3 February 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

The Delegation dined with the Emperor at Tsarskoe Selo on February 3rd, and a few days later I conducted the military members of the British Section on a short tour to the Headquarters of the Northern Front at Pskov, where they met General Ruzski to Riga, where we were entertained by General Radko Dimitriev, lately promoted to the command of the 12th Army ; and to Minsk, the Headquarters of General Ewarth, the Commander-in-Chief of the Western Front.

At Riga we learned something of the fighting that had taken place south-west of the town in the month of January. The operations were in three phases :

(a)A Russian offensive, January 5th-ioth.

(b)A German counter-offensive, January 22nd-25th,

(c)A further German counter-offensive, January 30th-31st.

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Radko, who had been everywhere in the thickest of the fighting, encouraging his men, waxed enthusiastic at dinner on February ioth over the “ success ” of his surprise tactics. He said that if he had had three or four corps in reserve he would have gone far. He issued a triumphant order, with elaborate instructions for the carrying out of future surprise attacks by night without artillery preparation, the enemy’s wire to be cut by hand. Some members of Radko’s Staff were less enthusiastic. On the active front from the Gulf to the village of Sarkanaiz the Russians had never less than ninety-two battalions, while the enemy had only twenty-two to twenty-five battalions on January 5th, and his strength never increased beyond sixty-four to seventy- one battalions. There is no doubt that the enemy was completely surprised, but the reason for undertaking the operation was not clear, for the Russians had insufficient troops of good quality on the spot to develop a real success. As it was, the attempt was only a raid, and it failed in the primary object of a raid—the improvement of the raiders’ morale—for it cost in Russian life and morale before the end of the month at least six times the damage it caused the enemy.

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Alexandre Benois

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An “intimate” lunch at the GorchakovsMikhail Gorchakov, aristocrat and public advocate of the monarchy.’. Delicious food, first-rate wine, a highly well-mannered maitre d’hotel such as are found in the best bonnes maisons, and an ecstatic (if sometimes exhausting) host. Akitsa and I are both terribly fond of these feasts, which extend long into the evening, are executed with great taste and accompanied by countless comforts (such as the oh-so delicious chocolates we enjoy after the meal). Not a word, thank God, was mentioned of the war; most of the time we spoke of friends and acquaintances.

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Max Linder

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Vasily Gurko

Alexander Palace, Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire

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Alexandra Feodorovna with Nicholas II

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Maurice Paleologue

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Dinner ended at last and we went into the next room where coffee was served. The Emperor lit a cigarette and passed from group to group. While these dull conversations were in progress, the Empress received the chief delegates in turn in her room.

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2 February

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From one revolution to another

Russia in 1917

Map of the Royal dynasties of Europe

Romanovs dangerous liaisons

-23

in Petrograd

-26

in Moscow