16 June 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

I spent the night of June 16th in the XLIXth Corps, and found the Commander, General Selivachev, quite a character. He had undoubtedly Jewish blood and an extraordinary pineapple shaped head, a ludicrous feature which officers asserted had prevented his appointment to the General Staff, though he passed the Military Academy.

In the afternoon I visited the Czechs, 4,000 of whom were being concentrated to take part in the coming offensive—grand men, with chests like Aldershot gymnastic instructors. Their orchestra sang “ God Save the King " at supper. I slept in the General’s room, and left for the front with him at 6.30 a.m. the next day. We returned at 3.30 p.m., after trekking some twelve miles through trenches in a hot s\m. Certainly General Selivachev was physically the most energetic Russian general I had met. He had everywhere a cheery word for the men ; he was doing all that was humanly possible.

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✍ Also today

Nikolay Gumilyov

London, United Kingdom

Epics always follow after the events they glorify. At present, we are in the midst of great events; consequently, now is the time for drama, and this is likely to go on for some time. It is quite clear, however, that the events taking place today will provide epics for several generations to come.

Nicholas II

Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire

After tea Kerensky suddenly came by car from the city. He stayed with me for a while. He asked me to send to the investigating committee some papers and letters having relations to internal policies. After my walk and until lunch I helped Korovichenko in an analysis of those papers. During the day he was helped by Kobylinsky. We sawed up the tree trunks in the first place we cut. See more

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George Buchanan

4, Dvortsovaya embankment, Petrograd, Russian Empire (British Embassy)

At the opening of the congress Lenin delivered an energetic speech, which condemned goals of the Allience, which, as Kerensky showed, was borrowed word for word from the last German radio programm.

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Anatoliy Lunacharskiy

apt.17, 25/20, Lakhtinskaya, Petrograd, Russian Empire

I have been elected to the Congress of Soviets. I may become a member of the Praesidium. I have a great deal of work, an overwhelming amount in the next few days.. Of course, I am glad of this. We do not have a chance in the Congress. See more

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Nadezhda Krupskaya with Vladimir Lenin

38, 1st line of Vasilyevsky Island, Petrograd, Russian Empire

Ilyich addresses the First All-Russia Congress of the Soviets of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies. In the hall, full of people, the Bolsheviks were sitting in the back, in a small group. Only the Bolsheviks applauded during Ilyich’s speech, but it was apparent that it created a strong impression. Someone said afterwards that Kerensky, after this address, was unconscious for three hours. I don’t know how close this was to the truth.

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Alexander Kerensky

Petrograd, Russian Empire

At the congress I bumped into Lenin for the first and only time. He showed up surrounded by his general staff in its entirety, including Kamenev, Zinoviev, Lunacharsky, and of course, Trotsky, who, even though he was not yet eager to join the Bolsheviks, did not consider it disgraceful to associate with them openly. See more

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15 June

Soldiers are rude to the Grand Duchess

The Tsar and his family eat vegetables they have grown themselves

“We have already been defeated by Germany, and the overthrow of the autocracy was the piece of bacon fat in the mousetrap"

Map of the Royal dynasties of Europe

Romanovs dangerous liaisons

+18

in Petrograd

+20

in Moscow