1-157-387 - Ann Ronan Picture Library/Heritage-Images

Alexei Brusilov, Russian soldier, 1917. A general during World War I, Brusilov (1856-1926) planned and commanded a major offensive against Austria-Hungary in 1916, the strategic purpose of which was to weaken the German forces on the Western front by forcing them to transfer units to the Eastern front to assist the Austro-Hungarians. In 1917 he was appointed commander-in-chief of the Russian army by the provisional government after the February Revolution, but was dismissed from his post in August. Cigarette card.