Historical experience of the army participation in regional political life in early XX century (on the example of the Kazan military district)

Studying and analyzing the archival sources, memoirs and correspondence of contemporaries the author shows the place and role of the army in the political regional system of Russia in early XX century. He considers the changes in the consciousness of the rear garrisons' soldiers during World War I. He makes a conclusion that the fatigue from the war, dissatisfaction with government policies, which continued it, heavy living conditions and cruel barracks regime contributed to the growth of anti-war sentiments among soldiers and to decay of the Russian army.