The Great War: The Eastern Front

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.