28 May 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

On my way to the Embassy in the morning I met Lechitski. He does not believe in an offensive by “ the most democratic army in the world,” for the Russian is by nature and early home conditions most undisciplined, and he has no idea of patriotism or sense of duty. Poor old Lechitski, I wonder if I will ever see him again ! I have the very greatest regard and respect for him. I was told a story of a Colonel Kotlarevski, a technical artillery officer of the Caucasian Front, who arrived at Moscow in the very middle of the Revolution and had to find the military staff on urgent business. He found a door over which “ Military Council ” was written. He told the sentry he had business with the military council, and he was ushered into a room where he found six ensigns, some doctors and a few soldiers sitting at a table with lighted candles. They asked him what he wanted, and he said he had come to get the component parts of mountain guns. They consulted together for a few moments and then the President stepped forward and said : “By the will of the people, you are appointed the Gommander-in- Chief of the Moscow Military District.” The bewildered Colonel did his best to avoid the honour. Colonel Gruzinov came in and he pointed him out as a man in every way more suitable. Gruzinov said that he would serve as his assistant, but Kotlarevski said : “ This is not the time to worry about such trifles as rank. Though you are a Lieutenant-Colonel and I am a Colonel, I will serve as your assistant.” He served in this capacity for a month, and was then exceedingly glad to get away with a whole skin.

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Alexander Blok

57, Ofitserskaya street, Petrograd, Russian Empire

In the evening I wandered and wandered. White Nights and women. I’m right at home in this dark and lonely abyss we call St Petersburg 1917, Russia 1917. Where are you carrying me, life? The day, the white nights, arouse me like a heavy draught of wine.

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Vladimir Purishkevich

Petrograd, Russian Empire

Where is the Russian army? There is no army! Go into the trenches, and you will see only an armed crowd, corrupted by a dangerously patchy political education and utterly incapable of either defense or attack!

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Nikolai Wrangel

Petrograd, Russian Empire

Kschessinsky’s house on the Kamenny Prospekt has been taken over by a gang, an insignificant gang of communists with Lenin at their head, who appear on the terrace every morning to inspire the people to steal from and murder the bourgeois. See more

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Nicholas II

Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire

It was a clear, warm day. After my walk I gave Alexei a geography lesson. We went out into the garden at 2:15. I worked all the time with the others in the vegetable garden; Alexis and the girls planted various things in the beds which we had prepared. At 5 o'clock we returned home perspiring. See more

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Vladimir Nabokov

Petrograd, Russian Empire

It is difficult to imagine what must have been going on in Kerensky’s mind when, in the space of a few short weeks and months, the revolution had thrust him into such dizzying heights as he found himself. In his soul he must have been forced to admit that all the homage paid him, the idolisation, See more

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27 May

"29 rubles have been collected to support the army and the new government"

"The true essence and meaning of culture lies in an organic aversion to everything that is dirty"

Soldiers simulate illnesses to get into the infirmary

Map of the Royal dynasties of Europe

Romanovs dangerous liaisons

+12

in Petrograd

+14

in Moscow