31 March 1917. Thomas Mann

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

1, Poshingerstrasse, Munich, German Empire

Peace with Russia! Alliance with Russia! It is a lie that they understand Russian language better in France than here. Never, not even in 1914, I have felt any anger towards Russia and Russian character. France—totally other matter. But I do not feel anger. It is that mixture of hatred and contempt that is habitually called disgust.

, and others

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✍ Also today

Bertrand Russell

London, United Kingdom, the Anglo-Russian Democratic Alliance's meeting

... it was a really wonderful occasion, and you can find out nothing about it from papers. The Albert Hall was absolutely packed, and 20,000 people had been refused tickets. Every person there was wanting a real absolute change in everything –– not the sort of piecemeal niggling reforms that one is used to, but the sort of thing the Russians have done. People cheered for a republic, for freedom for India, for all the things one never hears mentioned. The whole atmosphere was electric. Reporters applauded, but did not take notes. A meeting of the kind would have been utterly impossible a month ago. See more

, and others

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Felix Dzerzhinsky Sofia Dzerzhinskaya

Sokolniki, Moscow, Russian Empire

My dear Zosia and Yasik! Have you received my telegram and a postcard that I have sent after my release? It has been several days now that I have been resting, almost in the village, in Sokolniki, because the impressions and the fever of the first days of freedom and revolution were too powerful and my nerves, weakened by so many years of prison silence, could not withstand the pressure. Now, I am using the time in order to fill the gaps in my knowledge and to bring my thoughts in order. See more

, and others

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Alexandra Kollontai

Kirochnaya Street, Petrograd, Russian Empire

Came back to new Russia. The Session of the Soviets. The fraction of the Bolsheviks, together with the Petersburg Committee and the Central Committee, discusses whom to send as a speaker for the Bolsheviks. I spoke in favor of juxtaposing the Soviets and the Provisional Government, for merciless exposure of social-sycophants, for fraternisation, in other words was carrying out Lenin’s policy.

, and others

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John Hanbury-Williams

Mogilev, Stavka, Russian Empire

Reports say that General Ivanoff has been arrested. Only a few months ago he was one of the heroes of the war.

What makes me sick is that some people who, a very short time ago, were squealing to be presented to the Emperor, are now abusing him. See more

, and others

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Lili Dehn

Alexander Palace, Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire

The Tsarevitch was now almost well, and running about the Palace much as usual. I do not think he noticed many changes, the Revolution conveyed nothing to him except when he missed certain of his soldiers and his friends. He was still a happy, light-hearted child. The Imperial Family had no presentiment of disaster for themselves, but they suffered untold agonies of mind over the fate of Russia. See more

, and others

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Maurice Paleologue

10, Kutuzov embankment, Petrograd, Russian Empire

Anarchist propaganda has already contaminated the larger part of the front.

From all quarters I am receiving re ports of scenes of mutiny, the murder of officers and wholesale desertion. Even in the front line bands of private soldiers are leaving their units to go and see what is happening in Petrograd or at home in their villages.

, and others

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30 March

Rasputin’s killer is allowed out of exile

Bunin arrives in revolutionary Petrograd

Expatriate Russian socialists in Switzerland negotiate with Berlin

1917. Zombies, drugs, and progress

Why did the Russian Empire collapse

1916: Year in Review.

in Petrograd

in Moscow