11 August 1917. Provisional Government

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

Provisional Government

Winter palace, St. Petersburg, Russian Empire

The death penalty by shooting is to be established as the maximum penalty for military personnel within the theatre of operations for the following crimes:

military or high treason; defection to the enemy; desertion of the field of battle; voluntary desertion of one’s post during battle or evasion of action in battle; instigation, incitement or encouragement to surrender, desertion or evasion of resistance to the enemy; surrender into captivity without resistance; unauthorised absence from patrol in view of the enemy; violence against superiors - both officers and soldiers; refusal to carry out military orders and instructions from superiors; outright mutiny and incitement to mutiny; assault on a sentry or military guard; armed resistance to a guard, wilful murder of a sentry; and also for wilful murder, rape, robbery and theft only within the territory occupied by the army.

Enemy spies will be subject to the same punishment.

, and others

Comment

✍ Also today

Konstantin Somov

Petrograd, Russian Empire

What a wonderful day, a very hot one. I went to get a haircut, my hairdresser was a rude, sordid girl. Everyone is now rude, lazy, it’s as if they are doing you a favor.

, and others

2 Like

Comment

Valentin Kataev

Yassy station, Russian Empire

A crowd of wounded officers surrounded a Red Cross hospital train, demanding to be allowed on board. This was clearly impossible: it was quite obvious even through the window how tightly packed the carriages were. Terrible, bandaged heads peered out of hammocks, and narrow, faces, deathly pale as masks, with pitiful eyes, so dark they looked painted, muddy-grey hospital gowns, and crutches, one of which was sticking out through the broken window of the carriage. See more

, and others

1 Like

Comment

Mikhail Larionov with Nikolay Gumilyov

"Castille" hotel, rue Cambon, 33, Paris, France

Nicholas II

Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire

Such wonderful weather. During my morning walk, as we were passing by the gate of the path that leads straight to the greenhouse, we noticed one of the sentries asleep in the grass. The officer who was accompanying us went over and took the man's rifle. During the day we chopped down nine trees and sawed up one fir tree. See more

, and others

Comment

Pierre Gilliard

Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire

We were told that we should take warm clothes. Hence, we are not directed to the south. A big disappointment.

, and others

Comment

Elizaveta Naryshkina

Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire

I wrote to the Empress, congratulating her on the upcoming birthday of Aleksey Nikolaevich and informing her of my recovery from my illness and my immediate readiness to take up my former duties.

, and others

Alexandra Feodorovna

Dear Madame Zizi! I warmly embrace you for the kind words, prayers and wishes you have showered on our most beloved sunbeam. At 2:30 we have prayers before the Znamensky Icon of the Mother of God, a great comfort to which we are very much looking forward, and, my dear friend, I promise to warmly recall you in my prayers.

I thank you for everything you said to me. With what joy I would draw you to my heart, but, alas, it cannot be. You know how painful this is for me, yet we know there is nothing to be done, as all is in God’s hands, and I still hope that we will see each other again. God be with you! I beg you to write to me from time to time. Embraces from all of us, and eternal gratitude for your love and friendship.

1 Like

Comment