WI - Russian Military Dictatorship before WW1?

What if the Russian Empire had become a military dictatorship prior to the First World War? What would this Russia look like prior to and during World War 1?
 
IMHO most of the things that could cause this to happen are Pre-1900, so maybe this should be in a different forum?
Two things that come to mind are:
- the Decembrist revolt; and,
- the association of the czar.
 
So a Russian military junta couldn't be established in 1905?

The Czar actually asked the military to impose martial law... the high brass simply offered an ultimatum by insisting they'd resign if ordered to carry it out. There wasn't the interest in the military at the time to try to make a power grab.

Now, if Czar Nicky manages to alienate them even more than IOTL, than I think there's a possibility. But they'd be stuck for the better part of the next decade just trying to reestablish effective government.
 
The Czar actually asked the military to impose martial law... the high brass simply offered an ultimatum by insisting they'd resign if ordered to carry it out. There wasn't the interest in the military at the time to try to make a power grab.

Now, if Czar Nicky manages to alienate them even more than IOTL, than I think there's a possibility. But they'd be stuck for the better part of the next decade just trying to reestablish effective government.
What could else could happen?
 
Considering how poorly the Russian army did (even without Nicholas's mismanagement of it) - you might see a Russian exit from World War One by 1917 / 1918.

You assume the military government would even bring Russia to war in the first place. Most classical military dictatorships, lacking in legitimacy and strong civilian institutions, generally have to use their army for domestic policing against insurgents/. "Occupy themselves" rather than sending their forces out on the offense. So, likely no WW I at all as, even assuming butterflies don't shift the Balkan timeline too much, the Austro-Serbian conflict has no reason to go beyond a local spat
 
You assume the military government would even bring Russia to war in the first place. Most classical military dictatorships, lacking in legitimacy and strong civilian institutions, generally have to use their army for domestic policing against insurgents/. "Occupy themselves" rather than sending their forces out on the offense. So, likely no WW I at all as, even assuming butterflies don't shift the Balkan timeline too much, the Austro-Serbian conflict has no reason to go beyond a local spat
How would an alt-ww1 look like with Russia as a military dictatorship?
 
You assume the military government would even bring Russia to war in the first place. Most classical military dictatorships, lacking in legitimacy and strong civilian institutions, generally have to use their army for domestic policing against insurgents/. "Occupy themselves" rather than sending their forces out on the offense. So, likely no WW I at all as, even assuming butterflies don't shift the Balkan timeline too much, the Austro-Serbian conflict has no reason to go beyond a local spat

Anyone with any sense would have stayed out of the Austro-Serbian conflict, there was too much risk the Germans would be involved. Pan-Slavism was hardly sufficient justification for getting involved.
 
The tsar gives too much legitimacy to be done away with. So IMO even if the military makes a move they will replace Nicky with maybe his son or some other Romanov they either deem a better ruler or if its a genuine powergrab with someone they think they can control.

Both tsarism and a military junta has about the same range of enemies however unlike a military junta the tsar has much more supporters in loyal aristocrats and conservatives. Doing away with the tsar in this way would leave Russia even weaker on an even shakier foundation.
 

Anchises

Banned
What if the Russian Empire had become a military dictatorship prior to the First World War? What would this Russia look like prior to and during World War 1?


That depends on what kind of a military dictatorship is established and how that happens.

Is Nicky reduced to a mere figurhead and a military junta rules in the background?

Did Nicky abdicate and a successor is placed on the throne as a figurhead?

Have things gone so much off the rails, that the Romanovs aren't on the throne anymore?

And is it a silent takeover or are a lot of people dragged in front of firing squads?
 
Is Nicky reduced to a mere figurhead and a military junta rules in the background?

Did Nicky abdicate and a successor is placed on the throne as a figurhead?

Have things gone so much off the rails, that the Romanovs aren't on the throne anymore?

And is it a silent takeover or are a lot of people dragged in front of firing squads?
I was thinking of having Nicholas II abdicate and Grand Duke Nikolai becomes Tsar, albeit a powerless one, while the military junta rules.
 
Anyone with any sense would have stayed out of the Austro-Serbian conflict, there was too much risk the Germans would be involved. Pan-Slavism was hardly sufficient justification for getting involved.

Actually, the Russian regeime had some pretty solid reasons for getting involved; many of which were actually the same reasons why Austria pushed the issue so hard. Both regeimes were at a critical point in their reform/development where civil unrest and outside pressures were growing concerns, and on which they depended on the "shield of prestige" to dissuade enough potential dissidents/opponents from actively trying to undermine them so as not to get overwhelmed. Prior to the July Crisis, for instance, 1914 was one of the most strike-heavy years Russia had faced thusfar, and the Russian regeime was very concerned that if it diden't put up the apperance of being willing to stand up for its interests (IE defending a nation they had cultrial-diplomatic obligations to protect), that would send the message that they weren't confident in their ability to project force, which would only serve to encourage greater efforts by domestic opponents to push for reforms/undermine the autocracy
 
How would an alt-ww1 look like with Russia as a military dictatorship?

There are far too many options, given how changing the policy of a Great Power is likely to produce butterflies, especially because it critically alters the balance of powers between the Triple Alliance and Triple Entente. It depends entirely on what the "spark in the powder keg" is; some other dammed fool thing in the Balkans? Clashes between German officals and the population in A-L/E-L? Internal revolts in A-H?
 
There are far too many options, given how changing the policy of a Great Power is likely to produce butterflies, especially because it critically alters the balance of powers between the Triple Alliance and Triple Entente. It depends entirely on what the "spark in the powder keg" is; some other dammed fool thing in the Balkans? Clashes between German officals and the population in A-L/E-L? Internal revolts in A-H?
Perhaps the Balkans is lit with revolts as a result of some kind of AH-Serbian war?
 
Perhaps the Balkans is lit with revolts as a result of some kind of AH-Serbian war?

The problem is, without Russia kicking off the alliance system domino chain, the Entente is not going to jump in to protect Serbia, nor would Austria likely feel the need to call on Germany for anything more than diplomatic support. This means the AH-Serbian war won't be a "World War" to any real extent; you need conditions where both Austro-German and Franco-British key concerns are at stake.
 
The problem is, without Russia kicking off the alliance system domino chain, the Entente is not going to jump in to protect Serbia, nor would Austria likely feel the need to call on Germany for anything more than diplomatic support. This means the AH-Serbian war won't be a "World War" to any real extent; you need conditions where both Austro-German and Franco-British key concerns are at stake.
How else could that happen if there's no AH-Serbian conflict that sets everything off?
 
How else could that happen if there's no AH-Serbian conflict that sets everything off?

Main areas where the Triple Alliance and Triple Entente interests could come to blows...

-The fate of the Ottomans; somebody tries to expand against the Turks at the other side's expense (Maybe the Italo-Turkish War?) the other side steps in to defend Constantinople in order to help get them in their commerical-political sphere.

-The military junta in Russia can't keep total order and a civil war or independence revolts break out. The two alliances pick different sides, and things explode over who gets to gain the biggest potential ally on the globe

-A-L/E-L... do I even have to explain?

Though, without the Russian insecurities mucking things up (and Germany not feeling encircled or AH under potentially collapsing pressure), I'd argue the system of international compromises and conferances likely holds up for a solid decade longer that IOTL at least and you can avoid our WW I entirely.
 
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