27 July 1917. Pavel Skoropadskiy

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

Pavel Skoropadskiy

Zbruch River, Ternopil Oblast, Russian Empire

I went into the house and gave the order for one of the group of deserters, one of the more insolent, to be singled out. I announced to the division that anybody who crosses the river Zbruch without being ordered to do so will be shot immediately. I then wrote out a personal decree demanding the immediate execution of the deserter.

I provisionally told the commander of the division that if my decree was not carried out immediately I would dismiss him from his duties and court martial him for failing to carry out an order. The deserter was shot, and a sign was put up next to the river “Deserter, do not go beyond the river, or you will be shot!” This highly undemocratic measure began to take effect almost immediately: mass desertion has now ceased and we efforts to stabilise our position are going well.

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Maxim Gorky

23, Kronversky ave., Petrograd, Russian Empire

I am no investigator and I have no idea who is most to blame for the vile drama we are witnessing. I have no intention of defending the adventurers and opportunists; all those who try to arouse the dark instincts of the masses are hateful and unpleasant to me, no matter what name they bear, or how much fine service they may have done in the past for Russia. See more

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Peter Wrangel

Kamianets-Podilskyi, Russian Empire

The “breach of the revolutionary army”, reported on by the head of the government, “War Minister”, Prince Lvov " ended in treason by the Grenadier Guards. The entire Eleventh Army, abandoning their positions, went running into the rear after them. See more

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Pierre Pascal

Petrograd, Russian Empire

There’s anything you want in the Finland, Vyborg, Tammerfors and other train stations. The old custom remains in force: you pay 3 to 4 marks at the buffet entrance and you can eat whatever you want. Hors d'oeuvre a plenty. Finns are very poorly disposed to Russians. The Finns are kinder. Russian troops are not kicked around. See more

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George Buchanan Government

Petrograd, Russian Empire

There can be no doubt that this so-called counter-revolution – a term which everybody interprets in his own sense – was engineered by the Germans to synchronise with their offensive. The news of what was passing in Petrograd was circulated among the troops at the front by German aeroplanes and by Bolshevik agitators, and the collapse of the Russian Army would never have been so complete but for this. See more

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Nicholas II

Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire

It was a little warmer, but the sun was not out. During the morning, as usual, I took a nice walk with my daughters. After breakfast we worked near the Arsenal. We cut down three fir trees and cut up still another tree which had fallen in the grass. I packed some books and then read. During the evening I read aloud.

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