March 1917--Fall of the Czar

British Major-General Alfred W. F. Knox's March eye-witness account of breakdown of Czarist authority

"Tuesday Evening [March 13th] I made my way to the Embassy and the Ambassador sent me to the Duma. The Canadian railway expert, Bury, and his assistant, joined me and we started on our two miles' tramp through the snow. Half way, a country sledge passed us crowded with peasants in holiday dress. They waved their arms and cheered, and when we cheered in reply, they stopped the sledge and offered us a lift, an old soldier, who smelt of vodka, turning other passengers off the sledge to make room for us. As we drove along, holding on to one another to avoid falling, my soldier friend breathed into my ear that the Emperor [czar] was a good man, and fond of his people, but was surrounded by traitors. Now these traitors would be removed and all would be well." (560-1)

sledge
Russian sledge (Library of Congress).

23 Feb/8 Mar 1917    Revolution begins in Petrograd (St. Petersburg)
24 Feb/9 Mar   More unrest in Petrograd
25 Feb/10 Mar  Nicholas orders forcible suppression of unrest
1-2 Mar/14-15 Mar       Duma and Soviet agree to eight-point program
2 Mar/15 Mar Provisional Government created Nicholas abdicates in favor of Michael, his brother
4 Mar/17 Mar     Nicholas’s abdication and Michael’s rejection of crown made public
5 Mar/18 Mar   Provisional Government removes governors
8 Mar/21 Mar Nicholas placed under arrest
9 Mar/22 Mar United States recognizes Provisional Government

Read "America First to Recognize the New Russia" from the New York Times on March 23, 1917

 

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