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WarChron - Romanian Front - Russian Minister Changes |
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WARCHRON - 1917 – The Russian Front
By January 1917, the Russian Army had deployed eighty seven batteries of anti-aircraft artillery, most of which were equipped with four light field guns of 76.2 mm, on mounts that provided sufficient elevation to fire at aircraft. By November, another 149 batteries were raised and equipped. Russian anti-aircraft fire would account for at least 15% of all enemy aircraft losses during the course of the war.
On 1 January, in North Russia, the broad gauge railway line was now fully open from the northern port of Murmansk to Petrograd.
At Tsarskoe Selo, the Empress ordered the arrest of Grand Duke Dmitriy Pavlovich for his role in the murder of Rasputin. Police finally discovered Rasputin's corpse in the icy waters of the Little Neva River.
On the Western Front, Russian aircraft begin seven days of bombing raids on the enemy at Kovel, Goloba, Zavloste, and Brody.
On the Southwest Front, in heavy fighting the Austro-Hungarians made slight progress in the Carpathians on the Moldavian frontier.
On the Romanian Front, there were enemy actions at Focsani, Fundeni, and the Macin bridgehead in the Dobrudja. The Romanians, with 28 divisions, were confronted with 58 powerful enemy divisions. The Russian 6th Army had 100,000 poorly equipped men, opposed by seven well equipped German, Bulgarian and Turkish Divisions, who moved steadily forward until they finally held a front along the Tusla - Rashova line and along the Cernavoda – Constanza line.
On the Turkish Front, although it was an independent state, Turkey declared its absolute independence of control by any of the European Powers. On 2 January, on the Southwest Front, enemy attacks were repulsed near Zloczow in northeast Galicia. There was heavy fighting in the Moldavian mountains.
At Stavka, the Tsar left for Tsarskoe Selo to attend Rasputin's funeral. Prior to his departure he appointed Protopopov as Minister of Internal Affairs.
At Petrograd, the Empress and her confidant Anna Vyrubova prayed over the corpse of Rasputin.
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On the Romanian Front, the enemy advanced between the frontier and Focsani . There were successful Russian counterattacks southeast of Focsani. The enemy advance was nearing Macin.
On the Romanian Front, Romanian Premier Bratianu reconstituted a Cabinet at Jasi.
On 3 January, on the Northern Front, the Germans approached Glandau, northwest of Dvinsk.
On the Southwest Front, the Russians carried out a successful attack near Mt. Botosul in Bukowina.
On the Romanian Front, the Germans advanced northwest of Focsani, near Milcovu. The Germans and Bulgarians seized Macin and Jijila in the Dobrudja
On 4 January, on the Northern Front, the Germans failed in an attempt to cross to the right bank of the Dvina River near Glandau.
On the Romanian Front, German forces captured Braila. Their advance continued in the Focsani sector, taking Gurgueti and Romanul. The Russians were defeated at Vacareni in the Dobrudja.
At Petrograd, French Ambassador Paleologue met with Count V.N. Kokovtsov to learn his view on the situation. The Count was gloomy, and predicted a revolution against the Tsar as soon as a military defeat or famine occurred.
At Tsarskoe Selo, at the insistence of the Empress, the Tsar appointed N.A. Dobrovolskiy, assistant Minister of Justice, to replace Minister A.A. Makarov. Dobrovolskiy held office until the March Revolution.
In Washington, U.S. President Wilson assured the nation that there will be no war.
In the Eastern Mediterranean, the Russian armored cruiser Peresvet was sunk by a German mine off Port Said, Egypt. She had served in this theatre with the cruiser Askold.
In early January, in Petrograd, Lt.Colonel LaVergne was appointed Military Attache to the French Embassy, replacing General de Laguiche. Copies of all of their reports, and reports by secret agents, were passed on to Ambassador Paleologue.
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On 5 January, on the Northern Front, a major offensive by the Russian 12th Army was launched in the Riga sector, making slight gains between Lake Babit and Tirgul Marsh. The Russians had inadequate artillery support, and a problem with the refusal of some troops to enter battle. The Russians dug in to hold their gains, and were forced to end the operation on the 11th.
On the Romanian Front, the enemy advanced between Rimnic and Buzeu Rivers. The Russians and Romanians had been entirely cleared from the Dobrudja.
At Petrograd, the Okhrana (secret police) exposed a plot by members of the Royal Family to seize the Tsar and Empress with the help of four Guard regiments. The Tsar was to be forced to abdicate, the Empress to be shut up in a nunnery, and accession of the Tsarevich Aleksei would be proclaimed under the regency of the Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich. Grand Duke Dmitriy Pavlovich had refused to take part in the plot.
During this period, the Tsar requested that his mother, the Dowager Empress, then visiting Petrograd return to her estates in the Crimea.
The Entente rejected the Central Powers Peace Note for negotiations.
On 6 January, at Petrograd, Rasputin's funeral was attended by the Tsar, the Empress, the four young Grand Duchesses (the Tsarevich was left at home), Madame Vyrubova, Protopopov, Polkovniks Loman and Maltsev, and the officiating priest, Vassiliev, arch-priest of the Court.
The Tsar refused to accept Trepov's resignation as Minister of Foreign Affairs and offered no explanation. Protopopov seized on Rasputin's death to consolidate his influence with the Empress. He announced that he had seen the Spirit of Rasputin, which would hover over the Empress. It is uncertain if his “vision” was caused by syphilis of the brain or the use of drugs.
At Petrograd, Grand Duke Dimitriy Pavlovich was exiled to North Persia to serve on the staff of General Baratov, heading the Cavalry Corps at Kasvin, which was attempting to link up with British forces in northern Mesopotamia.
On the Romanian Front, there was heavy fighting between the Carpathians and Focsani. The enemy advanced in the Susitsa valley and near Odobesti. A Russian counter drive between Focsani and Fundeni recovered lost ground near Obilesti.
On 7 January, on the Northern Front, the Russians gained some ground south of Lake Babit, near Riga.
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© WARCHRON 2007
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