12 March 1917. Lili Dehn

Petrograd, Russian Empire

I was (let me confess it) still in bed when the telephone rang at 10 a.m. I suppose my delay in answering must have amused the Empress, for her first words were: "I believe you have only just got out of bed, Lili. Listen, I want you to come to Tsarkoe by the 10.45 train. It's a lovely morning. We'll go for a run in the car and meet you at the station. You can see the girls and Anna, and return to Petrograd at 4 p.m. I'm certain you won't catch the train, but anyhow I'll be at the station to meet it."

I dressed at express speed, and, snatching up my gloves, a few rings, and a bracelet, I ran into the street in search of a fiacre.

It was a glorious morning; the sky was an Italian blue, and snow lay everywhere. We were not able to drive in the Park on account of the drifts!

On the way back, we met Captain Hvostchinsky, one of the Garde Equipage. The Empress intimated her wish to speak to him, and the car stopped. Captain Hvostchinsky smiled at the notion of danger. "There is no danger. Your Majesty," he said.

So, reassured, the Empress and I returned to the Palace. After lunch I went up again, and presently the Empress joined us. She beckoned me into the next room: I could see that she was agitated.

“Lili," she said, breathlessly," it is very bad. I have just seen Colonel Grotten, and General Resin, and they report that the Litovsky Regiment has mutinied, murdered the officers, and left barracks. The Volinsky Regiment has followed suit. I can't understand it. I’ll never believe in the possibility of Revolution—why, only yesterday, everyone said it was impossible! The peasants love us... they adore Alexis! I'm sure that the trouble is confined to Petrograd alone!”

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Leonid Andreyev

1, Moyka embankment, Petrograd, Russian Empire

Today is one of the greatest and most joyous days for Russia. What a day!

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21 Like

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Felix Yusupov

Rakitnoe estate, Kurskaya guberniya, Russain Empire

The world has gone mad and is dying before our very eyes.

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18 Like

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Vladimir Mayakovsky

Citizens!
This is the first day of the workers’ deluge.
We come to the aid of the muddled-up world.
Let crowds rock the skies with their stamp and yelling!

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30 Like

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Alexandra Feodorovna

Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire

-9°C. I had lunch upstairs with Lily. Horrible things are happening in St Petersburg. Revolution.

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Nicholas II

Mogilev, Stavka, Russian Empire

Riots broke out several days ago in Petrograd; regrettably soldiers have begun taking part in them. A vile feeling to be so far away and to receive scraps of bad news.

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13 Like

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Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich

Petrograd, Russian Empire

I went to the war minister and passed on through Nicky’s apparatus those measures that must be taken immediately as to calm the onset of the revolution, namely the resignation of the whole cabinet, and then entrusting Duke Lvov to chose a new cabinet at his discretion. I added that the answer should be given right now, since time does not wait, every hour is important. The answer was: do not make any changes before I arrive.

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Mikhail Rodzianko

32, Kirochnaya street, Petrograd, Russian Empire

The Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich arrived in Petrograd, and we had a meeting with him in the company of the Chairman of the State Duma, his comrade Nekrasov, the secretary of the State Duma Dmitriyukov and member of the Duma Savich. See more

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2 Like

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Boris Anrep with Anna Akhmatova

Anrepov's house, Ligovskiy avenue 3/9, Petrograd, Russian Empire

I don’t think much about the revolution. There is only one thought, one wish: to meet Anna Andreevna. I crossed the Neva on foot to avoid the barricades erected around the bridges. I remember a prison escapee, a boy aged about eighteen and seized by panic, who asked me for directions to the Varshavskiy train station. Staggering, I made my way to the house of Szreznevskiy, rung the bell and Anna Andreevna opened the door. “You? On a day like this? Officers are kidnapped on the streets”. – “I removed my epaulettes”. See more

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15 Like

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Olga Paley

Pashkovsky lane, 2, Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire

The ground is truly giving way underneath our feet. The prisons are wide open, and their malcontents have positioned themselves at the heads of political movements. Slowly but surely our regiments are going over to the enemy camp, and rumors abound that the First Infrantry Regiment billeted at Tsarskoye Selo has thrown in its lot with the rebels.

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Alexander Kerensky

Shpalernaya, 47, the Tauride Palace, Petrograd, Russian Empire

The decision to create an Interim council with unlimited powers.

At 1PM the soldiers were still not there, thus, when somebody finally called out to me from the vestibule, announcing the arrival of the soldiers, I rushed to the window, barely believing in such an eventuality. See more

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Vladimir Mayakovsky

Petrograd, Russian Empire

I walked along side the motorcars toward the Duma. I popped into Radzianko's office. I inspected Miliukov. He was silent. But for some reason it seemed to me that he was stuttering. I was bored an hour later. I left.

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Pablo Picasso

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

All the women in Naples are beautiful. Everything is very easy here.

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Feodor Chaliapin

performs the role of the Miller in A. Dargomyzhsky's opera "The Mermaid"

Big Hall of People's house, Petrograd, Russian Empire

Alexander Spiridovich

Petrograd, Russian Empire

Legitimate power was gone. There is anarchy in the city. There is no other solution. We need to assume power. Rodzianko hesitates. He has already made many revolutionary moves but keeps repeating, “I do not wish to rebel.” Wavered in his conviction by heated arguments, tired, and stressed out, Rodzianko asked to give him “a quarter of an hour” to think it through calmly. See more

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Alexander Kerensky

Petrograd, Russian Empire

We signed a law permitting the publication of a first revolutionary newspaper, “The Duma Report Bulletin,” since all the city publications were on strike and the capital did not have accurate news of what was happening. I remember that, while signing it, I could not stop myself from laughing.

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