21 March 1917. Joseph Stalin → Vladimir Lenin

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

Joseph Stalin Vladimir Lenin

Achinsk, Russian Empire

Fraternal greetings. We leave for Petrograd today. Kamenev, Muranov, Stalin.

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✍ Also today

Maxim Gorky

23, Kronversky ave., Petrograd, Russian Empire

The most frightful and fantastic types human specimens imaginable have crawled out onto the streets of Petersburg. Where have these people been hiding? One imagines that the gates have been opened to some vast asylum in the slums, in which these people, spurned and rejected by life, once wiled away their miserable lives. While quietly meandering around the city, they give an insuppressible impression of a people struggling to recall some lost memory. See more

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Mikhail Zoshchenko

Petrograd, Russian Empire

No longing for the past.

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Alexandra Feodorovna

Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire

From this moment all in the palace are considered in a state of quarantine, and contact with the outside world is forbidden.

I have burnt the letters I received from Lili Dehn. I sat today with Anya.

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Pierre Gilliard Tsarevich Alexei

Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire

You know, Aleksei Nikolaevich, your father no longer wants to be the Emperor.

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Tsarevich Alexei

What for? Why?

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Mikhail Alekseyev Nicholas II

Mogilev, Stavka, Russian Empire

Your majesty should consider himself as if he were arrested.

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George Buchanan

Petrograd, Russian Empire

This morning I asked the Foreign Minister about the announcement in the papers that the Czar had been placed under the arrest. I was informed by His Excellency that this was not strictly accurate. The position was that the Emperor was no longer his liberty, and that a delegation of the Duma and an escort provided by General Alexeieff would accompany him to Tsarskoe Selo. See more

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Lili Dehn

Alexander Palace, Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire

Sleep for me was impossible. I lay on the mauve couch — her couch—unable to realise that this strange happening was a part of ordinary life. Surely I must be dreaming; surely I should suddenly awake in my own bed at Petrograd, and find that the Revolution and its attendant horrors were only a nightmare! But the sound of coughing in the Empress’s bedroom told me that, alas I it was no dream… See more

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Maurice Paleologue

10, Kutuzov embankment, Petrograd, Russian Empire

During the last few days a rumour has spread among the mob that "Citizen Romanov" and his wife, "Alexandra the German," are working secretly for a restoration of autocracy, with the connivance of the "moderate" ministers, Lvov, Miliukov, Gutchkov, etc. The Soviet accordingly demanded the immediate arrest of the sovereigns yesterday evening. The Provisional Government yielded to its desires. The same evening four deputies of the Duma, Bublikov, Gribunin, Kalinin and Verschinin, left for G.H.Q. at Mohilev, with instructions to bring the Emperor back with them. See more

As regards the Empress, General Kornilov went to Tsarskoïe-Selo this morning with an escort. On his arrival at the Alexander Palace he was immediately received by the Tsarina who heard the decision of the Provisional Government without remark; all she asked was that she should be left all the servants who are looking after her invalid children---a request which has been granted. The Alexander Palace is now cut off from all communication with outside.

Miliukov is very much upset over the arrest of the Emperor and Empress; he wants the King of England to offer them the hospitality of British territory and even to guarantee their safety; he has therefore begged. Buchanan to wire to London at once and insist on having an answer without a moment's delay.

"It's the last chance of securing these poor unfortunates freedom, and perhaps of saving their lives!" he told us.

Buchanan returned at once to the Embassy to convey Miliukov's suggestion to his Government.

As I was walking along the Millionaïa this afternoon, I saw the Grand Duke Nicholas Michaïlovitch. In civilian dress---the get-up of an old tchinoonik---he was prowling round his palace. He has openly sided with the revolution and is full of optimistic talk. I know him well enough to have no doubt that he is sincere when he says that the collapse of autocracy will now mean the salvation and greatness of Russia; but I do not know whether he will keep his illusions for long and hope he will not lose them as Philippe-Egalité lost his. In any case he has honestly done his best to open the Emperor's eyes to the approaching catastrophe, he actually had the courage some time back to send him the following letter, which was shown to me this morning:

You have often mentioned your determination to continue the war to victory! But do you really think victory is possible in the present state of affairs?

Do you know the situation within the Empire? Are you told the truth? Has anyone pointed out where the root of the evil lies?

You have frequently told me that men were always deceiving you and that the only thing you believed in was the views of your wife. I tell you that the words she utters are the result of clever intrigues and not in accordance with the truth. If you are impotent to rid her of those influences, the least you can do is to be always on your guard against the schemers who use her as their tool. Clear these dark forces out, and you will immediately recover the confidence of your people which you have already half lost.

I have hesitated long before telling you the truth, but I have made up my mind to do so, with encouragement from your mother and two sisters. You are about to witness fresh disturbances, nay, an attempt on your life.

I speak as I do in the interests of your own safety and that of your throne and country.

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Nicholas II

Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire

I was at Moghilev during the day. At 10:15 I signed the farewell notice to the Army. At 10:30 I came to the duty house where I said goodbye to all the ranking staff 121 members and the management. At home I said goodbye to the officers and Cossacks of the Convoy and the Composite (reserve) regiment. My heart almost broke. See more

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20 March

The ex-minister of defence is in jail

This is what revolutionary Petrograd looks like

Kerensky is under attack from the left

Map of the Royal dynasties of Europe

Romanovs dangerous liaisons

1917. Zombies, drugs, and progress

Why did the Russian Empire collapse

-19

in Petrograd

-17

in Moscow