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Voluntary Associations in Moscow and Petrograd and Their Role in Patriotic Campaigns During World War I (1914 - February 1917)
The article describes the history of voluntary associations and the civil society in Russia during World War I. The author shows that self-mobilization was the main aim of the Russian civil society at the beginning of World War I. The author discusses how the Russian civil society adapted to the war conditions and formed the special type of 'mobilization society' reflected in the participation of associations of the two Russian capitals in different campaigns of the War period: the struggle against German dominance in spiritual life, economy and commerce, "Alliance with England", solidarity with the "fellow Slavs". The case of the two capitals is perfectly representative of the rest of the country. Obshchestvennost` was equally, if no more than the state, invested in designing and pulling these rallies through.The article is based on a wide range of sources, including the documents stored in central Russian libtraries and archives (RGIA, GARF).