19 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

The troops ordered from the front—the 14th Cavalry Division, a cyclist battalion and a brigade of the 45th Division—commenced to arrive on Wednesday night.

This morning (19th) at 6.30 Thornhill came to my room to tell me that the fortress of Peter and Paul was going to be attacked and that we were required to evacuate the rooms on the south and east side of the Embassy in case the rebels should fire. Tereshchenko sent to invite the Ambassador and his family to take temporary refuge in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but the invitation was refused with thanks.

We had a weary time watching the preparations. Wave after wave of men crossed the bridge. Kshinskaya’s house was occupied at 7.30, the Leninites having fled to the fortress. At 3 p.m. the fortress surrendered, and the 700 blackguards there, chiefly from Kronstadt and of the 1st Machine-Gun Regiment, were disarmed and—released ! When I heard of this release at the Staff to-day I went for Polovtsev and Balaban and said that either the Russians were the cleverest people in the world or else the biggest fools. I pointed out that they had everything in their hands if they would only take strong measures, but that there would be an end of their co-operation as allies if they allowed the present opportunity to pass. Polovtsev said that he had not got a free hand, and had only orders to arrest Roshal, the Kronstadt leader, and he only sighed at my bloodthirstiness and said that I was “ a hot-headed Irishman.”

He gave me a specimen of a rough engraving depicting the sacrifice of a young girl by Jews, said to have taken place in Hungary in 1882, and told me that a large quantity of such anti-Semitic stuff had been found in Lenin’s quarters in Kshinskaya’s house.

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Sofia Tolstaya

Yasnaya Pol'yana, Tul'skaya guberniya, Russian Empire

Awful events in Petrograd: shootings, murdering our own, robberies - a total and utter riot. And these robbers are our bosses! Sister takes everything to heart, intrigued by everything. I only suffer, deeply. My sister Tanya, is still so young: she even enjoys reading French novels.

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Kazimir Malevich

Moscow, Russian Empire

In the deepest recesses of Art lie the secrets of governmental coups, of the reconstruction of human life. A sage who could read meaning in colors, words, sounds, and their exchanges could discover the words that foretell these great events.

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Alexander Kerensky

Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire

At six in the evening I arrived at the Tsarskoselsky station, where I was met by my deputy, General Polovtsov, the commander of the Petrograd Military District and other members of the government. Having already heard Polovstov’s report on the train, I suggested he immediately tender his resignation, upbraiding him for his indecisiveness in suppressing the uprisings and for failing to carry out my orders to subject to the traitors to the harshest possible countermeasures. See more

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Alexander Kolchak

Petrograd, Russian Empire

The skirmishes which were taking place in Petrograd led to a clash between the Bolshevik districts and the Cossacks. The only really serious incident was near the Liteiny Bridge. See more

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Nikolai Bukharin

Trekhprudnyi pereulok, 9, Moscow, Russian Empire

A new wave of slander has arisen against Lenin, and this time it is unimaginably dirty. Comrade Lenin is known to all revolutionaries of all shades, and has been already for several years. No one has ever dared to speak about the political dishonesty of comrade Lenin. It is not easy. It is painful. Only the man who is ready to sacrifice everything for a just cause can walk his own path through the system of bribes, slander, all the baseness of which the bourgeoisie is capable. Lenin is such a man.

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Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich

Gatchina, Russian Empire

The success of the Bolsheviks begins to decrease; the people begin to understand that they are working for the benefit of the Germans and their money.

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Nicholas II

Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire

In part, the overwhelming number of troops remained loyal to the government and took to the streets to support it. The weather was wonderful. I took a long walk with Tatiana and Valya. Zaring the day we worked with some success in the forest chopping and sawing up four fir trees. During the evening I read.

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