During the war years, the whole nation focused on the enemies. In the beginning, Russia’s entry into the war was supported by many.
During the war, Germany and its Turkish allies blockaded Russia’s Eastern ports. As the Russian industry depended almost entirely on foreign imports, the infrastructure struggled to meet the demands of war. Its railway, electricity and supply systems too broke down. The shortage of food supplies was severe, as there were not enough workers to reap the harvest.
In 1915, the tsar himself took command of the war. He left the government in the hands of his wife Alexandra who was completely under the influence of Rasputin, a self-proclaimed holy man. The Russians hated Rasputin. To make matters worse, the losses in the war were huge. Soldiers went hungry; they lacked food, weapons, and even shoes! With little food, no ammunition or even proper uniforms, Russian soldiers began to revolt. The government did nothing to make things better even after many protests. Rather than finding a solution, the government was busy banning the troublemakers.
By early 1917, most Russians had completely lost faith in the tsarist regime; they were tired and eager for a change.
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