Political Parties' Propaganda Efforts Among Soldiers in Middle Volga Region During World War I (1914-February 1917)

This article examines historical experiences of political parties’ propaganda activities within Russia's military during World War I (1914 — February 1917), focusing on regional materials from the Middle Volga region. Drawing upon archival records at both federal and local levels as well as contemporary periodicals, it investigates the efforts by various groups to influence soldiers. The study highlights how Cadets aimed to maintain patriotic sentiments among troops while Bolsheviks employed diverse forms of oral and print-based agitation. It demonstrates that such propaganda extended beyond barracks into areas nearer the front lines, factories fulfilling state orders, and even hospitals where wounded soldiers were treated or rehabilitated. Despite having a social base within the armed forces, Socialist Revolutionaries and Mensheviks did not engage in organized verbal propaganda campaigns in military units across this region. It is observed that the Socialist Revolutionaries (SRs) and Mensheviks, by abandoning active party propaganda, inadvertently facilitated the ascendance of the Bolsheviks, who continued to engage in clandestine activities among soldiers and officers. The authors conclude with lessons for history, emphasizing that armies should be shielded from partisan influences given their crucial role in maintaining societal stability.