7 September 1917. Lavr Kornilov

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

Mogilev, Stavka, Russian Empire

Lvov, whom I saw once or twice at sessions of the Council of Ministers during my time as Commander in Chief of the Petrograd Military District, came to me; I knew he was a member of the State Duma and Chief Procurator of the Synod. Lvov announced to me, on behalf of Kerensky, that if I believe his (Kerensky’s) further involvement in running the country will not give the regime the strength and resolution needed, then Kerensky is prepared to leave the government.

If he can count on my support, then he is prepared to carry on his work. Lvov asked me to give him my opinion on Kerensky’s suggestion, and to set out a programme. After outlining to him general position of the country and the army, I announced that the only way to rescue the country from the present grievous situation would be to re-establish a dictatorship and to declare a state of emergency in the country immediately.

I announced that I personally do not aspire to power and that I was ready to immediately submit to whoever would receive dictatorial authority. Lvov has declared that such an outcome could not be discounted, that, given the hard circumstances of the country, the Provisional Government, in its present form, would itself reach a realization of the necessity of establishing a dictatorship and, quite certainly, would offer me the responsibilities of a dictator. I declared that if this had happened, that I, having always been of the opinion that only firm power could save the country, would not decline the offer.

I asked him to let Kerensky know that, according to my knowledge, they were preparing a Bolshevik demonstration in Petrograd, in the nearest days, and that an assassination attempt on Kerensky was being planned, that’s why I asked Kerensky to come to General Headquarters in order to reach a final agreement; I asked to tell him that I guaranteed his safety at the General Headquarters with my word.

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Alexander Krymov

Heading to Petrograd with the 3rd Cavalry Corps

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Lavr Kornilov

In the event that you hear news from me or directly on the ground that Bolsheviks started their revolt you have to immediately advance troops to Petrograd, capture the city, disarm the Petrograd garrison units loyal to Bolsheviks, disarm the Petrograd population and break up the Soviet.

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Alfred Knox

London, United Kingdom

I arrived in London on the morning of August 30th, and reported on the following day to the Directors of Military Intelligence and of Military Operations, but only appeared before the War Cabinet a week later—on Friday, September 7th. See more

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Feodor Chaliapin

Kislovodsk, Russian Empire

I did not set off for Petrograd, but stayed here, in view of the events that have taken place. However, yesterday I received another telegram from Aksarin from the People’s House and a letter from Wolkestein, reassuring me completely and inviting me to come to Petersburg without delay. Things are quiet there, and there is food on sale, although it is very expensive. See more

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Nicholas II

Tobolsk, Russian Empire

The weather was warm, with a strong eastern breeze. My walk in the garden was incredibly boring; here I feel much more strongly in seclusion, than it was in Tsarskoe Selo. I worked in the flower beds. During the evening it rained.

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