5 December 1917. Pierre Gilliard

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

Pierre Gilliard

10, pr. Mira, second floor of the governor's house, Tobolsk, Russian Republic

Meanwhile the Bolshevik doctrines had begun their destructive work in the detachment which was guarding us and which hitherto had been fairly proof against them. It was composed of very varied elements: the men of the ist and 4th Regiments were for the most part favourably disposed towards the Imperial family, and especially towards the children.

The Grand Duchesses, with that simplicity which was their charm, loved to talk to these men, who seemed to them to be linked with the past in the same way as themselves. They questioned them about their families, their villages, or the battles in which they had taken part in the great war. Alexis Nicolalevitch, who to them was still " the Heir," had also won their hearts, and they took trouble to please him afid find amusements for him. One section of the 4th Regiment, composed almost exclusively of the older classes, was particularly conspicuous in its attachment, and it was always a delight to the family to see these good fellows come back on duty. On these days the Czar and children used to go secretly to the guardhouse and converse or play draughts with the men, whose conduct was never in a single instance anything but strictly correct. Here they were once surprised by Commissary Pankratof, who stood astounded on the doorstep, looking through his spectacles at this unexpected sight. The Czar, seeing his disconcerted appearance, motioned to him to come and sit at the table. But the Commissary evidently thought he was out of place ; muttering a few unintelligible words, he turned on his heel and fled, discomfited.

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Alexandre Benois

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I finished the suits of “Petrushka” with paint and set off to Bertensen to come to agreement about the further. Along the way I bought (on the warrant issued by our house committee, otherwise it is impossible) rubber galoshes in the Andreevsky market; unfortunately, except for the pointy ones, there were no more left.

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Alexandra Kollontai

7, Kazanskaya street, Petrograd, Russian Republic

The Secretary of the Soviet, Alyosha Tsvetkov, set off on a reconnaissance mission. He came back with a report, stating that an amazingly well-equipped building had been found. It had everything: small, separate rooms, a canteen, a kitchen, all facilities, and - crucial in these hungry times - food supplies. See more

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Amedeo Modigliani

is working on "Young Girl in a Striped Shirt"

Paris, France

Vladimir Dzhunkovskiy

Smolny Institute, Petrograd, Russian Republic

is arrested

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Woodrow Wilson

Washington, D.C., United States

The Russian people have been poisoned by the very same falsehoods that have kept the German people in the dark, and the poison has been administered by the very same hands. The only possible antidote is the truth.

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Alfred Knox

Petrograd, Russian Republic

The Germans categorically refused to accept terms which they said could only be applied to a beaten country. They then put up their own terms. See more

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4 December

Lenin plans to confiscate houses

The USA are not supportive of the new Russian policy

Manikovski and Marushevski are arrested

Map of the Royal dynasties of Europe

Romanovs dangerous liaisons

From one revolution to another

Russia in 1917

-11

in Petrograd

-10

in Moscow