Russia's Great War and Revolution - Professor Eric Lohr

In the first part of his illustrated talk, Professor Eric Lohr reminds us how a complex combination of events contributed to the outbreak of World War I. He will correct the misconceived perception of Russia as being, at that time, a backward country. By 1914 Russia had, in fact, developed into a relatively advanced country, from both the industrial and military point of view.

In the second part of his talk Professor Lohr will demonstrate how ‘The Story of Demobilisation is the Story of Revolution’. Given that the Russian Army was 13 million-strong, demobilisation would have been a massive logistical challenge in any event. But between March and October 1917 1-2 million soldiers deserted, and this unsanctioned mobilisation made things even more chaotic.

This is a fascinating and thought-provoking talk, which will not only dispel a few myths and misconceptions but  also provides us with some illuminating insights into the close connection between Russia's involvement in the Great War and the two Revolutions of 1917, thereby enabling us to see each of these seismic events in a new light.

Professor Eric Lohr is Chair of the History Department at American University, Washington DC. He holds an MA in Russian and East European Studies and PhD in History from Harvard University, where he taught as an Assistant Professor of History (2000-2003).