Influenza Epidemic
DOK 1: Where did the influenza epidemic first hit in 1918?
England and India.
DOK 1: Who stepped down as ruler of Russia in March 1917?
Czar Nicholas II.
DOK 1: Who seized power in November 1917?
Vladimir Lenin.
DOK 1: Which countries signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
DOK 1: What two major crises happened in 1917–1918?
The influenza epidemic and Russia’s revolution/withdrawal.
DOK 1: How many people died in Berlin in one day during the epidemic?
1,500.
DOK 1: What were the main shortages that caused civil unrest in Russia?
Food and fuel.
DOK 1: What did Lenin insist on doing once he took power?
Ending Russia’s involvement in WWI.
DOK 1: What did the treaty accomplish?
It ended the war between Germany and Russia.
DOK 2: What do the influenza outbreak and Russia’s collapse have in common?
Both weakened nations and caused severe losses.
DOK 2: Why was the influenza epidemic considered “more destructive than the war itself”?
It killed far more people (20 million) in a shorter period if time.
DOK 2: Why did the Russian army refuse to continue fighting by 1917?
5.5 million casualties made them war-weary.
DOK 2: Why did Lenin want to end Russia’s participation in WWI?
Soldiers refused to fight and the country was exhausted.
DOK 2: How did the treaty benefit Germany?
Freed German troops from the Eastern Front.
DOK 3: How did Russia’s withdrawal help Germany’s war strategy?
Germany could send nearly all troops to the Western Front.
DOK 2: Explain how the influenza spread so quickly across continents.
It spread from England/India (in May) to Europe, Russia, Asia, and the U.S. by fall (October).
DOK 3: How did the wartime shortages contribute to the collapse of the czar’s government?
shortages → anger → protests → czar forced to step down.
DOK 3: How did the Russian people benefit from Lenin ending the war with Germany?
fewer casualties, end to fighting, relief from shortages.
DOK 3: Why was the treaty a turning point for Germany?
They could focus on the Western Front for one last push.
DOK 3: How did food and fuel shortages contribute to major political change in Russia?
shortages → unrest → government collapse → revolution.
DOK 3: Analyze why soldiers were especially vulnerable to the influenza epidemic.
Crowded trenches, poor hygiene, movement of troops, weakened immune systems.
DOK 3: Why was the provisional government unable to keep Russia stable?
continuing the war + huge casualties + unrest.
DOK 3: How did the Bolshevik Revolution change the direction of WWI?
Russia withdrew → Germany redirected troops.
DOK 3: How did Russia’s withdrawal affect the overall balance of the war?
Germany gained hope and military advantage while the United States joined the Allies.
DOK 3: Which event (influenza or Russia’s withdrawal) had a bigger effect on the final phase of WWI? Explain using evidence from the reading.
Troop advantage: Because Russia withdrew, Germany could move all its troops to the Western Front, giving them a major military advantage.
OR
Mass Deaths: Because the influenza epidemic killed 20 million people, weakening both armies and civilians more than the war itself.