Which of the following explains how Russian revolutions affected Russia's involvement in the war
The Russian revolutions had significant effects on Russia's involvement in the war. The correct answer would be option A: "The Russian revolutions led to Russia withdrawing from World War I."
The revolutions of 1917 – the February Revolution and the October Revolution – created political instability and resulted in the collapse of the Russian monarchy and the establishment of the Soviet Union. These revolutions drastically changed Russia's priorities and objectives during World War I.
The February Revolution led to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II, ending the Romanov dynasty's rule. The Provisional Government that took power after the February Revolution decided to continue the war effort, hoping to secure a favorable peace settlement. However, due to various factors such as the war exhaustion of the Russian people, the continuation of the war became increasingly unpopular.
The October Revolution, led by the Bolsheviks and Vladimir Lenin, saw the overthrow of the Provisional Government and the establishment of a communist regime. The Bolsheviks, who came to power, promised "peace, land, and bread" to the Russian people and wanted to focus on consolidating power domestically rather than continuing to participate in the war. As a result, they signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany in March 1918, effectively ending Russia's involvement in World War I.
The Russian revolutions, therefore, directly led to Russia's withdrawal from the war, allowing Germany to shift its forces from the Eastern Front to the Western Front, which significantly influenced the outcome of World War I.