The Darkest hour of the Russian Empire

@Ivir Baggins: I'll try
@MastahCheef117: Well, I can start building BB-4s, but they will be ready only in 1918-19, when the war would be probably over. But I can tell you a story of post-war development of the Russian Empire (hope that I'll manage to avoid the Rebolution) if you want I'll ask about continuation of the AAR when WW1 will be finished - if my readers like it, I'll continue.

@Deus Eversor: Probably. I have no idea how the Austrians managed to move at least 33 (!) divisions to the East.
@Avidian: Thanks, let's see what other readers will say

Everybody, thanks for comments, next update will be posted today

The Darkest hour of the Russian Empire​

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Chapter Four: 1917
Part XXIII: Total war​

Krepites materi, otcy
Muzhaites' zheny, deti
Za schastie Rodiny svoei
Proidem my vse na svete.

Vpered zhe, grud'yu na vraga!
Vpered, polki likhie
Godpod' za nas, my pobedim
Da zdravstvuet Rossiya!


Mothers, fathers, be strong
Wives, children, be prepared
For the happiness of our Motherland
We'll pass through everything.

Forward, show the enemy your chest!
Forward, daring regiments
God is with us, we will win
Long live Russia!


1916 was a victorious year, but not for everybody. Serbia, Montenegro and Albania didn't survive in that terrible war. Conquest of the Balkans made Austro-Hungarian empire an ugly giant on European map. 1917 began.


During 1916, only one new nation joined the war - Romania, and the war wasn't very successful for her. Two countries left the Entente (being annexed into Austria) - Serbia and Montenegro.


The new year started with new technological projects - even during the difficult times of war Russian scientists were working on their inventions - just like genial aircraft-designer Igor Sikorsky, who was an officer of Russian Imperial Air Force.


On 5 of February Brusilov realized that fast rush, like "The Baltic offensive", couldn't crush the enemies without secured flanks. Southern Poland with towns like Gleiwitz and Katowice were still in German hands (and defended by expeditionary Turkish troops), and they should be captured as soon as possible. Berkhman launched an attack from Czestochowa.


On 16 of February Gleiwitz surrendered, and Berkhman ordered to take the town immideately.


After a week all corps were ready to attack. Katowice was stormed from two points - 11th, 14th and Grenadier Corps marched from Gleiwitz, while 8th and 15th Army Corps together with Moscow Military Disctrict - from Czestochowa.


Six days later commander of Galizian front field marshal Ivanov told Brusilov that his armies were ready to participate in an offensive. Carpathian mountains were strategically needed for the Russians, because it was the only way to save Romania and to start fighting in the Balkans. Targets of new offensive were not the same - Odessa Military District together with 12th and 13th Army Corps attacked Chust (that city was just like Stanislawow - was stormed many times without any results) and Bistrita, a city in Transylvania.


All the operations were well-prepared and went well at the beggining...


On 7 of March Katowice was successfully taken, offensive in Southern Poland finished, cutting the German front and opening the road on Berlin.


Russian military successes, restored industry and agriculture, talented ministers and good resource-planning saved Russia from death - revolutionary parties like Trudoviks, SRs and Bolsheviks thought that Russia would obviously lose the war, and used that fact in their propaganda. They agitated soldiers to leave their positions, to kill their officers. They shouted: "Peace, Land and Bread!". But their efforts had no effect. After the Great Retreat Russian army managed to stop the enemies and spent two difficult years to ban him from their Motherland. They started believing their Tsar. After Russo-Japanese war they considered the Tsar incompetent and weak ruler, started calling him "Nikolashka". But when they saw how their Emperor behaved during the war, they changed their opinion. Every soldier fought with words "For the Tsar" in his mind. God save the Emperor!

But let's return to the war. On 13 of March Romania had great troubles - a lot of their territory was under enemy control. The Russians knew that without their support Romanian kingdom wouldn't last long...


In the West French offensive didn't continue after the pause - French army was still in Fulda, just like in the end of 1916. Military analysts thought that the war in the West would become positional again. Stavka didn't like the stative war at all, it could help the Germans to transfer their units to Eastern Prussia and Poland...


Japanese expeditionary corps left Poland and moved to Anatolia. These brave soldiers whose five divisions fought like dragons participated in the capture of Elazig, which was taken by general Ruzsky on 13 of March.


Next target of Caucasian front (which was renamed into Turkish front) was Karabuk.

@Deus Eversor: Sure. Russia would invent TV and helicopter (cause Zvorykin and Sikorsky wouldn't emigrate). They would have all necessary resources

Well-well-well...Russian army was outdated - where? She used old tactics, that's right. But what else? Weapons? Mosin 1910 was used up to 1950s and was considered as one of the world's most effecient rifles. Fedorov's Avtomat was the first automatic rifle. Artillery? Everyoune knows that Russian guns were as good as German. Aircraft? First-ever strategic bombers "Ilya Muromets" and fantastic Sikorsky fighters. Armored Cars? Not worse than in other countries. On the other hand, there wasn't enough resources and industry to produce it in large amounts. But good projects always were properly funded - for example, superdreadnought Empress Maria or Sikorsky's airplanes. Russian military wasn't outdated, its weaknesses were supplying system, old tactics, lack of ammunition and competent commanders. So, if Russia won the war and saved the Empire, all important technologies would be welcomed. Don't believe in myths

P.S. About liberalisation - I would make Russia more liberal (don't forget that it got Constitutuion in 1905), but not transform it into crowned republic. Do you approve that way?

So we can compromise here And Poland was called Tsardom of Poland (Tsarstvo Polskoe) and then - Privislyanskiy Krai (yeah, it's a hell-difficult word)

@Old Joe: I probably found who will vote for KPRF in December

@Deus Eversor: Em...for Polish it was Kingdom (Królestwo Kongresowe) because they simply don't have a word for "Tsar". But in Russian laws it was called "Tsarstvo Polskoe", and it always translated as Tsardom of Poland. In English this is often called "Congress Kingdom".
A legend about Nicholas I's suicide is just a legend. You can believe or not - but no evidence found (it's similar to suicide of George VI of England). But I agree, that war killed him morally and this quite strong and healthy man became terribly ill just in a few months