The Year 1916

On 22 March, on the Western Front, there was continued heavy fighting in the Lake Naroch sector. The Tsar briefly attended a meeting of the Duma.

On 24 March, in the Black Sea, Russian submarine Morzh sank a Turkish steamer towing eight barges off Zonguldak. Russian submarine Tzhulen scored successes in early April.

On 24-27 March, in the Black Sea, Russian destroyers Pronzitelnyi and Pospesnyi, based at Batum, sank 31 Turkish sailing ships in the Trabizond and Giresun coastal areas.

On 25 March, on the Northern Front, the Russians made small gains in the Jakobstadt area. On the Western Front, there were continued Russian attacks in Lake Naroch region.

On 26 March, on the Northern Front, Russian 5th Army attacks were slacking off. Their artillery has failed to support the infantry, with losses put at over 28,000 men.

On the Western Front, the Russian drive at Lake Naroch bogged down in bad weather with extreme cold and heavy snow. The morale of troops weakened.

On the Caucasian Front, the Russians advanced along the upper Chorok River in Armenia.

On 27 March, on the Western Front, there were weak Russian attacks in the Lake Naroch region. German aircraft were very active along the whole Dvinsk sector. German aircraft carried out bombing raids on key railroad lines southwest of Minsk.

On 28 March, under heavy pressure from the Empress and Rasputin, the Tsar dismissed War Minister General Polivanov, the man who was largely responsible for saving and rebuilding the Russian Army. Polivanov was replaced by QM General D.S. Shuvaev, who was seen as decrepit at age 62 and unable to follow reports. Polivanov's ouster was seen by the Allies as a very serious blow to the Russian war effort.

The Russian Northern Front, headed by General Kuropatkin, with acting Chief of Staff General Sivers, had thirteen army corps. The Western Front, headed by General Evert, with Chief of Staff General Kvyatsinskiy, had twenty five army corps. The Southwest Front, led by General Brusilov, with Chief of Staff General Klembovskiy, had seventeen army corps. The Grand Duke Serge was the Inspector of Artillery.

On the Southwest Front, the Russians made some advance north of Bozhan in Galicia.

On the Northern Front, ice began to melt in the Bay of Riga, allowing icebreakers to begin operations.