EPILOGUE
Many hundreds of relics were collected in and around Ekaterinburg by the
law, and more particularly by the military, officers of the White
government. The larger number had no value as clues. They were personal
belongings--jewelry, clothing, linen--that had been stolen before and
after the murder. By Admiral Kolchak’s orders, this property was taken
to Vladivostok by General Diterichs in February, 1919, and sent to the
Tsar’s sister the Grand Duchess Xenia as next-of-kin.
Those of the Romanovs who had not been in the power of the Soviets and
had succeeded in leaving the country were destitute. The total fortune
belonging to the Tsar in England amounted to £500.
Two days after the murder, the Soviet government issued a decree
declaring all the property and possessions of the Romanovs forfeited to
them. This act had a double purpose: to afford any banks holding funds
to the credit of the family a pretext for non-payment; to “legitimise”
the robbery of the corpses in the wood and the appropriation of the
valuables left in Ekaterinburg.
The ropes of pearls and the matchless pearl necklaces snatched from the
bodies have been the objects of barter on the Continental and London
markets. Red missions smuggled in a huge quantity of jewels belonging to
the Crown and to the Romanovs personally as well as to other
individuals--all “forfeited” in the same manner.
Among the relics was a private code that was found in the ventilator of
the Ipatiev lavatory. It bore the following inscription in the Empress’s
hand: “For my own beloved Nicky, dear, to use when he is absent from his
‘spitzbu.’ Fr. his lovingly, Alice. Osborne, July, 1894.” The German
word had been erased and rewritten in Russian! The owner of this little
book had evidently prized it above everything else and fearing that it
might be taken away from him had hidden it--hoping, no doubt, to claim
it some day.
Also among the mementoes from her funeral pyre came a ruby that belonged
to the murdered Empress. It was identified by her maid who told the
following story: “The Emperor gave Her Majesty a ruby ring when she was
only fifteen. They fell in love even then. It was at the wedding of her
sister the Grand Duchess Elizabeth. After that they thought about each
other for eight years. The Empress always wore the ruby ring hanging on
a chain on her breast.”
The spaniel Joy also came to England. Both the dogs that were most
highly prized by the Imperial family were of English breeds. Jemmy, who
died with his masters, was a diminutive black-and-tan King Charles, so
small that he could not mount the Ipatiev stairs unaided.
The sufferings of the Romanovs in Ipatiev’s house were so terrible that
it is not seemly to misrepresent them, as some writers have done, in
sordid fashion. I have the inventory of the house and its contents,
signed by Ipatiev and the Komisars; I have the _procès-verbal_ of
Sergeiev’s inspection, made within a fortnight of the murder; lastly, I
have the evidence of my own eyes. The house itself contained every
comfort and convenience: electric light, excellent stoves, a well
appointed bath-room and lavatory, electric bells everywhere, plenty of
good and even luxurious furniture. The bath was in working order and,
when Sergeiev visited it contained: firewood for the heater, sheets
bearing the Imperial monogram and a cake of soap on the rack, besides
numerous other signs of frequent usage. The brutal guards, being used to
the Russian steam bath, were not interested in this “outlandish”
contrivance, and except for their prying and offensive habits did not
apparently stand in the way of personal cleanliness.
The story of girlish locks shorn because of the impossibility of other
methods of combating dirt and its consequences is not borne out by the
evidence. “Combings” of hair of four different hues were found; also
some short hair in the bath-room. One would expect to find them. It is
stated in the _dossier_ that a barber visited the house to attend the
Tsar and the Tsarevich.
Each member of the family had his or her bed. There were sheets, pillows
and blankets. There was a wash-house in the court-yard.
For some reason the house was deficient in crockery and plate and table
linen, hence quite needless discomfort was inflicted upon the family at
mealtimes. The peasant-guards, inoculated with the anti-bourgeois
theories, saw no particular hardship in their feeding out of one dish,
as they themselves are accustomed to do in the villages.
The torment that was endured by the captives was far worse than any
merely physical privations. But one such privation did affect them very
grievously: the utter impossibility of seeing anything at all beyond the
painted glass of their windows. The youngest Grand Duchess (Anastasia)
one day could not brook this privation any longer and managed to open a
window in the girls’ room. She almost paid for this act with her life.
The sentry in the inner hoarding immediately fired, just missing her.
The bullet lodged in the window frame. Anastasia gained nothing except a
fright. She saw nothing except the hoarding of the sentry, and did not
wait for a second shot.
In the room where the Imperial couple and Alexis lived and slept--next
to the chamber in which their four daughters were crowded--Alexandra
placed a good-luck sign. It was so unobtrusive that Gaida, the Czech
commander who forcibly installed himself in this room, probably did not
notice it. In pencil she formed the mystic sign of swastika and
inscribed the date “17/30 April,” the day of her arrival in the house.
[Illustration: ALEXANDRA’S GOOD LUCK SIGN]
In the death-chamber in addition to the “Belsatzar” inscription was one
that has yet to be deciphered. It is in thick black ink, written with an
expert hand, and just below, on the window-sill are three groups of
figures that may or may not have a meaning.
[Illustration: THE MYSTERIOUS INSCRIPTIONS IN THE DEATH CHAMBER.]
Some of the persons with whom the reader has become familiar have gone
to their last account.
The Russian regicide Medvedev died in prison of typhus early last year.
His accomplice Yakimov died in prison of inflammation of the lungs at
the end of last year. Their death and burial certificates are both in
the _dossier_.
Yurovsky wrote a letter to a certain Dr. A. before he fled from
Ekaterinburg imploring him to protect his old mother “who does not share
my views but who may suffer simply because I am her son.” It is at once
an avowal of guilt and a proof that even the most blood-thirsty wretch
has some good in him. This man had coolly tortured, murdered and cut up
innocent children, and was not able to remove his old mother because he
had to take the proofs of his crime to Moscow, yet he does not forget
her.... Before the Kolchak armies left Ekaterinburg we heard that
Yurovsky had been seen in the city. Had he come at great risk to look
for his mother? Sokolov had had her removed to Irkutsk. She feared and
loathed her son.
Yankel Sverdlov, the Red Tsar, died in Moscow early in 1919. He was
knocked on the head by the workmen at one of the Morozov mills, and
succumbed to concussion of the brain. Sovietdom was in an uproar. It was
officially announced that this “valiant defender of the people’s rights”
had come to a natural end, by inflammation of the lungs. Nevertheless,
the chrezvychaika could not allow the Red Tsar to be so dishonoured.
Yankel was followed to the outer bourne by thousands of innocent
victims offered up in holocaust to his memory.
The mortal remains of the blood-stained agent and associate of the Red
Kaiser were exposed to the public gaze and given a pompous Red funeral,
and the Theatre Square which faces the building where Yankel had spun
his web of blood received a new name, the accursed name of Sverdlov.
None of the Red Jews dared to wear the mantle of Yankel Sverdlov openly.
His office was delegated to Kalinin, a “dummy” of the Beloborodov
variety, who provided the needful Russian screen to cloak their
villainies. For there was no change in the spirit of the Red Jew
government of Russia, only an adaptation of methods, a variation of
victims--first the _bourgeois_, then the _proletaire_.
The Russians who fought and bled for their country are almost extinct.
One of the last who died in the sacred cause was Nicholas II. and the
other Romanov victims of the Red invaders, German and Jewish. A remnant
persisted to the end. To them the Red Usurpers of Moscow could never be
anything except an alien domination.
I recall the night before we left Ekaterinburg. The Reds were
approaching, but Sokolov went into the darkness and the rain to obtain
the evidence of important peasant witnesses. He told them who he was and
the object of his call. They could have locked him up in a cellar and
given him up to the Reds. It was to their advantage to do so. By giving
him information they incurred great risk. He explained it all to them.
“And now, what will you do?” he asked. “Will you help justice? Will you
remember that he who is dead was your Tsar?” They did not hesitate one
instant. They chose the path of honour, of self-sacrifice. They gave
their evidence and brought Sokolov on his way.
It is the peasant that will bring Russia back to new life. Alexandra’s
vision may yet come true, and Nicholas and the Romanovs may not have
died in vain.
PART III
I
THE MEMBERS OF THE IMPERIAL FAMILY AT THE OUTBREAK OF THE REVOLUTION
1. NICHOLAS II, ALEXANDROVICH, Emperor of Russia, oldest son of the
Emperor Alexander III, born in Gachino (near Petersburg) on May 6,
1867. Ascended to the throne on October 20, 1894. Married Princess
Alice of Hesse on November 14, 1894. At the outbreak of the
Revolution was forty-nine years of age.
2. EMPRESS ALEXANDRA (PRINCESS ALICE) FEODOROVNA, wife of the
Emperor Nicholas II, born Princess of Hesse, on May 25, 1872. At
the outbreak of the Revolution was forty-four years of age.
3. GRAND DUCHESS OLGA NIKOLAIEVNA, the Emperor’s oldest daughter,
born on November 3, 1895.
4. GRAND DUCHESS TATIANA NIKOLAIEVNA, the Emperor’s second
daughter, born on May 29, 1897.
5. GRAND DUCHESS MARIA NIKOLAIEVNA, the Emperor’s third daughter,
born June 14, 1899.
6. GRAND DUCHESS ANASTASIA NIKOLAIEVNA, the Emperor’s youngest
daughter, born on June 5, 1901.
7. GRAND DUKE ALEXIS NIKOLAIEVICH, the Emperor’s only son and Heir
to the Crown, born July 30, 1904.
8. GRAND DUKE MICHAEL ALEXANDROVICH, the Emperor’s brother;
considered to be the heir to the throne before the birth of Alexis
Nikolaievich. Born November 22, 1872.
II
CHRONOLOGY OF THE DOCUMENTS
1917
1. March 2/15--Emperor Nicholas II signed in Pskov the act of his
abdication, assigning the throne to the Grand Duke Michael
Alexandrovich.
2. March 3/16--Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich refused to ascend
the throne before the decision of the Constituent Assembly was
made.
3. March 4/17--Arrival of the deposed Emperor at the general
headquarters at the front.
4. March 7/20--General Kornilov, fulfilling the order of the
Council of Ministers, arrested the Empress in the palace of
Tsarskoe-Selo. All the children had the measles.
5. March 8/21--The arrest of the Emperor by a commissar of the
provisional government.
6. March 9/22--Arrival of the arrested Emperor at Tsarskoe-Selo.
7. July 31-August 13--The departure of the imperial family for
Tobolsk, according to the orders of the provisional government,
under the supervision of the members of the Petrograd soviet of
workmen and soldiers’ deputies.
8. August 6/19--Arrival of the Tsar and the imperial family at
Tobolsk. The night was spent on board the steamer, before the
family moved to the house of the governor.
9. December 29-January 11, 1918--Uprising of soldiers in Tobolsk
because of a prayer made by the deacon during the church service
for the prolongation of the days of the imperial family.
1918
10. February 12/25--Arrival of an order from Moscow cutting down
the allowances of the imperial family to the limits of a soldier’s
ration. Beginning of the life of privation.
11. March 30-April 12--Arrival of an order from Moscow to increase
the severity of the supervision of the imperial family.
12. April 13/26--Departure of the Emperor, the Empress and Grand
Duchess Maria Nikolaievna to Ekaterinburg. The other daughters and
the Tsarevich remained in Tobolsk.
13. April 17/30--Arrival of the Emperor and the persons with him at
Ekaterinburg. A search of the Emperor’s belongings.
14. April 18-May 1--Dismissal of all persons attached to the
imperial family, with the exception of the physician.
15. May 7/20--The Tsarevich and Grand Duchesses left Tobolsk for
Ekaterinburg.
16. May 10/23--Arrival of the Tsarevich and Grand Duchesses at
Ekaterinburg.
17. July 4/17--The last day of the life of the imperial family, and
the last walk in the garden.
18. July 5/18--At daybreak the Emperor, his wife and children were
killed in the basement of the Ipatiev house. The bodies were
searched.
19. The same day the bodies were taken out of the house and burned.
III
EXPLANATION OF RUSSIAN NAMES MENTIONED IN THE DOCUMENTS
C. E. C.--Central Executive Committee of the All Russian Congress of
Workmen, Soldiers and Peasants’ Deputies, the most important institution
in the Soviet Republic.
CHREZVYCHAIKA--Extraordinary Commission of Inquiry--an institution of
secret political police, of the Soviet Republic, which exists in every
district town. Through this institution, according to the scheme of the
Bolsheviki, the reign of terror is carried out.
KRESTY--A jail in Petrograd where political prisoners were confined.
MOTOVILIHA WORKS--Situated on the river Kama, three miles from Perm.
Large production of war material.
SISSERTS MINING WORKS--Fifty versts from Ekaterinburg, producing
cast-iron, iron, marble, and gold.
TOBOLSK--Town on the right bank of the river Irtysh, near the mouth of
the river Tobol, formerly a very important town. After the
trans-Siberian railroad was constructed it lost its importance, being
too far from the railroad.
VERKH-ISSETSK IRON WORKS--Situated half a mile from Ekaterinburg.
ZNAMENSKY--IKON OF THE HOLY VIRGIN--A very ancient holy image given to
the Tsar Alexis Mikaielovich (the second czar of the Romanoff dynasty)
by the Patriarch of Antioch. To the memory of this image the Empress
Elizabeth Petrovna built a church in Tsarskoe-Selo.
IV
ALPHABETICAL INDEX OF NAMES
AVDEIEV, Alexander, formerly a locksmith. Was commissar to the
imperial house at Ekaterinburg from May till June, 1918.
AKSIUTA, Captain, in command of the First Rifles Regiment in
Tsarskoe-Selo, was commanding the detachment of the guards of the
imperial family in Tobolsk.
APRAKSIN, Count. At the outbreak of the revolution was attached to
the empress, being in charge of her affairs.
BENCKENDORF, Count. Cavalry general. Was grand marshal of the
imperial court.
BOTKIN, Eugene Sergeievich, physician. Stayed permanently with the
imperial family from the moment of their arrest till the time they
were murdered. Was shot with the imperial family.
BUXHOEVDEN, Sophie, Baroness. Personal maid of honour to the
empress. Accompanied her to Tobolsk.
BELOBORODOV, Alexander. Chairman of the Ural provincial soviet of
the workmen’s and soldiers’ deputies. Following his orders the
imperial family were assassinated.
CHEMODUROV, Terenty Ivanovich; servant to the emperor; arrived with
the imperial family at Tobolsk; stayed with the emperor up till the
time the imperial family was moved to Ekaterinburg. He died shortly
after.
CHKEIDZE, Member of the duma; one of the leaders of the Petrograd
soviet of workmen’s deputies during the first months of the
revolution.
DMITRIEV, High Commissar, commissioned to Tobolsk by the Omsk
soviet of workmen’s deputies.
DEMIDOVA, Anna, favourite maid of the empress. Stayed permanently
with her in Tsarskoe-Selo, Tobolsk and Ekaterinburg. Was shot with
the imperial family.
DEHN, Julia, Mme. Wife of first officer on Emperor’s yacht
_Standart_. An intimate friend of the Empress.
DEREVENKO, Vladimir Nikolaievich, physician. Stayed with the
imperial family in Tobolsk.
DOLGORUKY, Alexander Vasilievich, prince, marshal of the imperial
court. Stayed with the imperial family in Tobolsk.
DOMODZIANZ, Ensign, Armenian origin. Was elected by the
Tsarskoe-Selo soviet of workmen’s deputies to assist Colonel
Kobylinsky.
DUTZMAN, Commissar to the imperial family. Commissioned from Omsk
by the Siberian soviet of workmen’s deputies.
ERZBERG, Elizabeth. The grand duchesses’ maid. Parted from the
imperial family on the way to Ekaterinburg.
GIBBES, Sidney. An English teacher to the grand duchesses and
tsarevich. Joined the imperial family in Tobolsk and stayed with
them until their arrival in Ekaterinburg.
GILLIARD, French teacher to the grand duchesses and the tsarevich.
Stayed with the imperial family in Tobolsk and accompanied the
tsarevich to Ekaterinburg, where he was dismissed from the imperial
family’s service.
HARITONOV, Ivan. The chef to the imperial family. Was shot with the
imperial family.
HENDRYKOVA, Anastasia Vasilievna, Countess. Personal maid of honour
to the empress. Came with her to Tobolsk.
HITROVO, Margaret. Maid of honour to the grand duchesses. Arrived
at Tobolsk and was arrested.
HLYNOFF, Priest in Tobolsk who replaced the priest Vasiliev.
HOHRIAKOV, a graduate of an ecclesiastical seminary; chairman of
the Tobolsk soviet of workmen’s and soldiers’ deputies; became
commissar to the imperial family after the resignation of Yakovlev.
KERENSKY, Alexander Feodorovich, minister of justice, formerly
prime minister of the provisional government.
KOBYLINSKY, Eugene Stefanovich, Colonel; was appointed commander of
the garrison in Tsarskoe-Selo. Later was commandant of the palace.
Brought the imperial family to Tobolsk, and was in command of the
guards until the time the imperial family moved to Ekaterinburg.
KORNILOV, Lavr Georgievich, famous Russian general and patriot. A
prominent name in the history of the Russian revolution. During the
first days of the revolution was made commanding officer of the
forces of the Petrograd military district. Was the executor of the
order of the provisional government for the arrest of the imperial
family.
KOROVICHENKO, Paul, Colonel, military jurist; was made commandant
of the Tsarskoe-Selo palace after Kotsebue.
KOTSEBUE, Captain of Uhlans, commandant of the Tsarskoe-Selo
palace. Was dismissed and succeeded by Korovichenko.
KUZMIN, Ensign; was in command of the military forces of the
Petrograd district after Kornilov and Polovtzov.
LVOV, George Evgenevich, prime minister of the provisional
government during the first three months of the revolution. Was
imprisoned in Ekaterinburg at the time the imperial family was kept
in Ipatiev’s house.
MAKAROV, Engineer; was attached to the imperial family during their
journey to Tobolsk.
MEDVEDEV, Pavel; aged thirty-one; senior guard of the imperial
family in Ekaterinburg. Took part in the murder of the imperial
family.
MOSHKIN, Alexander; formerly locksmith; was assistant to Commissar
Avdeiev in Ekaterinburg. Was discharged for drunkenness and theft
of the emperor’s belongings.
MRACHKOVSKY, Serge; Military Commissar in the Red army. Collected
the men for the guard of the imperial family in Ekaterinburg.
NAGORNY, Clement Gregorievich; a servant of the tsarevich; stayed
with them permanently. After the time the imperial family moved to
Ekaterinburg, was dismissed, put in prison and shot.
NARYSHKINA, Lady of honour to the empress.
NIKIFOROV, Alexis; senior guard of the imperial family in Tobolsk.
NIKOLSKY, Alexander; Ensign, member of the Social Revolutionary
party. Was assistant to Commissar Pankratov in Tobolsk.
NIKULIN, Assistant to Commissar Yurovsky in Ekaterinburg.
PANKRATOV, Basil Semenovich; was appointed in September, 1917, as
commissar to the imperial family and was dismissed by the soldiers
after the Bolshevik revolution.
PEREVERZEFF, Paul Nikolaievich; lawyer, replaced Kerensky in the
post of minister of justice and resigned on account of trouble he
had with the Petrograd Bolsheviki. Made the search of the
emperor’s papers at Tsarskoe-Selo.
PIGNATTI, District Commissar in Tobolsk; occupied this position
from the first days of the revolution till the time of the downfall
of Admiral Kolchak’s government.
POLOVTZOV, General; took General Kornilov’s position as commander
of the military forces of the Petrograd district.
PROSKURIAKOV, Philip; aged seventeen, workman; was amongst the
guards of the imperial family in Ekaterinburg.
RAZPUTIN, Gregory; half monk and half adventurer; was killed a
month before the revolution.
RODIONOV, Commander of the Letts detachment in Tobolsk; escorted
the tsarevich and the grand duchesses from Tobolsk to Ekaterinburg.
SEDNEV, Ivan; servant of the grand duchesses.
SCHNEIDER, Katherine, court lecturer; was separated from the
imperial family in Ekaterinburg.
SVERDLOV, a prominent Bolshevik, chairman of the central executive
committee of the All-Russian congress of soviets of workmen’s,
soldiers’ and peasants’ deputies.
TATISHCHEFF, Ilia Leonidovich, Count, general A. D. C. to the
emperor; stayed with the imperial family in Tobolsk; discharged on
their arrival at Ekaterinburg; shot.
TEGLEVA, Alexandra, nurse of the tsarevich and grand duchesses;
stayed with the imperial family up to the time of their arrival in
Ekaterinburg.
TRUPP, Alexis; servant of the imperial family; stayed with them and
was shot with the imperial family.
TUTELBERG, Mary, maid to the empress; was separated from the
imperial family on the way to Ekaterinburg.
VASILIEV, Clergyman of the Blagoveschensky church in Tobolsk;
officiated at divine service in the imperial family’s house.
VERSHININ, Member of the duma, accompanied the imperial family to
Tobolsk as commissar of the provisional government.
VOLKOV, Alexis; servant to the empress, discharged and arrested on
the arrival of the imperial family at Ekaterinburg.
VYRUBOVA, personal maid of honour and a friend of the empress.
YAKIMOV, Anataly; workman who was a senior guard of the imperial
family in Ekaterinburg.
YAKOVLEV, Bolshevik commissar to the imperial family. Replaced
Pankratov on April 9, 1918. Came from Moscow to Tobolsk and went
back on account of trouble he had with the Ekaterinburg Bolsheviki,
who seized the imperial family.
YUROVSKY, Commandant, jailer and executioner of the imperial
family.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] This is what Trotzky called the sailors of the Baltic Fleet after
they had murdered their officers.--Translator’s Note.
[2] Cf. Ludendorff’s “War Memories”, Vol. II., page 658. “We could have
deposed the Soviet Government, which was thoroughly hostile to us,
and given help to other authorities in Russia which were not working
against us, but indeed anxious to coöoperate with us. This would have
been a success of great importance to the general conduct of the war.
If some other Government were established in Russia, it would almost
certainly have been possible to come to some compromise with it over
the Peace of Brest.”
[3] Ludendorff. “War Memories,” Vol. II, page 509:
“From October, 1917, onwards, Bolshevism in Russia obtained an even
firmer hold.
“I could not doubt that the disintegration of the Russian Army and
nation involved an extraordinary risk for Germany and Austria-Hungary.
All the greater was my anxiety when I thought of the weakness of our
Government and theirs.
“By sending Lenin to Russia our Government had, moreover, assumed a
great responsibility. From a military point of view his journey was
justified, for Russia had to be laid low. But our Government should
have seen to it that we also were not involved in her fall.”
Vol. II., page 654:
“In Russia events had developed along lines of their own, illustrative
of the lying propensities of the Soviet Government. With the consent
of the Government the Entente had formed Czecho-Slovak units out of
Austro-Hungarian prisoners. These were intended to be used against us,
and were therefore to be conveyed to France by the Siberian railway.
All this was sanctioned by a Government with whom we were at peace, and
we actually took it lying down! At the beginning of June I wrote to
the Imperial Chancellor specially on the subject, and pointed out the
dangers which threatened us from the Soviet Government.”
Vol. II., page 656:
“I had got into touch with him (General Krasnov) in order to prevent
his joining the Entente. The situation was complicated by the fact
that I could not put difficulties in the way of the home Government’s
pro-Bolshevik policy, of which, of course, I was informed, and Krasnov
regarded the Soviet Government, and not the Entente, as his enemy.”
[4] Haemophilia, the disease from which the Tsarevich suffered, is as a
general rule transmitted through the females to the males. The females
do not suffer from it themselves.
[5] Ludendorff. “War Memories,” Vol. II., page 413:
“...The Tsar was overthrown by the Revolution, which was favoured by
the Entente. The Entente’s reasons for backing the Revolution are not
clear. At all events, it is certain that the Entente expected the
Revolution to bring them some advantage in the war. They wished at
least to save anything that could be saved and, consequently, did not
hesitate to act. The Tsar, who had begun the war in order to please the
Entente, had to be removed.”
[6] Here is the text of the suppressed document:
“My dearly loved troops, I address you for the last time. After my
abdication, for me and for my son, from the Russian Throne, the
power is transferred to the Provisional Government which rose on the
initiation of the Duma. God help them to lead Russia on the way of
glory and prosperity. God help you also, valiant troops, to hold our
native land firmly against the evil enemy.
“During two and a half years you endured, daily, the hardships of
active service. Much blood has been shed, many efforts have been made,
and the hour is already near when Russia, bound to her valiant Allies,
by one general impulse to victory, will break the last efforts of the
adversary.
“This unprecedented war must be brought to a full victory. He who
thinks now of peace, who wishes it--that man is a betrayer of his
Fatherland, a traitor. I know that every honest soldier thinks thus.
Then fulfill your duty, defend our native land valiantly, submit
yourselves to the Provisional Government, obey your commanders,
remember that every weakening of discipline in the service is only an
advantage to the enemy.
“I firmly believe that the infinite love of our great native land has
not died out of your hearts. May God bless you and Saint George the
great Vanquisher and Martyr guide you.
“NICHOLAS.”
The Order was counter-signed by General Alexeiev, Chief of Staff.
[7] They are the wives of the Grand Dukes Nicholas and his brother
Peter and sisters of the Queen of Italy. At one time they were very
friendly with the Empress and through them Razputin came to the notice
of the Court. Afterwards they became enemies of Razputin.
[8] It must be borne in mind that the virtual ruler in Moscow
was Count Mirbach (see chapter 2), the Bolshevist leaders being
appointees and vassals of Germany, though, perhaps even then,
secretly conspiring against their masters. Further, it is known that
many influential Russians were intriguing with Mirbach (May, 1918)
to restore the Monarchy. This movement collapsed because the two
“orientations”--German and Entente--could not agree. The “Germans”
wanted Alexis; the “Ententes” favoured Michael.
“We could have deposed the Soviet Government, which was thoroughly
hostile to us, and given help to other authorities in Russia, which
were not working against us, but indeed anxious to cooperate with us.
This would have been a success of great importance to the general
conduct of the war. If some other Government were established in
Russia, it would almost certainly have been possible to come to some
compromise with it over the Peace of Brest.”
[9] Up to date (August, 1920), the only information that has reached
the world respecting the Imperial family’s private papers, removed
to Moscow after their death, is contained in three short telegrams
published in _The London Times_ of August 16, August 28, and September
28, 1918.
The first gives an extract of the Tsar’s diary for March 2/15, the day
of his abdication at Pskov:--“General Ruzsky came this morning and
read to me a long conversation which he had had on the telephone with
Rodzianko, according to which the situation at Petrograd is such that
a Cabinet of members of the Duma will be unable to do anything because
against it are fighting the Socialist Parties in the shape of workmen’s
committees. My abdication is necessary. Ruzsky has transmitted this
conversation to General Headquarters, and Alexeiev passed it on to all
the Commanders-in-Chiefs. At 12.30 came answers from all, the sense of
which is that, to save Russia and keep the Army at the front quiet, I
must make up my mind to this step. I have consented. From G.H.Q. they
have sent a draft of a manifesto. In the evening arrived from Petrograd
Guchkov and Shulgin, with whom I had a long talk, and handed them the
signed manifesto as agreed (_i.e._, renouncing the Tsarevich’s rights
as well--the Tsar’s own decision). At one o’clock in the morning
left Pskov with a heavy feeling, due to all I have lived through. Am
surrounded by treachery, cowardice, and deceit.”
The second reproduces a letter dated January 14, 1916, from the Empress
Maria to “Niki,” complaining of Witte’s delay in summoning the Duma,
bids the Tsar be strong, congratulating him on his “new spirit.” On
April 5 (at Tsarskoe) the Tsar in his diary speaks of preparations to
go to England, and says that news of this proposal was communicated to
him by Prince Lvov and Kerensky.
The third merely enumerates the other documents seized by the
Soviet:--“The diaries of the Empress and her daughters, notes by the
Tsarevich, over 5,000 letters of the correspondence of the Tsar with
his wife, with the Kaiser and other Sovereigns, with Razputin with
divers official personages, also with his father Alexander III, between
1877 and 1894.”
Lastly, the _Manchester Guardian_ (of July 1, 1920) published from its
Moscow correspondent a summary of Alexandra’s letters to Nicholas II.,
copies of which (the originals having disappeared) had been secretly
lent to him by a member of the Soviet Government. The extracts quoted
by him do not shed any new light on her life and character.
[10] This document has been widely quoted by Jewish organizations
to prove that the murder of the Tsar was not carried out by the
Bolshevists, and to dispel the nation of a “racial vendetta.” _A
propos_ of this document the _London Daily Telegraph_ stated (August
18, 1920):--“In the interest of truth it must be here said that
the Moscow Central Soviet Government has always disclaimed all
participation (_sic_) in the murder, explaining that its intention was
to judge Nicholas II. publicly, but not to do away with him secretly in
a cellar.”
[11] The _chrezvychaika_ of Petrograd, presided over by the Jew Peters,
proclaimed that “the criminal hand of the Socialist-Revolutionary
Party, directed by the Anglo-French, has dared to fire at the leader
of the working classes.... This crime will be answered by mass terror
... representatives of capital will be sent to forced labour ...
counter-revolutionaries will be exterminated....” Petrovsky, Komisar
for Interior, telegraphed all local Soviets, reproving them for “the
extraordinarily insignificant number of serious repressions (the
hate-laden Jew could not abide the innate kindliness of the Russians)
and mass shootings of White Guards and _bourgeoisie_.” Petrovsky
denounced these “grandmotherly” methods (----). He ordained “all Right
Socialist-Revolutionaries must be immediately arrested. Considerable
numbers of hostages must be taken from _bourgeoisie_ and former
officers. At the slightest attempt at resistance, or the slightest
movement in White Guard circles, mass shootings of hostages must be
immediately employed. Indecisive and irresolute action in this matter
on the part of local Soviets will be severely dealt with.” Early in
September (1918), Zinoviev (Apfelbaum), one of the “cultured” leaders
of Sovietdom, publicly declared: “We must win over to our side 90
millions out of the 100 millions of population of Soviet Russia. As for
the rest, we have nothing to say to them, they must be annihilated.”
Bolshevism, White Book, p. 80.
[12] Admiral Kolchak was surrendered by the Czechs to the Reds at
Irkutsk while he was travelling eastward in February, 1920, under
the protection of the Allied flags. The order to surrender him was
countersigned by the Czech “commander-in-chief”, General Janin. Admiral
Kolchak was shot soon afterward in a peculiarly cruel manner.
[13] Even this high body (the Red Cabinet of Ministers) was, like all
Soviet institutions, ruled by an Inner Ring (Presidium or Executive
Committee) which was (and is) invariably composed of Jews, with one or
two Russians as lay figures.
[14] Here is the way “Democratism” was applied. I cite Bolshevist
writers: The “instruction” issued by the All-Russian Extraordinary
Commission to all Provincial Extraordinary Commissions (Chrezvychaiki)
says:--“The All-Russian Extraordinary Commission is perfectly
independent in its work, carrying out house searches, arrests,
executions, which it afterwards reports to the Council of the People’s
Commissaries (Sovnarkom) and to the Central Executive Council (Tsik).
The Provincial and District Extraordinary Commissions are independent
in their activities, and when called upon by the local Executive
Council (Ispolkom) present a report of their work.” In so far as house
searches and arrests are concerned, a report made afterwards may result
in putting right irregularities committed owing to lack of restraint.
The same cannot be said of executions.... It can also be seen from the
“instruction” that personal safety is to a certain extent guaranteed
only to members of the Government, of the Central Executive Council
(Tsik) and of the local Executive Committees (Ispolkom). With the
exception of these few persons all members of the local committees of
the (Bolshevik) party, of the Control Committees and of the Executive
Committee of the party may be shot at any time by the decision of any
Extraordinary Commission of a small district town if they happen to
be on its territory, and a report of that made afterwards. (From an
article by M. Alminsky, “Pravda,” October 8, 1918.)
“Comrade” Bokiv gave details of the work of the Petrograd District
Commission since the evacuation of the All-Russian Extraordinary
Commission to Moscow. The total number of arrested persons was 6,220.
800 were shot. (During about six months.) (From a report of a meeting
of the Conference of the Extraordinary Commission, “Izvestia”, October
19, 1918, No. 228.)
[15] See footnote, Chapter VII.