Context

A fateful week for the Russian Empire: newspapers welcome the overthrow of Nicholas II, admire A.F. Kerensky and believe in the imminent beautiful future of the country.

The former cabinet of ministers was arrested, the provisional government announces a broad amnesty, including for terrorists, coats of arms are burned in Moscow and Petrograd, busts of members of the Romanov family are smashed or nailed down at railway stations ...

The press did not immediately report on the revolution: in Moscow, the censorship authorities tried to persuade the newspapers to temporarily keep silent about the events, and in protest they came out with blank pages, and in Petrograd, not all the media had time to follow the development of events. In this regard, the chronology of news and the dates of their description in the press do not always coincide.

Discovery of new speculation.

In recent days, attention has been drawn in financial circles to the bond speculation of the recently implemented, government-guaranteed railroad loan. From the lists of subscribers to the railway loan available to the syndicate of private commercial banks, it turned out that most of them belonged to the financial and exchange world of Moscow and Petrograd, and, thus, the general population had almost no opportunity to take part in the subscription to the loan.

Further, it also turned out that some large clients of commercial banks and exchange figures close to certain credit institutions simultaneously subscribed for large amounts in several banks, taking into account in advance the possibility of an increase in the rate of new bonds after the official issue. As a result of such a clever speculative fraud, individuals who wished to place their savings in railroad loan bonds were forced to purchase them second-hand, but, of course, at a much higher price, that is, 74.25 - 74.5 rubles. Meanwhile, the issue rate of railway bonds was 73.75 rubles. This difference in exchange rate has enabled stock speculators to make huge profits in a few hours.

In Moscow, the names of insignificant stockbrokers are being named, who have made a tidy capital on railway bonds. The new speculative stunt was immediately reported to the credit office, which investigated the report. As a result, all the data on this matter were confirmed, and the credit office, “considering these speculative phenomena undesirable and unacceptable by way of supervision,” suggested that the syndicate of private commercial banks take appropriate measures to prevent further such speculative combinations. Moscow banks and branches of Petrograd banks have been notified of this. In relevant circles, it is pointed out that such an order from the credit office to banks confirms the general view that some of the banks are definitely engaged in stock exchange speculation.

(evening newspaper Time)

From crime to crime.

The juvenile court does not know what to do with boys who, wandering without work and a prize, are caught with petty theft and other minor crimes. Judges often recognize the offense committed by the "accused" as so little threat to public safety, and consider that such criminals not only should not be sent to prison, but even a shelter for juvenile delinquents is a heavy and unfair punishment.

And to set him free in the winter, half-dressed, with frostbitten ears, means subjecting him to new wanderings around teahouses and train stations, forcing him to commit a new crime, more serious than for which he was brought. The judges appealed to the city government with a petition to arrange a hostel for such boys at the court, so that they could find temporary shelter in this hostel until they find employment, and not move from crime to crime. The city government agreed to arrange such a hostel for 40 boys and began preparatory work.

(newspaper Kopeyka)

Joining officers.

One of the most important successes of the revolution on this day was the joining of the officers to the insurgent troops.

If on the first day of the uprising of officers among the soldiers, with a few exceptions, it was not visible, then on the second day this gap was brilliantly filled. Not only individual officers, but the entire officer corps of a number of regiments joined the revolutionary movement and, at the head of their military units, with victoriously developing red banners, moved in the morning to the Tauride Palace. There were lieutenants, colonels, generals. The junkers also joined, arriving in order in the State. Duma to receive guidance and directives from the provisional government.

Surrender of the Peter and Paul Fortress.

Meanwhile, on the streets of Petrograd, events went on as usual, bringing more and more victories to the revolutionary movement.

The rebellious soldiers and people moved the day before to the Peter and Paul Fortress and laid siege to it, deciding to take it at all costs.

Fortunately, unnecessary bloodshed was avoided, as the commandant of the Peter and Paul Fortress invited a member of the State Administration for negotiations. Duma V.V. Shulgin and told him that the troops of the fortress were on the side of the people.

The gates were immediately opened and the revolutionary units entered the fortress to release the political prisoners who were sitting there.

Arrest of Metropolitan Pitirim.

Among others, Metropolitan Pitirim was arrested as a zealous servant of the old regime and extreme reaction.

He, too, was accompanied by indignant exclamations:

You helped the enemies of the people!

When Pitirim was introduced to the State. I think he was pale and utterly confused. On the same day, however, the temporary committee decided to release the metropolitan, but he himself asked to remain in the Duma until the morning, fearing the violence of the angry people.

The next day, under the protection of the cordon, Metropolitan Pitirim was taken to his house.

"Knights of the Attics".

In impotent rage against the insurgent people, handfuls of policemen, gendarmes and other servants loyal to the old government, dressed in civilian and even student clothes, climbed into the attics and roofs of some houses, from where at times they opened fire on the people from machine guns and revolvers.

The soldiers searched the houses from which they fired, and took out a lot of these "knights of the attics", some of them were killed, and others were taken to Gos. Duma.

Catching "pharaohs", as the people call the police, went on day and night.

A relatively small number of soldiers and citizens suffered from shooting from attics and roofs.

Occupation of the Tsarskoye Selo Palace by soldiers.

In view of the complete uprising in Tsarskoye Selo, Pavlovsk, Kronstadt and Oranienburg, the commandant of the Tsarskoye Selo palace called in the morning the chairman of the Executive Committee of the State. Thoughts, M. V. Rodzianko conveyed that the empress asked to speak with her.

Soldiers entered the Tsarskoye Selo Palace.

Arrest of two more ministers and others.

The list of arrested ministers and other prominent figures of the old regime grew every hour. Every now and then, to the Tauride Palace, under the menacing cries of thousands of people, they brought arrested people in cars and even trucks.

In the evening, Minister of Justice Dobrovolsky was brought in. And then the Minister of Railways Krieger-Voinovsky.

The following details are given about Dobrovolsky's arrest.

As soon as the Minister of Justice saw that events were taking a bad turn for the autocracy, he, fearing for his life, sat down in the Italian embassy. Dobrovolsky spent the whole day of February 27 there. And the next day he telephoned to the Chairman of the State. Duma Rodzianko with a statement that he was ready to put himself at the disposal of the Executive Committee of the State. Duma.

At 9 pm, Minister of Justice Dobrovolsky, under escort, was taken to the premises of the Tauride Palace and placed in the ministerial pavilion along with the rest of the prisoners.

Then the former Chairman of the Council of Ministers I.L. Goremykin, former Minister of Internal Affairs. cases N.A. Maklakov, beaten by the crowd very badly.

Former director of the police department, former Moscow mayor Gen. Klimovich.

Chairman of the Union of the Russian people Dubrovin. His archive was taken from him, which probably contains many interesting and incriminating documents.

Assistant to the Petrograd mayor Gen.-leit. Wendorf. Assistant to the Petrograd mayor Lysogorsky and all the class officials of the city administration.

How did the popular movement begin?

The history of the present moment will probably convey many versions of the immediate circumstances that gave impetus to the current popular movement that ended the old system.

Probably, in the future, historical journals will be filled with memoirs, notes and materials covering this, perhaps, the most important moment in Russian history.

Here is one of the versions that was handed over to us from Petrograd.

The officers of one of the Petrograd Guards regiments received documentary evidence that, through the persons surrounding Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, negotiations were being held with the German headquarters on the retreat of our troops from Riga.

These data were reported to a member of the State Council A.I. Guchkov, who handed them over to the Chairman of the State. Duma Rodzianko for announcement from the rostrum of the State. Duma.

But M.V. Rodzianko did not dare to announce these data from the rostrum and reported them by telegram to headquarters. In response to this, a decree was received on the dissolution of the State Duma, and the sovereign left the army.

When this circumstance became known to the army of the Petrograd garrison, the troops quickly joined the people.

It is difficult to say how reliable this version is, but the very fact that it is circulating indicates the mood in society.

(evening newspaper Time)

Clashes near the Butyrka prison.

Information has now been received about a provocation that took place in Butyrskaya prison during the release of prisoners.

The former police chief who commanded the detachment arrested and disarmed the warrant officer, who released the political prisoners and seized the archive of political cases.

After presenting a certificate issued by the main headquarters, the colonel arrested ensign Leskovich, who nevertheless managed to get in touch with our headquarters by telephone.

At this time, the colonel again armed the warden of the prison. Leskovich said that he refused to carry out his orders, because he knew that he was not authorized by the Duma headquarters. In response, Colonel Kashchenko fired. The wounded man was taken in a car to the City Council and from there to the hospital.

Arrests.

Tonight, to the apartment of the head of the office of the Moscow mayor I.K. Duropa was the representatives of the people's authorities and arrested him. Other ranks of the mayor's office, living in the house of the mayor's office, managed to leave earlier.

Today, the managing director of the "Telegraph Agency" and a member of the Council of the Minister of Internal Affairs were arrested in Petrograd. del I.Ya. Gurland, who was Sturmer's right hand.

Police ambush.

Throughout the night of today, armed patrols went around the houses, which were supposed to be policemen hidden in ambush, and searched. They entered the apartments and examined all the apartments. In those apartments where family members belong to the army, they asked whether the officer living here joined the people or not, and, having received an affirmative answer, politely bowed and left.

In a court.

Yesterday, March 1, classes resumed at the usual time in the building of the Kremlin courts. It was possible to enter the court only through the Trinity Gate.

The defendants and witnesses presented subpoenas to the patrol, the rest of the persons, officials of the judicial department and sworn attorneys did not present any documents, referring to the court watchman who was standing next to the patrol.

Cases without the participation of jurors passed in perfect order. In the same cases where the defendants were arrested, the cases did not have to be heard, since the prison department did not deliver the prisoners. These cases have been put on hold.

This morning in the building of judicial establishments, classes resumed in the usual manner. Until 1 p.m., the prosecutor of the judicial chamber N.N. Chebyshev did not receive any news or orders from Petrograd from the new government. Court hearings continue. The jurors sat in their usual lineup.

About the role of I.G. Shcheglovitova.

Our employee talked yesterday with a sworn attorney N.V. Teslenko on the role of the former Minister of Justice I.G. Shcheglovitov in the history of Russian justice.

N.V. Teslenko said:

The role of Shcheglovitov is truly terrible: he can justly be called an abolitionist of justice. He planted servility in the court, fought against the independence of judges, tried to turn the court into a weapon of political reprisal against parties that were objectionable to him. Unfortunately, his influence on the court lasted for about 9 years, so his work undoubtedly left a deep impression. It is to be hoped that our court will restore the situation outlined by the great judicial statutes.

The role of the second Minister of Justice Dobrovolsky has not yet been fully clarified. So far, he was charting his path along the lines of Shcheglovitov, declaring that the court should obey political considerations, but he did not have time to do anything in this direction, therefore this question had to be left open.

(evening newspaper Time)

Abdication from the throne.

While making up the issue, we received an urgent message that the abdication of the throne of the sovereign took place in favor of the heir to the Tsarevich, who, in turn, refused in favor of Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich. Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich also refused in favor of the people.

(evening newspaper Time)

Arrest N.A. Maklakov.

On March 1, at the beginning of ten o'clock in the evening, under heavy escort, the former Minister of Internal Affairs N.A. Maklakov. former minister delivered to the Duma with a bandaged head. In the reception room where he was introduced, N.A. Maklakov sank heavily into a chair, looking around wildly, as if looking for something with his eyes.

What are you looking for, what do you need? - asked N.A. Maklakov.

Oh, if they gave me a revolver, I would shoot myself, - answered N.A. Maklakov.

He was taken to the ministerial pavilion.

The arrest of Sukhomlinov.

March 1, at 10 a.m. 30 minutes. In the evening, under a strong escort, the former Minister of War Sukhomlinov was brought to the State Duma. The news of the arrival of Sukhomlinov instantly spread throughout the Duma and caused incredible excitement among the soldier masses. With difficulty, barely restraining the indignation of the soldiers, they brought the former Minister of War to the reception room. Some time later, a delegate from the Preobrazhensky Regiment came here and, in the presence of everyone, tore off the general's epaulettes from Sukhomlinov. In view of the existing serious fear of the possibility of lynching, A.F. came out to the excited soldiers. Kerensky and said approximately the following:

Former Minister of War Sukhomlinov is under arrest. He is under the protection of the Committee of the Duma, and if, carried away by your legitimate hatred of Sukhomlinov, you allow yourself to use any kind of violence against him and there prevent him from escaping legal punishment, then we will counteract this even at the cost of our lives. Soldiers, disperse now to your places.

After this speech, the soldiers formed two chains, between which, to the indignant cries of the soldiers, Sukhomlinov was led under a strong escort to the ministerial pavilion.

The conclusion of dignitaries in the Peter and Paul Fortress.

On the night of March 2, all the arrested dignitaries who were in the Taurida Palace were transported under heavy guard to the Peter and Paul Fortress. The ministerial pavilion of the Tauride Palace is completely unsuitable for containing such a large number of people.

March 2 I.G. Shcheglovitov, brought to the Tauride Palace without a fur coat, went to the fortress in a soldier's overcoat.

When the former Minister of War Gen. Belyaev was asked to leave the ministerial pavilion, he remarked:

I don't understand why. I was a minister of war for a short time and did not commit any crime.

HELL. Protopopov kept trying to find out what they would do with him.

B.V. showed particular concern. Stürmer:

Who can guarantee that they won't take my head off me?

The following persons were taken away from the ministerial pavilion: Gen. Sukhomlinov, Gen. Belyaev, Gen. Kurlov, Prince. N.D. Golitsyn, N.A. Maklakov, P.G. Shcheglovitov, P.L. Goremykin, A.L. Makarov, A.D. Protopopov and the former commander of the troops of the Petrograd Military District, Gen. Khabalov.

The rest of the prisoners for the time being, before being transferred to the fortress, were left in the ministerial pavilion.

How we were choked.

Outside the window - enthusiastic crowds of people. In the editorial office - feverish work on compiling the current issue of the newspaper, so suddenly freed from the clutches of secret and overt censorship. And in front of me on the table is a pack of crumpled sheets. A gloomy memory of the irretrievably past:

Circulars of the censorship committee.

An extensive collection that delivered many desperate and cruel minutes to newspaper workers in its time. Until now, the general public knew about the existence of censorship only from the white stamps on the newspaper pages and the annoying reticence of the newspaper material. The real oppression of censorship was experienced on our long-suffering shoulders only by us - press workers. Especially unbearable was its severity in recent months.

Newspaper editorial offices were literally bombarded with censorship regulations. Suffice it to say that in the six months before the revolution, 84 of them were produced.

Today it was forbidden to write about the disorder of transport. Tomorrow - about Protopopov and Rasputin. The day after tomorrow is about food and bread riots. The speeches of deputies, resolutions of public organizations, resolutions of city governments, etc., were completely blacked out. The press was literally suffocated in the senseless grip of censorship, which, skillfully led by the government, led the press to complete silence.

As the height of censorship "perfection" one can point to one of the latest circulars, in which it was forbidden to write freely absolutely about everything except the theater, the stock exchange and sports. The rest of the material had to go to the censors for review. And, of course, thoroughly washed out.

Could the Russian press fulfill its duty in all its fullness under such conditions? She was systematically strangled with circulars, telephone warnings, fines, confiscations, and threats to "completely shut down the newspaper."

She was persuaded to “change her tone”, to be “calmer” in those days when all of Russia trembled in the desire to throw off the shameful oppression of treacherous power. When the solemn truth about the events in Petrograd reached Moscow, the representatives of the Moscow press were summoned to the censorship and asked them to print a number of "soothing" articles, in other words, they were asked to deceive their readers.

The Moscow press did not go for it. The next day the newspapers did not appear at all. This was the best call to popular indignation.

The revolutionary hurricane tousled and destroyed the old scarecrow of censorship. The Russian printed word, by its countless ordeals, has earned the right to a free existence. And now it will use this right with pleasure within the limits of reason and order. And let these sheets of censorship instructions remain a painful memory of the darkest era in the existence of the Russian newspaper.

(newspaper Kopeyka)

judgment these days.

Some are quick to wonder how judges now deal with the pronunciation of the established formula. “By decree of His Imperial Majesty,” the court ruled ... In other cases, this “instruction” is already omitted by the judges, although in general the court, as a strictly formal institution operating within the limits of pre-established laws, should hardly hesitate in this case - until a direct decree is received on this about the new government.

(newspaper Kopeyka)

The destruction of the detective department.

The gathered huge crowd destroyed the premises of the detective department. All documents were destroyed, the premises were completely destroyed. In this case, popular anger was caused by hatred in general for the police that had long tormented him. The detective department, as an institution protecting the safety of citizens from criminals, will function even with the renewed system of power. According to rumors, the arrested head of the detective department has now been released and he has been asked to take up his duties.

MANIFESTO on the abdication of Nicholas II.

“By the grace of God, We, Nicholas II, the Emperor of All Russia, the Tsar of Poland, the Grand Duke of Finland, and so on and so forth. Announces to all our loyal subjects:

In the days of the great struggle with the external enemy, who has been striving for almost three years to enslave Our homeland, the Lord God was pleased to send Russia a new ordeal. The outbreak of internal popular unrest threatens to have a disastrous effect on the further conduct of the stubborn war. The fate of Russia, the honor of our heroic army, the good of the people, the entire future of our dear fatherland demand that the war be brought to a victorious end, by all means. The cruel enemy is exerting his last strength, and the hour is near when Our valiant army, together with Our glorious allies, will be able to finally break the enemy.

In these decisive days in the life of Russia, we considered it a duty of conscience to facilitate for Our people the close unity and rallying of all the forces of the people for the speedy achievement of victory, and in agreement with the State Duma, we recognized it as good to abdicate the Throne of the Russian State and lay down the Supreme Power.

Not wanting to part with Our beloved Son, we pass on Our heritage to Our brother, Our Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich, blessing Him to ascend the Throne of the Russian State, we command Our Brother to manage state affairs in full and unbreakable unity with the representatives of the people in legislative institutions on those principles, which will be established by them, bringing an inviolable oath to that, in the name of their beloved homeland.

We call on all the faithful sons of the fatherland to fulfill their sacred duty to him by obedience to the Tsar in a difficult moment of national trials and to help Him, together with representatives of the people, lead the Russian state onto the path of victory, prosperity and glory. May the Lord God help Russia.

On the original His Imperial Majesty's own hand signed "NICHOLAS".

City of Pskov.

The Minister of the Imperial Court, Adjutant General Count Frederiks, sealed it.

Tasks of the new government

In its present activities, the Cabinet will be guided by the following principles:

1) Full immediate amnesty for all political and religious cases, including terrorist attacks, military uprisings, agrarian crimes, etc.

2) Freedom of speech, press, unions, meetings, strikes, with the extension of political freedom to military personnel in enterprises, permissible by military technical conditions.

3) Cancellation of all class, religious and national restrictions.

4) Immediate preparations for the convocation of a Constituent Assembly on the basis of universal, equal, direct and secret suffrage, which will establish the form of government and the constitution of the country.

5) Replacing the police with the people's militia, with elected leaders subordinate to local governments.

6) Elections to local self-government bodies on the basis of universal, direct, equal and secret suffrage.

7) Non-disarmament and non-export from Petrograd of military units that took part in the revolutionary movement.

8) While maintaining strict military discipline in the ranks, while carrying military service removal for the soldiers of all restrictions in the use of public rights granted to all other citizens.

The Provisional Government considers it its duty to add that it by no means intends to take advantage of military circumstances for any delay in carrying out the above reforms and measures.

Chairman of the State Duma M. Rodzianko. Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Prince Lvov and ministers: Milyukov, Nekrasov, Konovalov, Manuilov, Tereshchenko, V. Lvov, Shingarev, Kerensky.

What did Kerensky say?

Amnesty. Comrades, soldiers and citizens! I, a member of the State Duma A.F. Kerensky, Minister of Justice. (Stormy applause and solemn cries of "Hurrah!"). I announce publicly that the new provisional government has entered into the performance of its duties in agreement with the Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies. The agreement concluded between the executive committee of the State Duma and the executive committee of the Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies was approved by the Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies by a majority of several hundred votes to 15. (Stormy prolonged applause and exclamations of "Bravo!"). The first act of the new government is the immediate publication of an act of full amnesty. Our comrade deputies of the 2nd and 4th Dumas, illegally exiled to the tundras of Siberia, will be immediately released and brought here with special respect.

Comrades! I have at my disposal all the former chairmen of the council of ministers and all the ministers of the old regime. They will answer for crimes before the people according to the law. (Exclamations from the crowd: "Mercilessly!").

There will be judgment. Comrades! Free Russia will not resort to those shameful means of struggle that the old government used. Without a trial, no one will be punished. Comrades, soldiers and citizens! All measures to be taken by the new government will be published. Soldiers! Please help us. A free Russia has been born, and no one will succeed in wresting freedom from the hands of the people. Do not heed the calls coming from the agents of the old power. Listen to your officers. Long live free Russia! (Stormy applause and cheers.)

Important message. On March 2, during the discussion by the council of workers' deputies of issues related to the organization of the provisional government, A.F. Kerensky and asked for the floor for an extraordinary statement. Sitting on the table, Kerensky delivered the following speech:

Comrades, I must send you a message of the utmost importance. Comrades, do you trust me? (Exclamations: "We trust!"). At the moment, a provisional government has been formed, in which I took the post of Minister of Justice. (Stormy applause, exclamations: "Bravo!"). Comrades, I had to answer within 5 minutes and therefore I was not in a position to receive your mandate until my decision to join the provisional government was made.

In safe hands. Comrades, in my hands were the representatives of the old power, and I did not dare to let them out of my hands (Stormy applause and exclamations: "That's right!"). I accepted the offer made to me and became a member of the interim government as Minister of Justice (New burst of applause). Immediately upon assuming the post of minister, I ordered the release of all political prisoners and, with special honors, conveyed from Siberia here to us, our fellow deputies, members of the Social-Democrats. factions of the 4th Duma and deputies of the 2nd Duma. (Stormy applause, turning into an ovation.) All political prisoners are released, not excluding terrorists.

Future build. I took up the post of Minister of Justice to convene the Constituent Assembly, which will, expressing the will of the people, establish the future state system. (Stormy applause.) Until that moment, full freedom of propaganda and agitation about the form of the future state structure of Russia, not excluding the republic, will be guaranteed. (Stormy applause.) In view of the fact, comrades, that I assumed the duties of the Minister of Justice before I received your authority to do so, I resign my title of Comrade Chairman of the Council of Workers' Deputies. But for me, life without the people is unthinkable, and I am again ready to accept this title from you, if you recognize it as necessary. (“Please, please!”).

I am a Republican. Comrades, having joined the provisional government, I remained what I was - a republican. (Loud applause.) In my work, I must rely on the will of the people. I must have powerful support in him. Can I trust you as myself? (Stormy applause. Exclamations: We believe, we believe!). Comrades, I cannot live without the people, and the moment you doubt me, kill me. (New burst of applause). I declare to the provisional government that I am the representative of a democracy, that the provisional government must especially take into account the opinions that I will defend as the representative of the people, through whose efforts the old government was overthrown. (Applause. Shouts: "Long live the Minister of Justice!").

Time does not wait. Comrades, time is running out. I call you to organization, discipline. I ask you to support us, your representatives, who are ready to die in the name of the interests of the people and who gave their whole life to it. I trust that you will not condemn me and will give me the opportunity to implement all the necessary guarantees of freedom before the convocation of the constituent assembly (Applause). Comrades, allow me to return to the provisional government and announce to it that I am a member with your consent, as your representative. (Stormy applause, turning into an ovation. Shouts: “Long live Kerensky!” Everyone gets up from their seats, picks up A.F. Kerensky and carries him from the hall of the general meeting of the council of workers’ deputies to the office of the executive committee).

(newspaper Kopeyka)

How did the renunciation happen?

Two members of the State Duma arrived in Pskov.

In the presence of General Ruzsky, c. Frederiks and Naryshkin at a small table, members of the State Duma told the tsar everything that had happened in Petrograd in recent days, and advised him not to send echelons from the fronts, as it was pointless - all troops coming to Petrograd immediately join the rebels.

I have already given the order for the echelons to return,” said the king.

What should I do?

Abdicate in favor of your son Alexei, - followed the answer.

It would be very difficult for me to leave my son. I will abdicate in favor of my brother Michael. I will sign the abdication for myself and for my son, but let Michael, accepting the crown, swear allegiance to the constitution.

After that, the act of renunciation was handed over to the king. The king, signing his renunciation, seemed completely calm in appearance. It looked like he was signing some ordinary paper.

Rasputin and the yard.

It is known in Moscow that after Rasputin began to play a role at court, relations between Elizaveta Feodorovna and her sister Alexandra Feodorovna completely deteriorated.

Elizaveta Feodorovna repeatedly went to Tsarskoye Selo, pointing out to Nicholas II and her sister the pernicious influence of Rasputin on the court, but it was all in vain.

The meetings between Alexandra Feodorovna and Elizaveta Feodorovna became colder each time. After the well-known letter from Vasilchikova to Alexandra Feodorovna, Elizaveta Feodorovna once again made an attempt to go to Tsarskoye Selo. She was not accepted there. She was not even left at court.

Elizaveta Fedorovna was supposed to return with the very first train to Moscow. She was so upset that she changed her route and went to one of the monasteries in Kaluga province. And there she spent several days in prayers and tears.

The elderly Count S.D. Sheremetiev was a close friend of the late Emperor Alexander III. In the posthumous instruction left by Alexander III to his son, Alexander III strongly recommended that his son have the closest adviser to Count S.D. Sheremetev. And, indeed, in the early days of the reign of Nicholas II, Count S.D. Sheremetyev had a great influence on the tsar.

After Rasputin became close to the royal family, relations between Nicholas II and Count Sheremetyev deteriorated. On his last visit to Tsarskoye Selo, during a conversation between Count Sheremetyev and the Tsar, when he was especially merciful to Sheremetyev, the latter said to him:

You, sir, have given me the right to tell you the truth. For a long time I have been looking for an opportunity to pour out to you what was seething in my chest. Sovereign, listen to my advice, remove Rasputin. No one undermines the prestige of the throne, no one undermines the throne like this dirty man. For the honor of the dynasty and the prestige of the throne, remove him. All sorts of bad rumors are circulating among the people.

The king, who was sitting at that time with a glass of wine, turned pale, angrily struck his hand on the table:

Don't touch my family! The presence of Rasputin at court is my personal family affair.

Since then, Count Sheremetiev has never been at court.

(evening newspaper Time)

Be careful!.. (Appeal of the priest to the people).

Citizens, do not trust any rumors and treat them with great caution, because they can lead you along a false path that is harmful to the fatherland. Remember that the clergy has always been with the people and walked along with them, and it is far from thinking to go against the real people's movement, which sincerely welcomes and only wishes and prays to God for the fastest establishment in the country of peace and tranquility, silence and unity, which is necessary especially now the final victory over the enemy.

Long live the renewed great Russia, and may all its external and internal enemies be scattered! Member of the State Duma Archpriest Adrianovsky.

(newspaper Kopeyka)

Great sobriety

Sober, without vodka, Russia greeted the red days of the great revolution and carried the old order to its historical grave. Millions of mouths blessed the sobriety of the people these days. The absence of vodka was a great happiness for the people and the same misfortune for the servants and servants of the old order. Vodka could have clouded the consciousness of thousands of people, carried them away in the direction of robbery and violence, introduced the beginning of disintegration and enmity into a wonderful single movement.

What a great happiness it is that the Russian people met the birth of their freedom and the funeral of their political enslavement sober, with a clear consciousness, with a strong will. Sober heads cannot be carried away by the temptations of debacles and pogroms, arbitrariness and violence, on which it is so easy to seduce intoxicated people. A sober people knows that they are strong until their unity is broken, until all for one and one for all, until the green serpent takes possession of them, which will lead them on the path of violence, robbery and arbitrariness.

And this clear, beautiful sobriety must be sacredly preserved by the Russian soldier, the Russian worker, the Russian peasant, if he does not want the enemy to gather his strength again and take away what he has won with such labor and with such sacrifices.

But it is not only vodka that intoxicates people, it is not alone that darkens the consciousness and leads astray from the true path of organization and unity. People become intoxicated with words, with bright phrases, with screaming appeals. There is an alcoholism of phrases, intoxication with words. And here the great sobriety of the people is needed. In these days, when the dawn of a new free Russian life has dawned, may the revolutionary people keep a clear head, a firm will, a keen eye. Let neither vodka intoxicate him, nor heady phrases calling for enmity, raising one against the other, which now come from the lips of people who sow confusion. Remember that always and everywhere the enemies of the people relied on the rule - divide and conquer. And lest they rule again, do not allow yourself to divide and divide. Be one. Do not get drunk with phrases that sow discord and confusion. Keep your heads sober.

(modern word)

Emblem bonfires.

Almost all the trading firms that were suppliers of His Majesty's court hastened to remove coats of arms and eagles from their signboards. Many such coats of arms were thrown into the Fontanka, Moika, Yekaterinovka, etc. At the Anichkov Palace, people warmed themselves around a fire made of eagles that adorned the sign of the Weiss shoe shop.

Destruction of busts.

At some stations, as is known, busts of dynasties were placed. On March 3, a bust of Nicholas II and a large coat of arms (arshin 4-5) were broken at the Tsarskoselsky railway station, and the bust of Nicholas I was wrapped in paper. The boards with the corresponding inscriptions are also sealed with paper.

Termination of the Rasputin murder case.

Minister of Justice A.F. Kerensky gave the order to stop the proceedings on the murder of Rasputin.

At the same time, the minister notified Grand Duke Dmitry Pavlovich and Prince Yusupov gr. Sumarokova-Elston, that they can come to Petrograd without hindrance.

(Petrograd newspaper)

Prepared by Evgeny Novikov

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“The following cities recognized the new government: Riga, Rostov-on-Don, Vladikavkaz, Samara, Balakhna, Sarapul, Poltava, Aleksin, Armavir, Novocherkassk, Bakhmut, Novo-Nikolaevsk, Voronezh, Orel, Belozersk, Uglich, Spassk, Odessa, Tobolsk , Nikolaev, Omsk. Everywhere the news of the coup was greeted with rejoicing. Order was not violated.
Telegrams from the Petrograd Telegraph Agency
_______________
YAKUTSK. As the newspaper Russkoye Slovo reported on March 9: “The renewal went smoothly, thanks to the Social-Democratic deputy, who is languishing here in exile. G.I. Petrovsky and political exiles, who organized the Committee of Public Security on March 3. On March 4, the City Duma transferred powers to the committee.”
SAMARA. On February 22, a strike began at the Pipe Factory. The organizers of the strike were arrested and sent to the city of Nikolaevsk, where marching companies were formed to the front. Among them was the Samara Bolshevik Nikolai Shvernik. On March 1, after the news of the revolution, all political prisoners were released from prison. At an emergency meeting of the city duma, a Special Temporary City Security Committee was organized, which was under the control of the Cadets. The committee was recognized by the Samara Soviet of Workers' Deputies, in which at the first stage the Mensheviks occupied most of the seats, since the leaders of the Samara Bolsheviks were in Turukhansk exile.
BAKU. Head of the Caucasian region Vel. Book. Nikolai Nikolaevich recognized the Provisional Government. The provisional government abolished the governorship in the Caucasus and abolished the post of governor-general. These duties were assigned to the "Provincial Commissars of the Provisional Government". On March 5 (18) the Baku Council of Public Organizations was formed, oriented towards the Provisional Government. On March 8 (21) the Baku Soviet of Workers' and Military Deputies was formed, and S. Shaumyan was elected chairman of the executive committee.
KYIV. On March 4 (17), public organizations and political parties (mainly Cadets and Octobrists) formed an executive committee headed by Baron Steingel. In Kharkov, Poltava and other large cities, Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies were created, consisting mainly of Mensheviks and Socialist-Revolutionaries. On March 7 (20) in Kyiv, representatives of Ukrainian political parties formed the Ukrainian Central Rada. Thus, triarchy began to form here.

No king, no anointed

On March 5 (18), 1917, the executive committee of the Petrosoviet decided to arrest the royal family, confiscate their property and deprive them of civil rights. The provisional government supported the decision.
"Resolved: Recognize the abdicated Emperor Nicholas II and his wife as deprived of their liberty and deliver the abdicated Emperor to Tsarskoye Selo."
Journal of meetings of the Provisional Government, March 7 (20), 1917.
_______________
On March 6 (19), the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church decided to serve prayer services in all the churches of the empire with the proclamation of many years "to the God-protected state of Russia and its faithful Provisional Government."
The Provisional Government and the Holy Synod received numerous telegrams of greetings from the clergy from all over Russia.
“The Yekaterinburg clergy enthusiastically welcomes free Russia in your person. Ready to give all its strength to assist the new government in its aspirations to renew the state and social system of our country on the basis of freedom, offers fervent prayers to the Lord God, may He strengthen the Russian Almighty Power in the world, and may the Provisional Government become wiser in leading the country on the path of victory and prosperity."
Telegram to the Chairman of the State Duma of the Clergy of Yekaterinburg.

"The general meeting of employees in the religious and educational institutions of Odessa welcomes in your person the Provisional Government of Free Russia and expresses its full readiness to serve it in good conscience for the benefit of the Church and the Motherland."
From a telegram to the Chief Prosecutor of the Holy Synod.

Army

Troops have deserted! My sailors are my own sailors. I can't believe it."
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, March 2 (15), 1917, Tsarskoe Selo.

On March 2 (15) an uprising of sailors began in Kronstadt. During the unrest, about 100 senior officers were killed.
It was also restless on the fronts. Having learned about Order No. 1 of the Petrograd Soviet, the lower ranks did not want to obey the officers. The war exacerbated the huge social, class and ideological gap between soldiers and officers. For the soldiers, mostly illiterate peasants, the geopolitical reasons that justified the war did not exist. The war was fought on foreign territories, that is, it was not perceived as domestic. The soldiers wanted immediate peace and land.
_______________
While grain riots rolled through Russian cities, the tsarist, and then the Provisional government, continued to send grain abroad.
"It is necessary to immediately stop sending wheat to the allies, which we ourselves need."
Lieutenant General Lukomsky at a meeting at Headquarters on March 18 (31), 1917.

“The election of delegates to the committee of the 12th army showed that the army was steadily revolutionizing, and the main thing was that the delegates were strictly punished to stand on the “platform” (as they said then) of those who stand for peace at all costs.”
From the memoirs of L.N. Punin, in March 1917, an officer in a detachment of special importance on the front near Riga.
_______________
On March 9 (22), the St. Petersburg Committee of the Bolsheviks decided to create a military commission, which then prepared the constituent assembly of the military organization under the Central Committee of the RSDLP (b). At the meeting, a presidium of 9 people was elected, headed by V.I. Nevsky and N.I. Podvoisky. Military organizations of the RSDLP(b) existed on all fronts and garrisons. Military organizations actively promoted the Bolshevik agrarian program, for this they participated in the work of compatriotic organizations, peasant Soviets and soldiers' committees, and also sent agitators to the village.

"It is necessary to restore the party!"

With the outbreak of the First World War, the Bolsheviks were subjected to repression: some of the leaders, including deputies of the State Duma, were arrested and sent to Siberia, others were forced to emigrate or operate underground. After the overthrow of the monarchy, it was necessary to revive the organization.
“Our tactics: complete distrust, no support for the new government; Kerensky is especially suspect; arming the proletariat is the only guarantee; immediate elections to the Petrograd Duma; no rapprochement with other parties.”
Telegram to V.I. Lenin to the Bolsheviks leaving for Russia. March 6 (19), 1917.

“The proletariat must remember that only with arms in hand can it consolidate its gains and carry the cause of the revolution to the end. ... It is necessary to restore the party and its organizations, it is necessary to restore party literature. So, comrades:
1) Sign up as party members.
2) Create party organizations.
3) Create cadres of proletarian and democratic guards.
4) Create a party press.
5) Conduct a broad campaign of social-democracy. ideas and slogans written on the banner of R. S.-D. R.P.
6) Collect funds for organization, agitation and literature.”
The first issue of Pravda after the resumption of publication, March 5 (18), 1917.

“In the revolutionary struggle, the proletariat strives to achieve freedom to fight for socialism - its ultimate goal. He can get this freedom only in a democratic republic. The confiscation of land from the landlords is the conquest which the peasantry achieves by following the working class in the revolutionary struggle. Our deputy must watch the affairs of the bourgeoisie vigilantly. Replacing the king, she will try to save the reigning house. The monarchy gives the bourgeoisie support against the workers, the landowners against the revolutionary peasants.
Order of the RSDLP elected to the Moscow Soviet of Workers' Deputies.
_______________
In February 1917, the number of Bolsheviks throughout Russia was 24 thousand, at the end of April 1917, during the VII (April) conference of the RSDLP, it grew to 80 thousand.

"Must renounce"

Deputy of the State Duma A.I. GUCHKOV:

“We have come with a member of the State Duma, Shulgin, to report on what has happened these days in Petrograd, and at the same time to consult on measures that could save the situation. The situation is extremely threatening: first the workers, then the troops joined the movement, the unrest spread to the suburbs, Moscow is restless.
This is not the result of some conspiracy or a premeditated coup, but this movement broke out of the very soil and immediately received an anarchist imprint, the authorities faded into the background. I went to General Zankevich, who was replacing General Khabalov, and asked him if he had any reliable unit, or at least separate lower ranks, on whom one could count. He answered me that there were none, and all units that arrived immediately went over to the side of the rebels.
Since it was terrible that the rebellion would take on an anarchist character, we formed the so-called Provisional Committee of the State Duma and began to take measures, trying to return the officers to the command of the lower ranks; I personally traveled to many parts and urged the lower ranks to remain calm.
In addition to us, there is also a Committee of the Workers' Party in the Duma, and we are under its authority and its censorship. The danger is that if Petrograd falls into the hands of anarchy, we moderates will also be swept away, because this movement is already beginning to overwhelm us. Their slogans: the proclamation of a social republic. This movement captures the lower classes and even the soldiers, who are promised to give the land.
The second danger is that the movement will spread to the front, where the slogan is: sweep away the authorities and choose those you like. There is the same combustible material, and a fire can spread along the entire front, since there is not a single military unit that, having fallen into the atmosphere of movement, would not immediately become infected. Yesterday, representatives of the Consolidated Infantry Regiment, the Railway Regiment, Your Majesty's escort, and the Palace Police came to our Duma and announced that they were joining the movement. They are told that they must continue to guard those persons that they have been entrusted with; but the danger still exists, for the crowd is now armed.
There is a deep consciousness among the people that the situation has been created by the mistakes of the authorities, and therefore some act is needed that would have an effect on the consciousness of the people. The only way is to transfer the burden of supreme government to other hands. You can save Russia, save the monarchical principle, save the dynasty.
If you, Your Majesty, announce that you are transferring your power to your little son, if you transfer the regency to Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich, and if a new government is instructed in your name or in the name of the regent, then, perhaps, Russia will be saved; I say "maybe" because events are moving so fast that at the present time Rodzianko, me and other moderate members of the Duma are considered traitors by the extreme elements; they, of course, are against this combination, since they see in it an opportunity to save our primordial principle.
Here, Your Majesty, only under these conditions can an attempt be made to restore order. This is what we, me and Shulgin, were instructed to convey to you. Before deciding on this, you, of course, should think carefully, pray, but still decide not later than tomorrow, because tomorrow we will not be able to give advice if you ask us for it, since you may be afraid of aggressive crowd action.

Emperor Nicholas II:

“Before your arrival and after a direct conversation between Adjutant General Ruzsky and the Chairman of the State Duma, I thought during the morning, and in the name of the good, tranquility and salvation of Russia, I was ready to abdicate the throne in favor of my son, but now, after rethinking the situation, I came to the conclusion that, in view of its morbidity, I should renounce both for myself and for him, since I cannot be separated from him.

From the protocol of negotiations between Guchkov and Shulgin on March 2, 1917 with Nicholas II about his abdication.

Formation of Soviets throughout Russia

Elections to the Council were held in Ivanovo-Voznesensk workers' deputies in factories. At the call of the Bolsheviks, the workers went to the barracks and suggested that the soldiers also elect their deputies to the Soviet. 12 deputies were elected from the soldiers. In Ivanovo-Voznesensk, famous for its revolutionary traditions (it was there that the Soviets were born during the revolution of 1905), the Bolsheviks dominated the Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies from the very beginning, unlike most other cities, where the Socialist-Revolutionaries and Mensheviks initially had the majority .

Central Committee of the RSDLP(b), taking into account the resolution on the Provisional Government adopted by the Council of R. and S. D., decided not to oppose the power of the Provisional Government insofar as its actions correspond to the interests of the proletariat and the broad democratic masses of the people and to announce its decision to wage the most ruthless struggle against any attempts Governments to restore in whatever form the monarchical form of government.

At general meetings printers and woodworkers, where elections to the St. Petersburg Soviet took place, a resolution was adopted expressing confidence only in the Council. The meeting proposed to the Council to closely monitor the activities of the Provisional Government, for which purpose to form a staff of propagandists and commissioners to explain current events to the people. In the event that the Provisional Government fails to fulfill these promises, call on the workers and soldiers to fight against it.

Afternoon in Moscow on the Theater Square there was a rally, to which some of the demonstrators came with posters "Down with the war." In the Zamoskvoretsky district, at a rally of workers, soldiers and students, in the presence of 2,000 people, a resolution was adopted that ended with the words: "Long live the Constituent Assembly, long live the 3rd International, long live the RSDLP."

Group of Trudoviks issued an appeal, and the Moscow conference of the Socialist Revolutionary Party adopted a resolution - both documents call for support for the Provisional Government.

A temporary organizational committee of the Soviet of Soldiers' Deputies was set up in Moscow. The organization of the committee was reported to the military units, which began the election of soldiers' deputies - one from the company. The Committee unanimously decided to work together with the Soviet of Workers' Deputies The new commander of the troops of the Moscow Military District, Lieutenant Colonel Gruzinov, after negotiations with the Soviet of Workers and the Organizing Committee of Soldiers' Deputies, issued an order giving the soldiers the right to elect their representatives to public organizations.

In a number of provincial cities there was an accession to the revolution. In Sestroretsk, a revolutionary committee of workers and soldiers was formed, which staged rallies and organized a people's militia and a food commission. Elections were held in Yamburg for delegates to the Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies. In Kineshma (Kostroma Province) a meeting of 15,000 people was held, convened by the union of cooperatives. The Council of Workers' Deputies was elected and organized by the Revolutionary Committee. In Rodniki (Kostroma province), 6,000 workers at the Krasilshchikov factory swore allegiance to the new government and are waiting for a complete constitution, amnesty, universal suffrage, freedom of speech, conscience and assembly from it. (N. Avdeev. "Revolution of 1917. Chronicle of events")

Dear A.M.!
We have now received the second government telegrams about the revolution 1 (4) in St. Petersburg. A week of bloody battles between the workers and Milyukov+Guchkov+Kerensky in power!! According to the "old" European pattern ...
Well! This "first stage of the first revolution (of those generated by the war)" will not be the last, nor will it be only Russian. Of course, we will remain ... against the imperialist massacre led by Shingarev + Kerensky and Co.
All our slogans are the same. In the last issue of Sotsial-Demokrat we spoke directly about the possibility of a government of "Milyukov with Guchkov, if not Milyukov with Kerensky." It turned out and - and: all three together. Premilo! Let's see, somehow the party of people's freedom ... will give the people freedom, bread, peace ... "

Admiral Nepenin to Admiral Rusin

“There was a riot on the Andrey, Pavel and Glory. Admiral Nebolsin is killed. The Baltic Fleet as a military force does not exist now. What can I do? Addition. Riot on almost all ships "( N. Starilov. "CHRONICLES OF RED OCTOBER")

Chronicle of revolutionary events in Primorye

The news of the abdication of Nicholas II from the throne came to Vladivostok at night with a great delay due to a breakdown in the telegraph. Morning in Vladivostok turned out to be unfriendly. Wet snow fell and quickly melted. The long horns of the workshops of the military port, the ships of the Volunteer Fleet, the car assembly workshops and the power station called the workers to a meeting. At 8:30 a.m., a meeting of workers took place on the square in front of the mechanical workshops. The port captain read the telegram about the king's abdication. The workers adopted a resolution in support of revolutionary Petrograd.

At 12 o'clock, intellectuals, raznochintsy, philistines, housewives and students came to the monument to Admiral Gennady Nevelsky on Svetlanskaya. Lined up in columns with red bows and bandages on their sleeves, workers, sailors, and soldiers arrived to the sounds of a military band. After the meeting, the workers of the workshops of the military port and merchant sailors, armed soldiers and sailors, went to the prison. “Freedom to the prisoners of tsarism!”, “Long live the revolution!” - these exclamations caused the jailers to tremble. Under the onslaught of the crowd, they were forced to open the gates, and a stream of people rushed into the prison yard. The revolutionary workers smashed the cell doors and freed political prisoners one by one.

The Vladivostok City Duma immediately gathered for a meeting. The executive body of the Duma, the Committee of Public Security (CSS), was elected. On behalf of the City Duma, the COB adopted an appeal:

“The greatest event in the life of the Russian people has happened. The sun of freedom, truth and justice rises over the delivered Russia. The government that had oppressed the people for centuries has passed into eternity.”

The military governor appeared at the COB and reported:

“I act in solidarity with the City Duma and await orders from the Provisional Government.”

The district court and prosecutor's supervision stated:

We welcome the Provisional Government, and at the dawn of the court of the people's conscience and a free prosecutor's office, we testify to our full readiness to serve with all our might for the glory and good of our dear Motherland.

Eleanor Prey, the wife of a businessman, an American living in Vladivostok, wrote in the hot pursuit of the events:

The telegram was published yesterday at the end of the day, and Aleutskaya around the editorial office of the Far Outskirts was packed with people waiting for the leaflet to come out. I was so tired when I got home that I lay down for a couple of hours without undressing, and while I was sleeping Ted came in and taped a large sheet of telegram to the mirror.

The mood of the day is conveyed by the poem of the Vladivostok writer N.P. Matveev (Amursky) “To Fighters for the Motherland”:

Brothers! Let's raise an exalted temple
Forces calling for Freedom.
Eternal memory to the fallen fighters!
Eternal glory to the living!…
Bent forever, forever gone
Terrible terrible years,
And over the expanse of native land
The sun shines on freedom...

Reference:
Matveev Nikolay Petrovich. Hereditary worker, son of a shipbuilding plant modeller. He graduated from the Personnel School of the Vladivostok Port and began working as a craftsman in the foundry shop of the military port workshops. Subsequently, a professional writer, poet, journalist, publisher, local historian, owner of a printing house. During the First Russian Revolution, he was a Social Democrat. In 1906, he was arrested for revolutionary publications, spent a year in prison, and after his release from active political activity, he retired. In March 1919 he emigrated to Japan.

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Meetings of workers in factories and revolutionary changes in the country

There is a growing movement in the army. The soldiers refuse to obey the officers. On this day, the soldiers of the Moonsund fortified position rebelled. A joint demonstration of workers and soldiers took place in Dvinsk. In Riga, Latvian riflemen, together with the workers, are disarming the police and gendarmerie.

The first issue of Pravda, the central organ of the RSDLP(b), was published. It contains an appeal to the workers to join the ranks of the party and to raise money for the benefit of the “workers' press fund”. In the same issue there are reports of the extraordinary growth in St. Petersburg of district Party organizations and cells in factories and sub-districts.

There were several meetings of workers in factories and factories in Petrograd. One of the resolutions (at the factory of the Skorokhod Association) says that it is necessary to fight for a democratic republic, an 8-hour working day and for the confiscation of specific, monastic and landlord lands for the peasantry. Another resolution points out that in view of the possibility of a threat to the won freedoms both from an internal enemy and from an external one, it is necessary to immediately begin to arm the militia and soldiers who have joined the revolutionary proletariat.

Meetings are held at various Moscow factories and resolutions are adopted. Some of them speak of the need to group around the RSDLP (b), which is the spokesman for the broad democratic masses. The workers of the Vtorov factory and the Council of Workers' Deputies of the Khamovniki region on the question of war and peace spoke in favor of ending the war by developing agitation among the proletariat of the belligerent countries for peace without annexations and indemnities.

In Petrograd, the Executive Committee of the Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies banned the publication of all Black Hundred newspapers that stood guard over the former tsarist regime. The publications “Zemshchina”, “Voice of Russia”, “Bell”, “Russian Banner”, “New Time” are closed.

The Chairman of the Provisional Government, Lvov, issued a telegraphic order on the general removal of governors and vice-governors from their posts and their replacement by temporary chairmen of the provincial zemstvo councils, on the assignment to the chairmen of the county zemstvo councils of the duties of county commissars of the Provisional Government, and also on the replacement of the police with militia organized by public self-governments. The Provisional Government decided to set up special bodies under the Ministry of Communications to deal with conflicts between workers and management. The Provisional Government decided to pay all strikers at state-owned factories pay for absentee days during the revolutionary movement. (N. Avdeev. "Revolution of 1917. Chronicle of events").

Creation of Soviets of Workers' Deputies in Lugansk, Yuzovka, Makeevka, Odessa, Tiflis, Ufa and other cities.

Lenin speaks in Chaux-de-Fonds (Switzerland) with an essay on the Paris Commune and on the prospects for the development of the Russian revolution.

Revolution in Primorye

In Suchan (now Partizansk), on the initiative of the miners, the first purely workers' Council of Deputies in the region (without soldiers) was elected, headed by S.A. Zamaraev.
Reference: Zamaraev Semyon Alekseevich, born in 1881, member of the Bolshevik Party since 1905. professional revolutionary. Member of the First Russian Revolution. During the years of reaction, he participated in battles with the Black Hundreds. Active worker of the Vladivostok underground. For political propaganda among the workers of the Vladivostok port, along with other underground revolutionaries, he was arrested in 1908. While in prison, he maintained active contact with the revolutionaries. In 1911 he was released and re-engaged in revolutionary activities. But soon he was arrested again. He was released on March 3, 1917 from the Vladivostok prison and sent by the Bolshevik city committee to political work with the miners of the Suchansky mine.

• January
• February
• April
• August
• September
• October
• November
• December

January Strikes in Petrograd, rescue of Riga and the suffragette at the White House

Revolution On January 22 (January 9 according to the old style), on the anniversary of Bloody Sunday, the largest strike during the war began in Petrograd, more than 145 thousand workers of the Vyborg, Narva and Moscow regions took part in it. The demonstrations were dispersed by the Cossacks. Strikes also took place in Moscow, Kazan, Kharkov and other major cities of the Russian Empire; in total, more than 200,000 people went on strike in January 1917.

War On January 5 (December 23, 1916, old style), the Russian army launched an offensive on the Northern Front in the Mitava region (modern Jelgava in Latvia). An unexpected blow made it possible to break through the line of fortifications of the German army and move the front from Riga. The initial success of the Mitav operation could not be consolidated: the soldiers of the 2nd and 6th Siberian Corps rebelled and refused to take part in the hostilities. In addition, the command of the Northern Front refused to provide reinforcements. The operation was terminated on January 11 (December 29).

Picket at the gates of the White House. Washington, January 26, 1917 Library of Congress

On January 10, a suffragist movement known as the "Quiet Guards" began picketing outside the White House in Washington. For the next two and a half years, six days a week, women picketed the residence of the American president, demanding equal voting rights with men. During this time, they were repeatedly beaten, detained for “obstructing traffic”, and tortured during arrests. The picket ended on June 4, 1919, when both houses of Congress passed the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution: "The right to vote of the citizens of the United States shall not be denied or restricted by the United States or by any state on account of sex."

February Submarine Warfare, Duma Opposition, and the Mexican Constitution

Revolution On February 27 (14), the first meeting of the State Duma in 1917 opened. It was supposed to take place in January, but at the beginning of the year, by decree of the emperor, it was postponed to a later date. A demonstration took place near the Tauride Palace, many deputies at the meeting demanded the resignation of the government. The leader of the Trudovik faction, Alexander Kerensky, called for fighting the authorities not only by legal means, but also with the help of “physical elimination”.

War

German submarine U-14. 1910s Library of Congress

On February 1, Germany began unrestricted submarine warfare. German submarines easily overcame barriers and attacked both military convoys and civilian ships. During the first week of February, 35 ships were sunk in the English Channel and on the western approaches to it. For the whole month, the German fleet lost only 4 submarines out of 34, and the British troops were cut off from supplies due to constant attacks on merchant ships in the strait and in the Atlantic.

World On February 5, Mexico published the text of the Constitution adopted in January by the Constituent Assembly. The new basic law transferred all land to the state, reduced the powers of the church to a minimum, separated the branches of government and established an eight-hour working day. Thus, the revolutionaries achieved the fulfillment of all their demands. However, the armed struggle between the government and the rebel leaders continued even after that. The revolution began in 1910 with the struggle against the dictatorship of President Porfirio Diaz. Then the peasants joined the movement, and land reform became the main goal.

March Renunciation in Pskov, the capture of Baghdad and the first jazz record

Revolution March 8 (February 23), International Women's Day, another strike began, which grew into a general one. Workers from the Vyborg side broke through to Nevsky Prospekt, the strike turned into a political action. On March 11 (February 26), as a result of clashes, demonstrators died, the guards regiments began to go over to the side of the rebels, and the riots could not be extinguished. On March 15 (2) in Pskov, Nicholas II signed an act of renunciation; in Petrograd, a Provisional Government was formed, headed by the leader of the Zemsky Union, Prince Georgy Lvov.

War

British troops enter Baghdad. March 11, 1917 Wikimedia Commons

On March 11, British troops took Baghdad, forcing the Ottoman army to retreat. Great Britain took revenge for the defeat at El Kut in early 1916, when the defenders of the fortress were forced to capitulate after a long siege. In January 1917, British troops first recaptured El Kut and then moved north, delivered a surprise blow to the Ottoman army and entered Baghdad. This allowed the British to gain a foothold in Mesopotamia, and the Ottoman Empire lost control of another territory.

"Livery Stable Blues" performed by the Original Dixieland Jass Band. 1917

On March 7, the first commercial jazz recording goes on public sale - the single "Livery Stable Blues" by the white orchestra of the Original Dixieland Jass Band. With the release of this record, an explosion in the popularity of jazz is associated. 1917 also saw the birth of future jazz musicians Ella Fitzgerald (April 25), Thelonious Monk (October 10), and Dizzy Gillespie (October 21).

April Lenin's Theses, Wilson's War and Gandhi's Nonviolent Protest

Revolution

Sketch of the "April Theses". Manuscript of Vladimir Lenin. 1917 RIA News"

On April 9 (March 27), the Provisional Government sent a note to France and Great Britain, in which it assured the allies that Russia would not withdraw from the war and would not conclude a separate peace. In response, the Petrograd Soviet, which consisted of Bolsheviks and Socialist-Revolutionaries, led soldiers and workers to an anti-war demonstration. The April crisis led to a split between the Provisional Government and the Soviets. At the same time, Lenin published his "April Theses" - the Bolsheviks' program of action: ending the war; refusal to support the Provisional Government; new, proletarian revolution.

War On April 6, the United States entered the First world war. Up to this point, the United States had remained neutral, but American ships were increasingly becoming victims of the submarine war that Germany had been waging since February. The reason for the war was also a telegram from German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann, in which he asked the German ambassador to the United States to achieve an alliance with Mexico. The British intercepted the telegram, deciphered it, and presented it to US President Woodrow Wilson, who made it public. Shortly thereafter, with several more American ships sunk in the Atlantic, Congress declared war on Germany.

World On April 10, 47-year-old lawyer and social activist Mohandas Gandhi launched the first civil disobedience campaign in India. Gandhi called this form of protest Satyagraha (from Sanskrit "satya" - "truth", and "agraha" - "firmness"). In the Champaran district, he began to fight against the colonial authorities, who forced the peasants to grow indigo and other commercial crops instead of cereals that could be eaten. The main goal was the independence of India from the British Empire. The first stage of peaceful resistance ended with Gandhi's arrest. Thousands of people demanded his release, calling him Mahatma - the Great Soul, and the police had to release Gandhi a few days later.

May Coalition Government, Commander-in-Chief Pétain and the Birth of Surrealism

Revolution The April crisis, above all, the statement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Milyukov about the "war to a victorious end", led to a change of government. The new coalition included six socialists: the Socialist-Revolutionary Kerensky became the Minister of War and the Navy, the leader of the Socialist-Revolutionary Party Viktor Chernov became the Minister of Agriculture, the Mensheviks Irakli Tsereteli and Matvey Skobelev, Trudovik Pavel Pereverzev and People's Socialist Alexei Peshekhonov also entered the coalition.

War On May 15, General Henri Philippe Pétain became commander-in-chief of the French army. After the battle of Verdun, which lasted almost the entire year 1916, Pétain became one of the most revered generals of the soldiers. In the spring of 1917, Commander-in-Chief Robert Nivel sent troops to break through the German front, the losses of the French army reached 100 thousand people killed and wounded. A crisis began in the army - the soldiers rebelled. Pétain calmed the troops, promised to give up suicidal attacks, and shot the instigators of the rebellion. Later, in 1940, he would head the government of the Vichy regime, which collaborated with the Nazis.

Leonid Myasin as a Chinese magician. Costume designed by Picasso for the ballet "Parade". Photograph by Harry Lachman. Paris, 1917

Horse. Costume designed by Picasso for the ballet "Parade". Photograph by Harry Lachman. Paris, 1917© Victoria and Albert Museum, London

American manager. Costume designed by Picasso for the ballet "Parade". Photograph by Harry Lachman. Paris, 1917 © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Acrobat. Costume designed by Picasso for the ballet "Parade". Photograph by Harry Lachman. Paris, 1917© Victoria and Albert Museum, London

American baby. Costume designed by Picasso for the ballet "Parade". Photograph by Harry Lachman. Paris, 1917© Victoria and Albert Museum, London

French manager. Costume designed by Picasso for the ballet "Parade". Photograph by Harry Lachman. Paris, 1917© Victoria and Albert Museum, London

On May 18, the term "surrealism" appeared. The poet Guillaume Apollinaire applied this definition to the ballet Parade. The performance with music by Eric Satie, script by Jean Cocteau, costumes by Pablo Picasso and choreography by Leonid Myasin, based on a parade of circus performers, caused a real scandal. The audience whistled, critics after the premiere called the production a stain on the reputation of Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes and a blow to French society. Apollinaire ardently defended the ballet in his manifesto "Paradade and the New Spirit", explaining that this combination of scenery, costumes and choreography "led to a kind of sur-réalisme" in which the New Spirit could begin to take off.

June All-Russian Central Executive Committee, abdication of Constantine I and Act on espionage

Revolution On June 16 (3) the Congress of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies opened in Petrograd. The majority on it were Socialist-Revolutionaries and Mensheviks. Lenin's "April theses" on ending the war and transferring power to the Soviets were rejected. Following the results of the congress, the deputies elected their leadership - the All-Russian Central Executive Committee (All-Russian Central Executive Committee), headed by the Menshevik Nikolai Chkheidze.

War On June 11, King Constantine I of Greece abdicated under pressure from the Entente. From the beginning of the war, the monarch remained neutral, despite opposition from the government. Constantine I was married to the sister of the German Kaiser Wilhelm II, which gave rise to reproaches for the pro-German position of the king. Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos approved the British landing in Thessaloniki, was dismissed, but then formed the opposition Provisional Government of National Defense. Dual power arose in the country, and as a result, Constantine I abdicated and left for Switzerland, passing the throne to his son Alexander, who had no real power as a king.

Winsor McKay. Cartoon of the Espionage Act from the New York American. May 1917 Library of Congress

On June 15, the United States passed the “Espionage Act,” a federal law that was intended to strengthen the national security of a country that had just entered the First World War, but was immediately perceived as an attack on freedom of speech. It specifically forbids the dissemination of information that could harm the US military or advance its enemies. The Espionage Act is still in use today - in particular, its violation is blamed on Edward Snowden, who made public the data on how American intelligence agencies monitor people around the world.

July Government crisis, failed offensive and execution of Mata Hari

Revolution On July 17-18 (4-5) in Petrograd, demonstrations of anarchists and Bolsheviks lead to clashes with government troops. The armed uprising failed, the Bolshevik leaders Lenin and Zinoviev had to flee the capital. At the same time, a crisis is also taking place in the Provisional Government: first, the Cadets leave it in protest against the granting of broad powers to the Ukrainian Central Rada, and then the chairman of the government, Prince Georgy Lvov, also resigns.

War At the end of June, the Russian army began preparations for a large-scale strategic offensive. On July 1 (June 18), the offensive began on the Southwestern Front in the direction of Lvov. In the first two days, the troops advanced significantly, which allowed Kerensky, Minister of War and Marine, to declare "the great triumph of the revolution." On July 6 (June 23), the 8th Army of General Lavr Kornilov attacked the positions of the Austro-Hungarian troops. But a week later, the impulse dried up: fermentation began in the army, military committees decided to abandon hostilities. Meanwhile, the Austro-German command transferred additional forces to this sector of the front. The counteroffensive turned to Russian army catastrophic: entire divisions fled from the front.

Mata Hari in stage costume. Card. 1906Bibliothèque Marguerite Durand

Mata Hari on the day of his arrest. 1917 Wikimedia Commons

On July 24, the trial of the Dutch dancer Marga-re-ta Gertrude Zelle, better known by her stage name Mata Hari, began in France. She was accused of spying for Germany and passing on to the Germans information that caused the death of several divisions of soldiers. The very next day, the court sentenced Mata Hari to death. She was shot on October 15, 1917, she was 41 years old.

August Mustard, the Bolshevik Congress and the miraculous appearance of the Virgin

Revolution On August 6 (July 24), a second coalition government was formed, already led by. The Provisional Government after the July days returned the death penalty and announced its intention to liquidate the Soviets. In Moscow, at the initiative of the government, a State Conference was convened with the participation of all political forces, except for the Bolsheviks, demanding the gradual liquidation of military committees, a ban on rallies and meetings, and the return of the death penalty. The Bolsheviks, in turn, held a party congress in Petrograd, at which they announced the need for an armed uprising.

War In August, the most difficult stage of the battle of Passchendaele in Belgium (the third battle of Ypres) began, which had been going on since July 11. British troops decided to break through the German front, the main goal was the base of German submarines. On the third day of the battle, the German army used a new poison gas - mustard gas: it hit the skin and eyes, the losses from it were greater than from any other chemical weapon during the war. In August, due to the rains, the area turned into an impenetrable swamp, in which the armies fought. The tanks got stuck in the mud. The British did not manage to overcome the German fortifications, and only in October they were able to move forward.

Lucia Santos, Francisco Marta and Jacinta Marta. Fatima, Portugal, 1917 Wikimedia Commons

From May to October 1917, every 13th day, the Virgin Mary appeared to three children from the Portuguese city of Fatima - Lucia Santos and her cousins ​​Francisco and Jacinta Marta. The exception was August 13, when the children were arrested by a local official and journalist, Artur Santos, a well-known anti-clerical and anti-monarchist in the district. He tried to get them to admit that they had not actually seen any miracles, but in vain. Coming out from under arrest, the children witnessed another appearance of the Virgin on August 19. The field on which this took place, back in 1917, became a place of mass pilgrimage.

September Kornilov rebellion, surrender of Riga and bacterial viruses

Revolution September 8 (August 26) The Supreme Commander presented an ultimatum to the Provisional Government. He demanded to give him full power before the convocation of the Constituent Assembly. In response, Kor-nilov was called a rebel. Troops loyal to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief moved to Petrograd, but under the influence of agitators they stopped at the approaches to the capital. After the failure of the rebellion, the government collapsed: the Cadets, who supported Kornilov's speech, left it. During the transitional period, the highest authority was formed - the Directory, headed by Kerensky.

War

German infantry in Riga. September 1917© IWM (Q 86949)

Kaiser Wilhelm II and Leopold of Bavaria on the banks of the Western Dvina (Daugava). Riga, September 1917© IWM (Q 70272)

Russian prisoners of war. Riga, September 1917© IWM (Q 86680)

On September 1, German troops began shelling the positions of the Russian army near Riga. This was followed by a massive offensive, the purpose of which was to encircle the 12th Army. In two days, Russian troops lost 25 thousand people killed and already on September 3 left Riga. However, the 12th Army left the encirclement. The city was one of the main targets of the German army on the Eastern Front. After the capture of Riga, fears arose that the Germans would be able to occupy Petrograd. Panic arose in the Russian capital and preparations began for evacuation.

World On September 3, French-Canadian microbiologist Felix d'Herelle, who works at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, published a paper describing bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria. This is one of the most ancient and numerous groups of viruses, which is now used in medicine as an alternative to antibiotics, and in biology as one of the tools of genetic engineering. Initially, bacteriophages were described in 1915 by the Englishman Frederick Twort (calling them bacteriolytic agents), but his research went unnoticed, and d'Herelle made his discovery on his own.

October Attack on Petrograd, the capture of the Moonsund Islands and the navel of Cleopatra

Revolution On October 8 (September 25), the composition of the third coalition government was announced, with Kerensky remaining chairman. At this time, in Petrograd, the Bolsheviks began preparing an armed uprising. They received a majority in the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, and on October 29 (16) the proposal of the head of the Petrograd Soviet, Lev Trotsky, to create a Military Revolutionary Committee was approved, formally - to protect against the Kornilovites and the German troops approaching the capital. After that, the Petrograd garrison came under the control of the Petrograd Soviet.

War On October 12, German troops launched an operation to capture the Russian-owned Moonsund Islands in the Baltic Sea. The operation was a combi-ni-ro-bath: the ground forces, the navy, and aviation (airplanes and airships) participated in it. The German Navy unexpectedly encountered fierce resistance from the Russian fleet. Only by October 17 did the German dreadnoughts manage to get to the archipelago and gain control over it.

Theda Bara in Cleopatra (1917)

On October 14, Cleopatra, the most expensive film of its time, is released, with a budget of $500,000 (almost $10 million today). The title role was played by Theda Bara, one of the main sex symbols of the 1910s. The film was subjected to significant censorship - for example, during screenings in Chicago, a scene was cut from the first part in which Cleopatra stands in front of Caesar with a "bare navel" and "ambiguously bows" to the Roman ruler. The last two complete copies of the film burned down in a fire at the Fox Studios in 1937, it is currently considered lost, only minor fragments have survived.

November The Bolshevik coup, the battle from Farewell to Arms! and Jews in Palestine

Revolution November 7 (October 25) Petrograd was almost completely in the hands of the Military Revolutionary Committee, which issued an appeal "To the citizens of Russia!", Reporting that power had passed to the Petrograd Soviet. On the night of November 7-8 (October 25-26), the Bolsheviks and their political allies took the Winter Palace and arrested the ministers of the Provisional Government. The next day, the Second Congress of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies formed the authorities and adopted decrees on peace and land.

War

The retreat of the Italian army during the Battle of Caporetto. November 1917 Italian Army Photographers/Wikimedia Commons

On November 9, the active phase of the Battle of Caporetto in northeastern Italy ended. It began on October 24, when the 14th Army under the command of General Otto von Belov, consisting of German and Austro-Hungarian divisions, broke through the Italian front. The Italian army, demoralized by the chemical attack, began to retreat. The Entente allies transferred additional forces to this sector, but the German-Austrian troops continued to move forward. By November 9, the Italian army was forced to withdraw across the Piave River. Ernest Hemingway described this retreat in A Farewell to Arms. The defeat at Caporetto led to the resignation of the Italian government and commander-in-chief Luigi Cadorna, the army of the kingdom lost more than 70 thousand people killed and wounded.

World On November 2, British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour sent an official letter to Lord Walter Rothschild, representative of the British Jewish community, for onward transmission to the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland. The purpose of the letter was to enlist the support of not only British, but also American representatives of the diaspora, so that they would contribute to a more active US participation in the First World War. Minister Balfour declared that the government was "considering with approval the question of establishing in Palestine a national home for the Jewish people." This document was called the Balfour Declaration and became the basis for the post-war settlement in Palestine and for the UK to obtain a mandate over the territories, and in the future for the creation of the State of Israel.

December Peace talks, Cheka and NHL

Revolution By mid-December, the left SRs entered the new government, the Council of People's Commissars, and the highest authority, the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. On December 20 (7), the Council of People's Commissars created the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission for Combating Counter-Revolution and Sabotage (VChK). And on December 26 (13) in Pravda, Lenin's "Theses on the Constituent Assembly" appeared, which stated that the composition of the assembly (where the Right SRs had a majority) did not correspond to the will of the people.

War

Meeting of the delegation of the RSFSR at the station in Brest-Litovsk. Early 1918 Wikimedia Commons

December 3 (November 20) in Brest-Litovsk, negotiations begin between Germany and Soviet Russia on a truce. Having adopted, on the one hand, the Decree on Peace at the Second Congress of Soviets and hoping for an early revolution in the countries of Central Europe, on the other hand, the Bolsheviks initiated these negotiations, but tried their best to drag them out. Three months later, on March 3, despite the desperate inner-party struggle of the Bolsheviks, peace was concluded, but even the main supporter Vladimir Lenin called it "obscene": Russia agreed to pay colossal reparations and lose the western territories with a total area of ​​​​780 thousand square kilometers with a population over 50 million people. The Entente called the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk a "political crime". However, Russia, in fact, did not have to comply with his conditions: in November 1918, Germany was defeated in the First World War. Part of the seized territories became part of the USSR following the results of the Civil War, and part was occupied by the Soviet Union at the beginning of World War II.

World On December 19, the first match in the history of the National Hockey League took place, which arose as a result of disagreements within the National Hockey Association that existed since 1909. The Toronto Arenas and Montreal Wanderers played in the NHL opening game. Two more Canadian teams participated in the first championship - the Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Sena Torz, which, unlike the first two clubs, still exist. Toronto became the champion of the first season. The NHL predicted an imminent collapse: in the third year of the war, many hockey players went to the front. However, the league proved to be a successful project and soon attracted clubs not only from Canada, but also from the United States.