17 July 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 saw Yakubovich, the Assistant Minister of War, yesterday afternoon, and he told me that he thought, “ one way or another," the death penalty would be reintroduced in the army in a month’s time. The ministers are becoming less idealistic and they only speak now of the reestablishment of order. Lvov is the great obstacle, for he is a confirmed idealist, and it would be a blessing if he would retire. Kerenski returned on the 15th and left again last night, this time for the Western Front.

I asked what would happen if the death penalty were not re-established. Yakubovich said : “ There will be an end of the Russian army by October.” I said, “ That means a separate peace? ” He replied, “ No. It means that the army will sit in the trenches.”

Tumanov, the other Assistant, came in, and I read them both the “ Instructions to German Agents before leaving for Russia,” of which I had received a copy from England. When I reached a paragraph recommending that every effort should be made to cause dissension between the Provisional Government and the Sovyet, Tumanov remarked : ” They have missed the point there ; they should work for dissension between the men and their representative committees; that is the real danger.

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Rurik Ivnev

Petrograd, Russian Empire

A crisis of power again. On the streets, there have been demonstrations, shooting and utter chaos. It is unclear who is marching, where to, and why. Cars rush by, carrying armed soldiers and machine guns. It is unclear what tomorrow will bring. The Provisional Government is impotent. I am not afraid for Russia. See more

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Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich

Gatchina, Russian Empire

Since yesterday there are disturbances in Petrograd—there are many Bolsheviks, more than 6 thousand sailors came from Kronstadt, there are still some units on the side of the government that will protect it. A lot are hurt, around 500.

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Irakli Tsereteli

Petrograd, Russian Empire

We are faced with a governmental crisis again. When we hear demands made on behalf of the armed regiments of a single city to adopt predetermined resolutions made by them, then no matter how we change a previous resolution, the people as a whole will see it as a decision adopted merely to serve the victory of disorderly groups and not in order to express the true will of democracy, of the workers, peasants and soldiers at the front. See more

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Elizaveta Naryshkina

Petrograd, Russian Empire

It turns out that yesterday, in Petersburg, there were demonstrations against the government. Five ministers walked out. Some say there was cannon fire. I could not get ahold of any details—the newspapers didn’t come out today. Here, there were some commodity shortages, but it is nothing serious. Two possibilities scare me: Kerensky’s resignation and the capture of Petrograd by the Germans.

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Pierre Pascal

Petrograd, Russian Empire

Once again, this morning, cars full of armed men at the ready, with fixed bayonets. From 2.30 to 3, there was heavy shooting on Nevsky Prospect and Liteiny Prospect. Apparently, the crowd was forcibly dispersed in front of the Tauride Palace.

The Russian offensive has surged back. Brusilov claims that the Russian army will be unable to survive the winter due to the complete state of chaos within the country and because of desertion – which will be the subject of a speech to the Constituent Assembly. See more

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Provisional Government

Petrograd, Russian Empire

All those who participated in the organization and leadership of yesterday’s armed demonstration against government authorities and all those who supported and encouraged it are to be arrested and assigned legal responsibility for treason against their homeland and betrayal of the revolution.

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Felix Yusupov

Yusupov's Palace, 94, Moyka embankment, Petrograd, Russian Empire

The Bolsheviks have attempted to seize power for the first time. Trucks full of armed men drove around the city. Lines of machine gun fire fanned out from the trucks.

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Sergey Prokofiev

Apartment house, 122, Fontanka embankment, Petrograd, Russian Empire

In the morning, I’ve heard on the phone, that it was quiet on the Nevsky: Bolsheviks, having demonstrated into the night, were resting. I decided to use their moment of rest and headed to Nevsky. Some stores were open. I bought English cigarettes, lobsters, a book by Kuno Fischer on Kant, and headed to the Nikolayevsky train station. I left at one, and at half past two the Bolsheviks woke up, and a lively fire fight started all along the Nevsky. See more

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in Petrograd

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in Moscow