9 March 1917. Bruce Lockhart

Non-fiction

Project 1917 is a series of events that took place a hundred years ago as described by those involved. It is composed only of diaries, letters, memoirs, newspapers and other documents

Bruce Lockhart

A FEW days later the assembled delegations left for England, France and Italy. There were no bands to play them off, no official farewells. They travelled via Murmansk, where the Kildonan Castle was waiting to pick them up, and, mindful of the fate of Kitchener, they kept the day and the hour of their departure secret. And, in order that the secret might be better guarded, they sacrificed their shoes, which, at the request of those responsible for their safety, were left outside their bedroom doors long after the occupants had stolen away.

There is a story current that on his return to England Lord Milner wrote a Cabinet report in which he expressed his firm conviction that there would be no revolution, and that before the ink on it was dry the revolution had already started.

Nor was there anything in Lord Milner's attitude during his Russian visit, or in the nmerous conversations which I had with him, to give the impression that he had any confidence in the permanence of the Tsarist régime. What advice he gave to Mr. Lloyd George I do not know, but I cannot believe that it was optimistic.

One thing is certain. If this Mission did not open the eyes of its members to the state of Russia, it was useless even as an object-lesson to the Western Allies. As far as Russia was concerned, it might just as well have remained in London, Rome and Paris.

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✍ Also today

Maxim Gorky

Petrograd, Russian Empire

I would like to give you some good news, but there is none of it!

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Zinaida Gippius

Sergievskaya 83, Petrograd, Russian Empire

The riots are continuing. But, for the time being, they are innocent enough. Young Cossacks are riding up and down Nevsky Prospect.

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3 Like

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Nicolas Chkheidze

Tauride Palace, Petrograd, Russian Empire

Disregard of streets is a feature of government and many among us. But the street has already spoken, gentlemen, and this street is now to be reckoned with.

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4 Like

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Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich

Gatchina, Russian Empire

At 12 o'clock I had breakfast, and at 1 o'clock I rode horseback to the Tsarsko-Slavic forest, where they hunted a wolf. The circle was behind the railway, to the left of the road, in the same place where they had hunted before. The wolf broke through the people, they tried to cover it, but despite the fact that riders were cathing the wolf up, they could not cover it because it did not stop.

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1 Like

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Julius Martov

Zurich, Switzerland

It’s winter again here, it’s snowed and it’s very cold: I’ve fallen ill (a cold) and must stock up on menthol.

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Alexander Balk

Petrograd, Russian Empire

Most factories have gone on strike since the morning. A thick crowd is filling up Nevskiy. Crowds are moving and protests have begun.

Leaders of the left have already made a decision to take advantage of tomorrow’s crowds, should these gather, to agitate. If the crowds will be supportive, rioting is to be initiated, and, depending on the circumstances, weapons might be used. I reported this to General Khabalov. The military leadership has so far decided to refrain from using weaponry.

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Claude Debussy

attended a charity concert in support of musicians.

Paris, France

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Pablo Picasso with Jean Cocteau

Grand - Hotel "Vesuvio" 45, Partenope street, Naples, Italy

Heading from Rome to Naples.

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Alexandra Feodorovna Nicholas II

Alexander Palace, Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire

My precious! Yesterday there were disturbances on Vasilievsky Island and on Nevsky Prospect, because the poor tried to storm the baker’s shops.

May God bless you and keep you. I send countless kisses from your warmly devoted and passionately loving dear old Wifey.

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4 Like

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Alexander Spiridovich

Petrograd, Russian Empire

They sing revolutionary songs. Chants of “Down with the government!”, “Long live the republic”, “Down with war!” can be heard. A police patrol lunges towards the crowd, it is met with a barrage of ice chunks. The cossacks stay idle, merely passing through the crowd on foot, some of them laughing. The crowd is extatric and chants “hooray!”, the cossacs meet the chants with nods and bows. The police are infuriated. One phase was passed around among groups of dispersing workers: “the cossacks support us, the cossacks support the people!”…

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Sergey Prokofiev

Apartment house, 122, Fontanka embankment, Petrograd, Russian Empire

Today I went to a concert at the Marinskii, but the theatre was two thirds empty. Apparently there'd been a deliberate shooting on Nevsky and music lovers decided not make the journey along Nevskii to the concert.

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Grand Duchess Anastasia Nicholas II

Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire

My darling Papa, dearest one. I am sitting in a darkened room with Olga and Tatyana. They send you big kisses, they are lying down and not doing anything in particular. They both have a slight temperature. I have not been in to see Alexei, as he was still asleep. Maria and I are still well, and sitting with everybody in turn. I wonder when I will fall ill and which of us will fall ill first - myself or Maria?!

I love you terribly and send you big hugs and kisses! God bless you.

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3 Like

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Franklin D. Roosevelt

White House statement that Wilson has power to arm and inference that he will use it. J. D. Josephus Daniels says that he will use it by Monday. Why doesn’t President say so without equivocation?

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Nicholas II Alexandra Feodorovna

Mogilev, Stavka, Russian Empire

My brain is able to rest here; there are no ministers or troublesome questions requiring deliberation. I feel this is good for me, but only for my brain. My heart suffers from our separation. I hate to be separated, particularly now, at this time! I shall not be away for long. I shall do all I can sort out matters here, and then I shall have done my duty.

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Maurice Paleologue

10, Kutuzov embankment, Petrograd, Russian Empire

This morning the excitement in industrial circles took a violent form. Many bakeries were looted, especially in the Viborg Quarter and Vassili-Ostrov. At several points the Cossacks charged the crowd and killed a number of workmen.

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