Alexander Kerensky was the eventual Prime Minister of Russia and leader of the Provisional Government. Kerensky played a vital role in Russia's history as he was a crucial contributor to the revolutionary situation in October of 1917. He contributed to the October 1917 revolution through his controversial continuation of the war, the Kornilov affair, and his poor judgement of the Bolsheviks and their potential. .
Firstly, as Alexander Kerensky became Russia's leader, he decided to uphold Russia's war efforts in World War 1, a patriotic decision made at a time where morale and patriotism were lacking. After the poor military defeats in the battles of Tannenburg in 1914, where 70,000 lost their lives and 100,000 were taken prisoner, and the battle of Masurian lakes in September 1914, where 60,000 died, Kerensky decided to appoint himself minister of war and initiated the idea of the June offensive for 1917. The offensive despite a strong start and initial success against the weaker Austrian army, was eventually crushed by a German counter attack, leaving Russia with a loss of 200,000 men and 170,000 deserters. The June offensive was a failed attempt to boost morale and re-take land from the opposing forces, instead it resulted in a 300% price inflation and a loss of several million square miles of territory, which further enraged the grieving peasant class. It served as evidence of how Kerensky's leadership helped to deteriorate the army, and military disaster was immediately overshadowed by the July Days uprising and by the government's fear of a Bolshevik coup. .
Secondly, Kerensky and the Kornilov affair greatly contributed to the revolutionary situation as Kerensky's reputation as leader became tarnished and the Provisional government began its descent. After being the commander of the Petrograd garrison, Lavr Kornilov was appointed commander-in-chief of the Russian army on the 18th of July, 1917.