How Well Do You Know About Russia Quiz

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1/72 Questions

In 1903 a split occured in the RSDRP Party in its conference in Brussels. What two factions did this create?
- Tories and Lefties
- Tom and Jerries
- Bolsheviks and Mensheviks
- Republicans and Democrats

About This Quiz

Ever wondered how much do you know about Russia and its history? Check out our online quiz to test yourself, prepare for an upcoming exam, and learn interesting information along the way.

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2.

Which composer wrote a powerful piece of music about Bloody Sunday?
- Mozart
- Verdi
- Beethoven
- Shostakovitch
Correct Answer

A. Shostakovitch

Explanation

He was a pianist and leading composer in the USSR in the Twentieth Century (even though he had an on-off relationship with the government). After a rare visit to the opera in 1936 Stalin said his work has “considerable ideological-political value.”

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3.

Who was the leader of the Bolshevik Party?
- Kerensky
- Cindy
- Lenin
- Yuhao
Correct Answer

A. Lenin

Explanation

This would be the first time a country turned Communist and many others would follow in the future, not least Vietnam, China, Korea, and Cuba. So it is important to understand why this happened in the country where it first took place, Russia. Lenin was the leader.

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4.

How many children did the Tsar have?
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 0
Correct Answer

A. 5

Explanation

Nicholas was married to Alexandra, who had been born in Hesse-Darmstadt in Germany. He was reported to be a good family man and their children included Tatiana, Maria, Olga, Anastasia, and the next in line to the throne, a boy, Alexei (who enjoyed sailing and dressing up as a sailor).

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5.

What was the name of the Tsarevich, the son of the Tsar?
- Theo
- Aoshen
- Marco
- Alexei
Correct Answer

A. Alexei

Explanation

Alexei, however, had a disease known as haemophilia, which is when the blood does not clot when one gets bruised. So a simple accident could lead to his death. As such the Tsar and Tsarina were extremely wary of his behaviours and actions for fear he may harm himself. This illness was kept secret from the public, however.

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6.

What was Rasputin accused of being a member of?
- Liverpool FC Supporters' Club
- The National Trust
- Khlyst
- The Ministry of Silly Walks
Correct Answer

A. Khlyst

Explanation

The area he came from was home to a bizarre religious sect called the Khlysty. They liked to make themselves dizzy by dancing in a whirling motion (they called this ‘spiritual beer’) and believed that people could only be cleansed of their sins if they had indeed first sinned. This led to many of them having very lurid relations with one another. Many people believed that Rasputin had been a member of this sect and that it explained his sexual appetite.

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7.

Russia was ruled by a Tsar (like a King) and had been ruled by one family, the ______________, for 300 years, on the idea of the 'divine right' to rule (the idea that God appointed the Tsar, so to rebel against the Tsar was in effect to rebel against God).
- Windsors
- Habsburgs
- Guineys
- Romanovs
Correct Answer

A. Romanovs

Explanation

This meant Russia was an autocracy. Nicholas II was the current Tsar but just before he was crowned in Moscow many people were crushed to death because of rumours the free beer he supplied was running out! Some saw this as an omen of bad things to come in his reign.

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8.

Ideas such as Marxism were growing in the ever-increasing industrial cities. What was the name of his most famous work from 1848?
- The Communist Manifesto
- The Communist Leaflet
- The Communist Collection of Ideas and Thoughts
- The Communist Promises to the People of the World
Correct Answer

A. The Communist Manifesto

Explanation

There were 2.5 million factory workers in Russia and many were working for extremely low wages. These poor industrial workers are referred to as the Proletariat. Conditions were often rough and workers lived in cramped and crowded accommodation. They ate in shared public soup kitchens and there was no insurance if they got sick or lost their job. Many of the Proletariat would wear cloth caps which are now known as 'Lenin hats.' Labour unions were illegal and so employers could offer very low wages. People lived close together and in these conditions rumours and news spread fast. Amongst the many new ideas in the Nineteenth Century was a concept known as Marxism which was written about in a book titled The Communist Manifesto and which had been written in 1848.

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9.

What was Sergei Witte's most famous achievement?
- The Great Wall of China
- The Statue of Liberty
- Concorde
- The Trans-Siberian Railway
Correct Answer

A. The Trans-Siberian Railway

Explanation

The Russian economy was the fifth largest in the world (behind Britain, France, Germany, and the USA) but was growing fast at 10% per year. Sergei Witte, the director of railway affairs from 1889 to 1891, had constructed the great Trans-Siberian Railway from Moscow to Vladivostock (about 5,700 miles)

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10.

Soon after the October Manifesto the Tsar rewrote his ______________ Laws which reminded the people of the "supreme power" of the Tsar. What were these laws?
- Important Laws
- Scientific Laws
- Fundamental Laws
- Silly Laws
Correct Answer

A. Fundamental Laws

Explanation

However, soon after (April 1906) the ‘Fundamental Laws’ were re-written and they stated that “supreme autocratic power belongs to the Emperor of all Russia” in Article 1. An upper chamber appointed by the Tsar was put in place in the Duma so it could veto new laws; this was known as the State Council. Moreover, Article 87 gave the Tsar the right to rule by “emergency decree” when the Duma was not in session. This showed the Tsar didn’t really want reform to a more enlightened form of government and revealed his stubbornness. He was reported to have said “I have a constitution in my hand but in my heart I spit on it.” The opportunity for the Tsar to work with his educated elites to follow a path through a constitutional monarchy was gone. Only a ‘revolution from below’ would change the government from this point on.

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11.

Which of the following was not in Lenin's famous slogan?
- Peace
- Land
- Bread
- Computer games
Correct Answer

A. Computer games

Explanation

Lenin published his April Theses and created slogans such as 'Peace, land, bread' and 'All power to the Soviets’. The Bolsheviks had a clear and precise programme.

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12.

Which of these people suffered from haemophilia?
- Tsar
- Tsarina
- Tsarevich
- Zsa Zsa Gabor
Correct Answer

A. Tsarevich

Explanation

The Tsar and Tsarina had four daughters; Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia. But only a son could inherit the throne, and so Nicholas and Alexandra were overjoyed when on 30th July 1904 at 1.15pm they finally had a baby boy, Alexei. However, this future leader of Russia (Tsarevich), had a serious illness called haemophilia. The disease had been passed on by his mother's grandmother Queen Victoria who had been a carrier and it is often called ‘the Royal disease’. This meant Alexei's blood did not clot properly and if he bruised himself the bleeding would go on for a long period, perhaps days, and could kill him. As the English Historian Sir Bernard Pares wrote: "the nursery was the centre of all Russia's troubles."

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13.

What did Lenin bring to an end?
- The Russo-Japanese War?
- World War One
- World War Two
- The Afghanistan War
Correct Answer

A. World War One

Explanation

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed on 3/3/18. Soldiers could come home although Trotsky’s delaying tactics failed.

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14.

What was the Tsar forced to do in March 1917?
- Declare Civil War
- Battle on
- Abdicate
- Sue for peace
Correct Answer

A. Abdicate

Explanation

The Tsar tried to leave Petrograd by train but was advised to give up the throne, or abdicate, whilst making this journey. He did so at 3.00pm on 2nd March 1917 for both himself and his son, Alexei, because Alexei was deemed too young to rule. Instead Nicholas nominated his brother Grand Duke Michael to rule. Michael realized it was not a job he could perform and the next day turned down the throne. The 300-year old Romanov Dynasty which began in 1613 with Tsar Mikhail I had come to an end. Russia had been led by Emperors since around 980AD. No longer.

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15.

How did Lenin get back into Russia from his exile?
- With the help of a navy seal
- A sealed train with the support and funding of Germany
- In a sealed envelope
- He used seal-o-tape
Correct Answer

A. A sealed train with the support and funding of Germany

Explanation

During the February Revolution when the Tsar lost power and the Provisional Government came to power Lenin, the leader of the Bolsheviks, had been in exile in Switzerland with his wife, Nadezhda Krupskaya. Indeed, he had hardly set foot in Russia for 17 years. He once told a gathering of young socialists that "we old timers may not live to see the decisive battles of the coming revolution." In February 1917 the Bolsheviks remained a fairly small party of only 25,000 members. But once he heard of the events of February 1917 he was very excited and determined to return to Russia. As such the German government decided to help him return by offering him transport to Petrograd's Finland Station via a 'sealed train' on board of which was Lenin himself and 19 Bolsheviks (including also his mistress Inessa Armand). This meant the train would not open its doors whilst travelling across Germany and it arrived just after 11.00pm on 3rd April 1917. The German government felt that by injecting Lenin into Russia they might cause another revolution and bring Russia out of the First World War.

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16.

There were some small assemblies set up by Alexander III which allowed for some tiny amount of political expression. What were they called?
- Zigzags
- Zemstvos
- Zebras
- Zingers
Correct Answer

A. Zemstvos

Explanation

Because of the concept of 'divine right' to rule (the idea that God had appointed the Romanovs to rule) the Tsar held near total power. There were small assemblies in the provinces, called zemstvos, which allowed a tiny bit of political expression. These had been set up in 1864 by Tsar Alexander II but they didn't have much real power by the time Nicholas II came to the throne in 1894. Instead, the Tsar appointed all of his own ministers. Absolutely no opposition was allowed.

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17.

Which city was the capital during the reign of Tsar Nicholas II?
- Moscow
- Petrograd
- Simbirsk
- Ekaterinburg
Correct Answer

A. Petrograd

Explanation

Russia's capital city was Petrograd, later to be renamed St Petersburg (during the First World War, because it was felt the original name sounded too 'German' and they were fighting Germany). About 1.5% of Russians were aristocrats, the very richest people in Russia. You might be surprised that the official language of these aristocrats was actually French, not Russian. But many of these very rich Russians (also called Bourgoisie) would live comfortable lifestyles. You would also be very amazed at Petrograd's beautiful buildings and architecture such as the incredible Winter Palace, built by Tsar Peter the Great.

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18.

What is the most famous church in Red Square called?
- St Nina's
- St Basil's
- St Claire's
- St. Victoria's
Correct Answer

A. St Basil's

Explanation

If you took a trip to Moscow in 1900 you could see a wonderful number of beautiful Russian Orthodox churches and cathedrals, St Basil's in Red Square perhaps being the most famous of these (it is legend that Ivan the Terrible ordered the designer to be blinded afterwards so he couldn't make anything to rival its beauty). Russia was a very religious country and it was said Moscow had 'forty times forty' churches with their colourful onion domes and minarets. Tsars were crowned in the Uspensky Cathedral inside the red brick walls of the Kremlin.

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19.

What was the punishment of 'katorga'?
- Being imprisoned
- Being sent to Siberia to do hard penal labour
- Being sent abroad
- Being hanged
Correct Answer

A. Being sent to Siberia to do hard penal labour

Explanation

Okhrana punishments for being in political groups included katorga (hard penal labour) and exile to the freezing climate of Siberia where it was extremely hard just to stay alive.

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20.

With what did Cossack troops often attack people?
- Machine guns
- Knouts (like a whip)
- Tear gas
- Batons
Correct Answer

A. Knouts (like a whip)

Explanation

Russia was famous for its army (which was so big it became nicknamed 'the steamroller') and its best troops were the Cossacks, known for their crowd control through the use of their knouts (whip). They wore elegant uniforms and fought bravely but were a minority of the army, which even in peacetime stood at 1 million. 30% to 40% of soldiers could read and write, compared to 90% in the German army because most of the Russian army were peasants.

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21.

Tsar Nicholas had been attacked in a far east country which made him very racist towards it. What country?
- Korea
- Japan
- China
- The Philippines
Correct Answer

A. Japan

Explanation

The correct answer is Japan because the question states that Tsar Nicholas had been attacked in a far east country, which implies that the country in question is located in the far east. Additionally, it is mentioned that this attack made him racist towards this country, indicating that the attack had negative consequences on his perception of that particular country. Therefore, Japan is the most suitable answer as it is a far east country and has a historical context of conflicts with Russia, which could have influenced Tsar Nicholas' racist attitude towards Japan.

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22.

Which word means a wandering Holy Man?
- Itinerant
- Stranniki
- Free spirit
- Wolverhampton Wanderer
Correct Answer

A. Stranniki

Explanation

Eventually Rasputin claimed he had a calling from God and set out to cross Russia as a pilgrim. He claimed he had a vision of Mother Mary saying "Give all that up and become a new man and I will exhalt you." Such people were known as stranniki or holy wanderers and were a common enough sight in old Russia (in 1900 there were about 1 million such people). Others say he was fleeing to escape charges of horse stealing. Nevertheless, he would sometimes walk 30 miles per day and begged or did odd jobs to earn a few kopecks. It is possible he travelled as far afield as Mount Athos in Greece, the main centre of Orthodox Christianity. Through his travels he developed a terrific talent for preaching as well as for reading people. Douglas Smith reports "he could meet someone for the first time and strangely see inside them." Word began to spread about this remarkable Holy Man who, even when set upon by thugs and muggers, would freely share what little he had saying "It is God's, not mine."

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23.

Finish this famous Boney M line from a pop song. "Ra Ra Rasputin Russia's greatest ________________"
- Peasant
- Tyrant
- Love machine
- Starets
Correct Answer

A. Love machine

Explanation

Rasputin was seen as uncouth and vulgar by man. He would eat with his hands, was rough-looking, and smelt like a peasant. To many high-society ladies this was quite appealing! They had never met anyone quite like Rasputin. Some even cut his fingernails and sewed them into their clothing as if they were holy relics. One thing most people agreed on is that Rasputin had piercing and mesmerising eyes (which were greenish-grey) and he had huge sex appeal. Rasputin was a womaniser and a drinker who would visit bars and get outrageously drunk. The Okhrana regularly spied on his apartment and their records reveal hundreds of female visitors. Because people knew he had the ear of the Tsarina people would often come to visit him to ask for favours. He has been described as a ‘King Rat’ that would turn women to jelly with a single look!

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24.

What was the symbol of the Romanov Royal Family?
- A Liverbird
- A rampant lion
- A double-headed eagle
- A pair of crossed swords
Correct Answer

A. A double-headed eagle

Explanation

The Romanov's symbol was a doubled-headed eagle which can be seen on the Coat of Arms of Russia and they lived in many beautiful palaces such as The Winter Palace and The Alexander Palace.

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25.

On which day in 1905 were hundreds of peaceful protestors gunned down by the Tsar's army? Bloody ______________
- Saturday
- Sunday
- Monday
- Tuesday
Correct Answer

A. Sunday

Explanation

‘Bloody Sunday’ is the name given to the events of Sunday 22nd January 1905 in St. Petersburg when unarmed demonstrators, led by an Orthodox Priest called Father Georgi Gapon, marched towards the Tsar’s Winter Palace in the hope of giving him a petition which included a list of changes they felt would improve their lives. These included improved working conditions, fairer wages, a reduction in the working day to just 8 hours, and the introduction of universal suffrage (so everybody could vote). 135,000 workers had signed the petition, which was polite and respectful in tone.

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26.

Are Year 8 Historians awesome?
- No
- Yes!
Correct Answer

A. Yes!
27.

Nicholas was reported to have said “I have a constitution in my hand but in my __________ I ________ on it.”
- Brain / Think
- Fingers / Crumple
- Boots / Stand
- Heart / Spit
Correct Answer

A. Heart / Spit

Explanation

Nicholas was reported to have said “I have a constitution in my hand but in my heart I spit on it.” By not allowing freedom and democracy he was creating a road to revolution.

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28.

Which part of Russia did Rasputin come from?
- Moscow
- Simbirsk
- St Petersburg
- Siberia
Correct Answer

A. Siberia

Explanation

Rasputin came from Pokrovskoye in Siberia where temperatures could reach as low of -71 degrees celsius. He was an uneducated peasant (not surprising because literacy rates in Siberia at this time were only 4%) and is reported to have been born to Yefim and Anna Parshukova on 9th or 10th January 1869, their first child to survive (after four previous child deaths).

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29.

There were many attacks on Jews in late Imperial Russia. What specific word describes these?
- Assaults
- Massacres
- Pogroms
- Attacks
Correct Answer

A. Pogroms

Explanation

Pogroms is the specific word that describes the attacks on Jews in late Imperial Russia. Pogroms refer to violent, organized attacks against Jewish communities, often involving destruction of property, looting, and physical harm to individuals. This term is commonly used to depict the targeted and systematic nature of these attacks, highlighting the anti-Semitic sentiments prevalent in that era.

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30.

How many revolutions were there in Russia in 1917?
- 0
- 1
- 2
- 3
Correct Answer

A. 2

Explanation

There were a whole series of events, some long-term and some short-term, which resulted in the February Revolution. The main events took place in Petrograd, the capital city, where protests erupted against food rationing on 23rd February, International Women’s Day. There were huge demonstrations and armed clashes but some of the army began to side with the protesters. In all, 1300 people were killed during the protests which were known as ‘bread riots’. On 24th February there were 200,000 people on the streets and by 25th February there was hardly a factory not on strike in Petrograd. Nicholas described the strikes as “impermissible” and suggested rifle fire be used to stop the protests.

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31.

What camps did Lenin set up?
- Konzentrationlager
- Gulags
- Prison camps
- Holiday camps
Correct Answer

A. Gulags

Explanation

Lenin was ruthless and Russia experienced the Red Terror. "No weakness or indecision can be tolerated during this period of mass terror" he said. Gulags (concentration camps) were set up. Nearly 15,000 people were executed in the first two months of Lenin’s rule alone - more than twice the number of the last century of Tsarist rule (6,321).

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32.

Which calendar was Russia using around 1900?
- Julian
- Gregorian
Correct Answer

A. Julian

Explanation

The calendar used in 1894 was the Julian calendar, which was 12 (and then 13) days behind the Gregorian calendar used in the West. Russia did change this but not until January 1918. For this reason you sometimes see two different dates given for the same event in History books.

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33.

Where did Kerensky sleep?
- On a bed of hay
- In a tree
- In the Tsar's bed!
- On a water bed
Correct Answer

A. In the Tsar's bed!

Explanation

Kerensky moved into the Alexander III suite of the Winter Palace and was reported to be sleeping in the ex-Tsar's bed and travelling in his carriage! He even took on a mistress. Many people perceived him to be a new Tsar.

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34.

What percentage of the Russian population were peasants around 1900?
- 70%
- 80%
- 40%
- 10%
Correct Answer

A. 80%

Explanation

Peasants formed 80% of the population. These peasants had previously been slaves or serfs until they were freed (emancipated) in 1861 by Tsar Alexander II (nicknamed the 'Tsar Liberator') yet they still had a tough life. Many would be out in the fields ploughing or harvesting as they travelled up and down the dusty tracks. Farming machinery was still relatively primitive - it was not uncommon to see men with ploughs fixed to themselves instead of cattle - and Russian farmers yielded only about one seventh of their British equivalents in terms of agricultural produce per acre. Even though they were no longer serfs they were still tied to the commune (Mir) and had to pay redemption payments to their landlords for 49 years which kept them very poor.

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35.

Who led the peaceful protests which took place on Bloody Sunday?
- Father Gapon
- Rasputin
- Lenin
- Kerensky
Correct Answer

A. Father Gapon

Explanation

Gapon himself described what happened in his book ‘The Story of My Life’: “Suddenly the company of Cossacks galloped rapidly towards us with drawn swords. So, then, it was to be a massacre after all! There was no time for consideration, for making plans, or giving orders. A cry of alarm arose as the Cossacks came down upon us. Our front ranks broke before them, opening to right and left, and down the land the soldiers drove their horses, striking on both sides. I saw the swords lifted and falling, the men, women, and children dropping to the earth like logs of wood, while moans, curses and shouts filled the air.”

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36.

On which battleship were sailors served maggots in their meat?
- Deutschland
- Victory
- Potemkin
- Popeye
Correct Answer

A. Potemkin

Explanation

On 14th June 1905 the crew aboard the Battleship Potemkin were served soup but with maggots in. They rebelled and killed seven of the ship's eighteen officers.

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37.

Kerensky took over the Provisional Government from Lvov. What did he NOT do?
- Bring in an 8 hour day
- Get rid of the death penalty
- Abolish the dreaded practice of katorga
- End the First World War
Correct Answer

A. End the First World War

Explanation

Kerensky did not end the First World War. Although he took over the Provisional Government from Lvov, he implemented several reforms such as bringing in an 8-hour day, getting rid of the death penalty, and abolishing the practice of katorga. However, he was unable to bring an end to the ongoing war.

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38.

What was the name for the Commune to which Russian peasants were tied?
- Mir
- Marr
- More
- Mryhrr
Correct Answer

A. Mir

Explanation

Finally, we must remember the conditions of the peasantry (which made up 80% of the Russian population). They were still tied to their Mirs on their often tiny plots of land and faced 49-year redemption payments to their landlords. In other words, they had to pay for what they felt was rightfully theirs. They had been promised ‘land and liberty’ when they were freed from serfdom in 1861 and that had still not been realized. Life was tough and there had been a series of terrible harvests between 1897-1901. New technology, such as the railways (which had grown from 9000 miles in 1860 to 19000 miles by 1899), meant it was easier for the government to export even more grain, leaving peasants in the countryside hungry. Grain exports had increased by 18% in the late Nineteenth Century and the motto of the Minister in charge of this, Vyshnegradsky, was "We ourselves shall not eat, but we shall export."

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39.

Which of the following did the October Manifesto NOT promise?
- A freely elected Duma, or Parliament
- Freedom of speech
- Freedom of expression
- Free hugs
Correct Answer

A. Free hugs

Explanation

In the manifesto the Tsar declared he would create a state Duma or parliament which could create laws, control finances, and which would be elected by universal male suffrage (one man = one vote). The manifesto also offered freedom of speech and the right to peacefully assemble as well as freedom of association. It would have control over national finances and no law code could be issued without the Duma’s approval.

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40.

Is there definite proof Rasputin and the Tsarina had an affair?
- Yes
- No
Correct Answer

A. No

Explanation

In one letter Alexandra (who let us remember was from from Hesse-Darmstadt in Germany) incredibly wrote: "My beloved and unforgettable teacher, saviour and mentor. How tiring it is for me without you. My soul is calm and I can rest only when you, my teacher, are seated next to me, and I kiss your hands and lay my head on your blessed shoulders. Oh, how easy things are for me then. Then I wish for one thing only - to fall asleep, fall asleep forever on your shoulders, in your embrace. Oh, what happiness it is just to feel your presence near me. Where are you? Wither have you flown? It's so difficult for me, such longing in my heart ... Give me your Holy Blessing, and I kiss your blessed hands. Loving you for all times. Mama."

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41.

Who was NOT involved in the plot to kill Rasputin?
- Tsar Nicholas II
- Dmitri Purishkevich
- Prince Yusupov
- Dr Lazovert
Correct Answer

A. Tsar Nicholas II

Explanation

With the Tsar away at the front leading the army and the German-born Tsarina in St. Petersburg rumours were widespread. Many Russians believed Rasputin was damaging the monarchy; some thought he was responsible for ministerial appointments and others even thought he was having an affair with the Tsarina. There were many people who thought Russia would be better off without him. On 6th November 1916 a politician in the Duma, a right-wing politician called Purishkevich stood up and made a speech in which he asked if the Royal Family was guilty of "stupidity or treason." He went further by saying "while Rasputin is alive ... we cannot win the war."

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42.

Where was the peace treaty which saw Russia leave the First World War signed?
- Versailles
- Neuilly
- Trianon
- Brest-Litovsk
Correct Answer

A. Brest-Litovsk

Explanation

The war continued to go extremely badly for Russia up until it was forced to sign an incredibly harsh peace treaty with Germany at Brest-Litovsk in 1917. By this time a total of 1.7 million Russian soldiers had died, 8 million were wounded, and 2.5 million were taken prisoners of war. This figure was greater than any other nation involved in the war.

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43.

Which type of troops were guarding the Winter Palace during the October Revolution?
- Male
- Female
Correct Answer

A. Female

Explanation

"Delaying the uprising now really means death" Lenin said. And so on Wednesday 25th October 1917 Bolshevik Red Guards under cover of darkness spread out across the city of Petrograd. They walked up to soldiers and simply told them they were being relieved. Others walked into the Central Telegraph Office and disconnected the phone lines to the Winter Palace. Kerensky, in disguise, escaped Petrograd in a car from the US Embassy and lived out his days in exile in Paris and New York. Military units surrounded the Winter Palace and the battleship Aurora on the River Neva fired a series of blank shots. There were some cadets, some Cossacks, and famously the Women's Death Battalion, guarding the Winter Palace. The Women's Death Battalion fought but the Provisional Government collapsed. Bolsheviks burst in and arrested the ministers at 2.10am on 26th October 1917. It was a relatively bloodless revolution.

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44.

Russia was plunged into a Civil War. Which group did NOT fight?
- Whites
- Greens
- Reds
- Yellows
Correct Answer

A. Yellows

Explanation

Russia was plunged into a Civil War from November 1917-1922 (most of the fighting was in the south and east). The Reds fought against Kolchak’s Whites. Many believe Lenin deliberately wanted this Civil War to take place and that it was required to remove the Bourgeois elements of society.

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45.

What name was given to the Tsar's Secret Police?
- OGPU
- NKVD
- Cheka
- Okhrana
Correct Answer

A. Okhrana

Explanation

Because the Tsar did not allow any public opposition or parliament there was a growing underground opposition, with groups like Sergei Nechaev's Narodniki (People's Will) which had assassinated Alexander II. Because of this the Tsars had introduced a secret police, known as the Okhrana who would infiltrate political groups and who would torture suspects. Another political group which was growing which opposed Tsardom was called the Socialist Revolutionaries (SRs). They were founded in 1901 and spoke for the peasants. A third major opposition group also existed, the Russian Social Democrat Labour Party (RSDRP) and they believed in the ideas of German philosopher called Karl Marx.

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46.

The third Duma was known as the Duma of the _____________________________________
- Ben and Jerries
- Knives and forks
- Peanut butters and jellies
- Lords and lackeys
Correct Answer

A. Lords and lackeys

Explanation

The third Duma ran from November 1907-June 1912. Because of changes made by Stolypin this Duma was dominated by moderates who supported the Tsar and there were much fewer socialists. Political violence continued to grow and by 1907 a total of 4,500 Tsarist officials had lost their lives since the beginning of the Russo-Japanese War in 1904. Stolypin himself was assassinated in September 1911 when he was shot twice on a trip to the opera. His successor, Vladimir Kokovstov, simply tried to ignore the Duma. It was known as the ‘Duma of the Lords and Lackeys.’

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47.

Which of the following was Rasputin NOT accused of?
- Ministerial Leapfrog
- Sleeping with the Tsarina
- Hypnotism
- Having a sweet tooth
Correct Answer

A. Having a sweet tooth

Explanation

Between June and November 1915 8 ministers were fired. Many people thought this ‘Ministerial Leapfrog’ was because of Rasputin.

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48.

In 1915 which fateful decision did the Tsar make?
- Exiled Rasputin
- Divorced his wife Alexandra
- Dissolved the Duma
- Made himself Commander in Chief of the Army
Correct Answer

A. Made himself Commander in Chief of the Army

Explanation

In response to the defeat at Warsaw Tsar Nicholas II declared himself Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces in the late summer of 1915. Considering how badly it was going and that the peasants would actually fight for their Tsar there was some sense to this decision. However, it left the (German-born) Tsarina Alexandra at home with Rasputin and this led to tremendous gossip in St. Petersburg. Some argued she was a German spy and others claimed they were having an affair. It also meant the Tsar was now directly accountable for any military defeat that happened. It was a crucial decision.

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49.

What is the Russian word for 'dual power'?
- Dividesavich
- Dvoelastie
- Dovelastly
- Dolally
Correct Answer

A. Dvoelastie

Explanation

There had been lots of councils, known as Soviets, set up all over Russia in the lead up to the February Revolution. The most famous of these was in Petrograd - the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' Deputies. And they too wanted power. In the days that followed the February Revolution therefore power was shared in what is known as 'Dual Authority' or dvoelastie.

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