13 May 1917. Alexander Kerensky

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

Alexander Kerensky

Petrograd, Russian Empire

After thinking in my quiet office in the Ministry of Justice, I first considered it impossible for me to stop participating in the government’s main political decisions. The political situation inside the government coalition was so unstable that it was impossible to let things go on their own. Coming to this conclusion, I was reaching for the phone, intending to report my refusal, but then I suddenly realized the work in front of me, the government, Russia, if we enact a "truce."

The Russian front has completely collapsed in the last two or three months. Hindenburg-Ludendorff’s “General Plan” will be successful in the west, and Russia will be dominated by German pretenders for world domination. This can’t be allowed at any cost! No one in Russia is going to sign a separate peace with Germany. Russia can’t tolerate the defeat of its allies because it shares a common destiny with them. Hindenburg's plans must be thwarted, and for this it is necessary to resume military operations on the Russian front.

After several hours of difficult personal turmoil, I finally concluded that the government, the High Command and myself have no alternative, and called Lvov to inform him that I would accept the post offered to me.

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12 May

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in Moscow