German
artillery. The aforementioned lack of trenches greatly reduced its staying
power, and thus Russia failed to make any significant, long-lasting gains in
the war. The mutinies gaining traction across Europe especially caught on in
Russia, with hundreds of thousands of troops deserting. This desertion in part
allowed the Revolution and communist seizure of power to occur. In fact, none of the powers involved in the
Eastern Front maintained a functional government following the war;
Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Russia all fell apart and were only reconstructed
with revolution. The Eastern Front’s total brutality—and indeed, the idea of an
international, two-front war—set the stage for the conflict to come, a war greater
than the Great War.
