8 September 1917. Alexander Kerensky

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

Alexander Kerensky

Moyka embarkment, Petrograd, Russian Empire

I immediately went to the Malakhitov Hall, where the Cabinet meeting was being held, and, after reporting on my meeting with Lvov, I read out his memo and the verbatim text of my conversation with Kornilov. After pleading for the suppression of the mutiny, I declared that I only considered it possible to fight the rebellion if the Provisional Government transferred all power into my hands.

After a short discussion, it was decided to transfer to the chairman total power in order to put an end to Commander-in-Chief General Kornilov’s anti-government offensive as soon as possible.

Around 11 o'clock in the evening, I appeared at the meeting of the Provisional Government with all the documents in my hands. At my suggestion, the following measures were unanimously approved: 1) by telegram, to invite General Kornilov to transfer the authority of Commander-in-Chief to General Klembovsky, commander of the Northern Front, and immediately to come to Petrograd; 2) give me special powers to prevent and suppress an open coup d'état at the root.

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Alfred Knox

London, United Kingdom

On Saturday the 8th—a fateful day in Russia—the War Cabinet did not meet.

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Boris Savinkov

Winter palace, St. Petersburg, Russian Empire

I came to the Winter Palace to a session of the Provisional Government in order to defend a bill on the death penalty behind the front line. Without a word, Kerensky held out a piece of paper covered in writing to me. I read it and could not believe my eyes. The gist of it was that the Commander-in-Chief is ordering the immediate transfer of complete military and civil authority to him. The signature of V Lvov was beneath this ultimatum. I advised Kerensky to come to an arrangement with Gen. KornilovCommander in Chief of the Petrograd command - from 18 March 1917.

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Vladimir Lvov

Winter Palace, Petrograd, Russian Empire

General Kornilov is suggesting:

1) Declaring a state of emergency in Petrograd;

2) Transferring all power in its entirety, military and civil, to the Commander-in-Chief;

3) The resignation of all ministers, including the chairman, and handing over temporary control of the ministries to deputy ministers, until the Commander-in-Chief has formed his cabinet.

Ivan Bunin

Vasilievskoe estate, Glotovo village, Orlovskaya guberniya, Russian Empire

I finished reading Gippius. An incredibly disgusting soul, not a single vivid word, various fantasies driven into stupid rhymes. She doesn't have a jot of poetic soul.

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7 September

Krymov's troops are heading towards Petrograd

Chaliapin: "We will hope that all that happens is for the best."

Nicholas II: "My walk in the garden was incredibly boring"

1916: Year in Review.

in Petrograd

in Moscow