5 December 1917. Alexandra Kollontai

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

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.

Where was this godsend? In the Alexander Nevsky Lavra - a “sacred” Orthodox monastery. We put our heads together and made inquiries. It turns out the building is big enough to house a thousand people. And at the moment, there are only about 60 monks living there, with a few dozen novices. Above all, it would be perfect for soldiers. There are beds, enough firewood for two years, flour, vegetable oil, and barrels of herring...in short - everything you could ask for!

At the Soviet, we discussed the reconnaissance report, and resolved to occupy the monastery, but to do so “peacefully” - to ask the monks to make space, to allocate a small part of the building to them and to turn the rest into a hostel for crippled soldiers.

, and others

2 Like

1 Comment

✍ Also today

Alexandre Benois

38, 1st line of Vasilyevsky Island, Petrograd, Russian Republic

1/3

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.

, and others

3 Like

Comment

Amedeo Modigliani

is working on "Young Girl in a Striped Shirt"

Paris, France

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. See more

, and others

1 Like

Comment

Vladimir Dzhunkovskiy

Smolny Institute, Petrograd, Russian Republic

is arrested

, and others

Comment

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.

, and others

2 Like

Comment

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

, and others

1 Like

Comment

4 December

Lenin plans to confiscate houses

The USA are not supportive of the new Russian policy

Manikovski and Marushevski are arrested

1917. Zombies, drugs, and progress

Why did the Russian Empire collapse

Nightmare before Christmas

Death of Rasputin. Murder conspiracy and its consequences

-11

in Petrograd

-10

in Moscow