17 March 1917. Alfred Knox

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

Alfred Knox

Petrograd, Russian Empire

I walked to see the Ignatievs. He was very pessimistic. He told me that the Preobrajenski Battalion had elected three commanding officers in a single day, and one of them was an ex-suisse from the Sergievskaya Street. The commander nominated by Rodzianko had been placed under arrest by the men. Ignatiev said: “I have served with the troops for thirty-two years, and they can say what they like, but they will never be able to discipline these men again.” I fancy the Government understands this, but it is desperately afraid of bringing matters to a head, and besides, it has no power. Ignatiev took me to the window and pointed out the barricade in the Liteini, saying that Guchkov had ordered its removal, but the men had refused to comply. Poor Countess Ignatiev gave me her jewellery in a parcel and letters to send to her mother and children in Switzerland if the worst happened. I am very sorry for them, and tried to cheer them, but it was difficult to pretend that they are in no danger. They told me that Count Mengden had been killed at Luga in a particularly brutal manner. His men asked him if he recognised the new Government. He said that he must first telegraph to Petrograd for instructions, and they stabbed him to death. Poor Bezobrazov was arrested and taken to the Duma, his shoulder-straps torn off. He was kept for a whole night in a chair, and was then released to walk the three miles back to his home with his gouty legs—poor old General, who never in his whole life willingly did anyone any harm ! Lavergne tells me that the commander of a brigade due to embark for France in a month came to him to-day and said that of the 3,500 men he had at Peterhof only fifty remained ; about 1,000 were in Petrograd doing nothing, and some 2,000 had probably gone home ! Another colonel told him that his men were being corrupted fast by socialist or anarchist speakers, and suggested that we might go into the barracks to try to talk to the troops. Bruce’s quarters have been broken into twice by soldiers, who stole his wine.

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16 March

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From one revolution to another

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in Petrograd

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in Moscow