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In 1914, Tsar Nicholas took Russia into World War I to defend their allies, the Serbians. By 1917, millions were dead or wounded on the Eastern Front. Many blamed officers’ incompetence. The Tsar himself took over command but this did not end the defeats. When a particularly severe winter took hold in 1917, morale in the army and in the cities plunged low. With the Tsar at the front, the Tsarina Alexandra took control. However, she was not trusted by the people due to her German nationality. It did not help that she fell under the influence of the folk healer Rasputin.