22 July 1917. Peter Wrangel

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

Peter Wrangel

Stanislavov, Russian Empire

In the middle of the night I was awoken by terrible screams. Through the window you could see the sky, embraced by the glow of a fire. Cries rang out from the street, you could hear some kind of crackling and noise, the breaking of glass and occasional shots. Hastily dressed, I went out into the corridor, where I met by my orderly officer. “Your Excellency, there is a pogrom in the city. The retreating troops are breaking stores,” he reported to me. I went down into the hotel lobby. Leaning against the wall stood an old man, pale as death, with blood flowing down his long grey beard.

Next to him stood a tattered young woman, head uncovered, who sobbed loudly, wringing her hands. Upon seeing me she rushed towards me and began to catch and kiss my hands. I called the porter and asked what was the matter; it turned out that the old man was a Jew, the owner of a watch shop, and the woman was his daughter. The soldiers sacked the shop, and the owner, who was severely beaten, barely escaped with his life. I had no military force at my disposal, as with me there was only one officer and two ordering hussars. Taking them with me I went out into the street.

The city burned in several places; a crowd of soldiers, breaking iron curtains, was smashing stores. From the windows of the houses you could hear screams and crying. On the pavement lay broken boxes, broken cardboard boxes, pieces of cloth, ribbons and laces interspersed with broken utensils, empty bottles of cognac. Military convoys completely blocked the streets. Artillery parks were stuck in the square. Fire enveloped neighbouring houses, resulting in the explosion of shells. I hardly found the commander of the park and, taking several soldiers from him, personally began to restore order. In one store we caught robbers, who were busy emptying boxes of tea utensils. Grabbing the first one I hit him with my fist, shouting loudly: “Cossacks, here, beat these bastards”. In a minute the store was empty…

In two hours we managed to clear the street. The carts began moving, and the artillery got the opportunity to move forward. In the neighbouring streets the robbery continued. From the continuous shouting I completely lost my voice.

By six o’clock in the morning a crossing appeared on the street, a regiment of Polish uhlans was approaching. I ordered the commander of the regiment to restore order without any hesitation. Several robbers were caught there and then and shot on the spot, and by the morning it was quite calm in the city.

, and others

3 Like

Comment

✍ Also today

Claude Debussy

Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France

There are mornings when it seems to be as difficult to do my toilet as to perform one of the twelve feats of Hercules! And I'm still waiting for something - revolution or earthquake - something that would spare me from this difficult routine.

, and others

2 Like

Comment

Olga Rozanova

ap. 38, 10, Sadovo-karetnaya street, Moscow, Russian Empire

I've started to paint two pictures at the same time: a realistic one and a suprematist one. I am unable to finish the first work: it is so extraneous to paint from memory, without nature. I gave it up and won't change my mind. The second one is almost finished.

, and others

4 Like

Comment

Ilya Ehrenburg

St.Petersburg, Russian Empire

On the streets, deserters were caught; The patrols who checked the documents themselves were like deserters. Two officers took away from a woman a bag of sugar. "Herods!": she yelled. When she was left, one of officers shouted that soon she would be executed. Kerensky indulges the bag-makers, but sooner or later he will be put to justice.
Then the officers, not being shy of passers-by, divided the catch among themselves. In shops it was possible to buy Havana cnigars, Sevres vases, verses of Countess de Noah. Then the officers, not being shy of passers-by, divided the catch among themselves. In shops it was possible to buy Havana cnigars, Sevres vases, verses of Countess de Noah. In confectioneries coffee was served with honey (sugar was gone) and instead of cakes - thin slices of white bread and jam. The cabmen did not talk about the oats anymore, only they sulked sullenly.

, and others

1 Like

Comment

Pierre Pascal

Petrograd, Russian Empire

I refuse to blame Russian soldiers, even now, considering the current situation. Only heroes fight, or those who are forced to. It is impossible to make everyone be a hero.

, and others

1 Like

Comment

headquarters of the South-Western Front, Berdichev, Russian Empire

I consider the unauthorised withdrawal of regiments from their positions to be an action equivalent to treason and betrayal. Therefore, I categorically demand that all combatant commanders in such cases do not hesitate to use their machine guns and artillery against the traitors. I take full responsibility for all deaths. Inactivity and wavering on the part of the commanders I will consider as a failure of their official duty and will immediately dismiss them from command and hand them over the courts.

, and others

Comment

Alexander Kerensky

Petrograd, Russian Empire

Without a doubt, riots in Petrograd were organized with a help of German state agents. As of now, all disturbances are completely put to an end. Leaders and others who stained themselves in brotherly blood and crimes against fatherland and revolution are arrested. Moreover, there are arrests among navy ranks who violated their civilian and military duty. I call upon true sons of democracy to unite around the Provisional Government and State democracy organs for the salvation of our fatherland and revolution from the outer enemy and its allies.

, and others

Comment

21 July

"There is now a nasty Bolshevik party"

Lenin refuses to appear at the trial

"Lenin is in hiding, Kerensky is a dictator in the service of the allies"

Map of the Royal dynasties of Europe

Romanovs dangerous liaisons

From one revolution to another

Russia in 1917

+16

in Petrograd

+21

in Moscow