26 July 1917. Anatoliy Lunacharskiy → Anna Lunacharskaya

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

Anatoliy Lunacharskiy Anna Lunacharskaya

apt.17, 25/20, Lakhtinskaya, Petrograd, Russian Empire

The situation is still the same. Terrible misfortunes at the front and other circumstances provoke a sharp reaction in us, but also in Germany. Times are dismal. Perhaps, I will also be arrested on charges of "incitement" or something like that. But it’s not important.

I'm ready to give a report on everything I've done. I was, am and will be an enemy of armed adventures, but I was, am, and will be a Social-Democrat-Internationalist. I can always fully answer for what I’ve actually done, but I will deny responsibility for what I couldn’t do because it would be against my political conscience.

There’s only one very strong, purely personal desire, and I would give anything for it to be fulfilled: to see you and Toto. But only leave when things get better. Someway. It's very hard to send money. I'm trying and trying. But I’m sure that I’ll be able to send some somehow, so when you receive this letter, you will already have it. I want to send 300 rubles now, but I hope to send more later. I’ll try to send 300 to 400 rubles every month. The main problem is not getting money--you can earn it, but to send it--that's what’s hard.

I love you terribly. I often reread your cheerful, courageous, wise, and gentle letters. I picture myself as you, try to remember every line, and my heart pours out with some kind of burning wave.

How happy we’ve been in recent years. But the terrible and the great in history is redeemed only by suffering. Our suffering is not in vain in the course of humanity. Besides, you believe like I do, that love and spirit are immortal. You just need them a bit more.

You are my only priceless ones. I’m very worried how you’ll go on without money. I'll do my best.

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✍ Also today

Kazimir Malevich

Moscow, Russian Empire

Kerensky's attack on the South-Western Front and retreat. Adoption of the death penalty within sedentary war. In all other free revolutionary Russia are only prisons and penal servitude.

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Vasily Kravkov

Kopychynets, Russian Empire

The height of “Bolshevism’s” insolence! Plunder and violence committed by the “comrades” have reached the apex of prehistoric savagery—soon, it seems, they will start eating each other. Cossacks and the cavalry are our only protectors from mass manifestations of revolutionary and plundering impulses of “free” Russian citizens! See more

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2 Like

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Alexander Blok

57, Ofitserskaya street, Petrograd, Russian Empire

I will never take power, I will never join a party, I will never make a choice, I have nothing to be proud of, I don’t understand anything. See more

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6 Like

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Nicholas II

Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire

For the last two days bad information has come from the front. After our attack in Galicia, many units, thoroughly infected with bad defeatist teachings, not only refused to go forward but are retreating with no pressure from the enemy. See more

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Grigory Zinoviev with Vladimir Lenin

Razliv, Russian Empire

In the hut we have immediately felt ourselves calmer. Life began to “normilise.” Around us there was no one for miles. Tired and exhausted by work and hardships, Vladimir Ilyich enjoyed involuntary rest for the first couple of days. See more

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1 Like

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Julius Martov

Petrograd, Russian Empire

The situation is hopeless. Never, even in 1915, it was not so bad, but I believe that the Revolution still has more resources.

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25 July

"Can there really be no end to the intrigues of the German-socialists and to the rest of this shit?"

"Contrary to the wishes, our troops are being thrown into an offensive"

The Provisional Government introduces censorship in the press

From one revolution to another

Russia in 1917

+13

in Petrograd

+11

in Moscow