Figure 1.-- |
|
Russia was unprepared for War. It had huge army once mobilized, but did not have the industrial base to properly equip them with modern weapons. The Russian soldiers fought bravely, but suffered devestating losses, bith from the Germans and from inadequate supplies. Tsar Nicholas assumed command of the Army at the front. This was probably a mistake necause it made him personally responsible for the military disasters. And in addition to the disasters at the front, with so many men conscripted from rural areas, the harbests were inadequate to feed Russia. And the Allies had no way of supplying Russia because the Germans doiminated the Baltic and the Turks masinaimned control of the straits leading o the Black Sea ports. The result was Revolution. Nicholas II abdicated on March 2, 1917, in favor of his brother Michael. No fool, Michael renounced his claim the next day. After the abdication, the royal family first remained in Czarskoe Selo then, by decision of the interim government, were transported to Siberia. The Bolshevik government in April 1918 decided to move the Imperial family to Ekaterinburg in the Urals. Here Lenin ordered them to be shot on July 17, 1918. The bodies were hidden and have only recently been found and identified. They were given a Christian burial in 199?.
In the days leading up to World War I, the two exchanged telegrams in a vain attempt to avoid war--the famous Dear Nikki and Willi telegrams. Nicholas wanted to only mobilise against Austria-Hungary, but is generals explained that this was impossible. He thus ordered a general mobilisation (meanig against Germany as well as Austria-Hungary). The two attempted to renew the "personal diplomacy" of Björkö. They tried to avoid war with Russia by an exchange of telegrams. Nicholas assured Wilhelm in a telegram that the mobilisation was NOT against Germany. This was unacceptable to Wilhelm and his ministers. Thus the the telegrams proved futile.
Wilhelm ordered the activization of the Schlieffen Plan launching World War I. The major powers declared war.
When war was initially declared with Germany, the Royal Family was at sea, enjoying the glorious summer weather. On one occasion, as they were returning to port, Nicholas and the Captain went ashore to discuss tactics with some generals. The ship was to remain circling around the fjords. It was raining, so visibility was low. With the Captain and the Tsar absent, Alexei was in command. While he was playing with a friend in his state room, he was summoned to the bridge. When he arrived, they informed him that an unidentified ship was approaching. Knowing well that the war had just started and they could be in danger, he made his decision. He had the crew plot an intercept course and load all weapons. Once they were in weapons range, without hesitation, he ordered them to fire. It was a direct hit on their aft section of the other ship which came about and was
preparing to return fire. Knowing this, Alexei ordered evasive maneuvers. The unidentified ship returned fire, but missed. Then as it closed on them, one of the crewman was able to see it clearly with some binoculars. He recognized it as being the Polar Star, his grandnmother's yacht. Then, Alexei ordered the Standart to all stop and he had the crew run up the white flag. The Polar Star slowed it's approach. Alexei finally ordered the Standart to go alongside of the Polar Star to bring survivors aboard. This incident was not reported at the time Alexei was not punished for what
he did. Dispite the result, he did do the right thing. An unidentified ship was approaching them during a time of war. He had no way of knowing that it was his grandmother's ship, since their radio was out. A HBC reader questions the accuaracy of this account. HBC will look into it.
The war on the eastern front with Germany proved a steady stream of disasters. Two entire Russian armies were desimated by the German tandum of Hindenburg and Lundendorf. This disaster and the preformance of a poorly armed and led Russian army resulted in enormous losses and untold suffering to the Russian people. The disasters of 1914 in reality saved France. The French Army could have nevered stopped the German juggernaught on the Marne had the Germans not been forced to divide their forces. Only
minor British units were able to be marashalled in August and that first month the French and the gallant Belgians led by
Leopold II fought the Germans alone.
The Tsar disappointed with the course of the war, decided to take personal command of the Army. The generals thought this was the wrong decision. They were probably correct. Nicholas had no military experience or ability. As the generals advised him, if the war continued to go badly, the people would blame Nicholas persionally. Even worse it meant that he was away from the capital and unable to deal with the worsening political situation. Alexandra proved unequal to the task. Her political efforts and her German heritage just further weakened the status of the royal family.
Alexei was eventually allowed to join his father at the front. While Alexei was at the front, he stayed at the military base at Stavka. Alexei's presence had a profound effect on the troops. He was a sign of hope for the future to these troops. He would accompany his father on inspections, and diplomatic functions. He did all this for around 9 months, then something (only rumored and not proven) may have profoundly affected
his relatiinship with his father. Unsubstantiated rumors suggest that one day in mid-summer 1915, Alexei, his Tutor Pierre Gilliard, The Tsar, and a General went into a military hospital.
In addition to the disasters at the front, with so many men conscripted from rural areas, the harbests were inadequate to feed Russia. And the Allies had no way of supplying Russia because the Germans doiminated the Baltic and the Turks masinaimned control of the straits leading o the Black Sea ports.
The war continued to go very badly for the Russians. Back home the Tsar's popularity fell drastically in Petrograd as conditions deteriorated. His wife was running the government into the ground. And from the sideline, Alexei watched as his future fell apart.
With reports of riots in Petrogard, the Tsar attempted to return, but was stopped and forced to abdicate his throne (March 2, 1917). He abdicated in favor of his brother Michael. This mean that Alexei was no longer in line to inherit the throne. No fool, Michael renounced his claim the next day.
After Nicholas abdicated, the Duma formed a Provisional Government.
When Nicholas returned to Tsarskoe-Selo, the Provisional Government placed him and his family under arrest.
At first the royal family first remained in Czarskoe Selo then, by decision of the interim government, were transported to Tobolsk in Siberia. arrest.
The new Provisional Government was willing to allow the royal family to leave Russia. Foreign Minister Miliukov asked British Prime Minister Lloyd George to grant the family asylum. The British, however, refused. King George V feared that the offering asylum to the Tsar who was seen by many as a despot would weaken his position. The British Government cabeled the Provisional Government, "[King George V] must beg you to represent to the Prime Minister that from all he hears and reads in the press, the residence in this country of the ex-Emperor and Empress would be strongly resented by the people, and would certainly compromise the position of the King and Queen." The Provisional Government also contacted the French Government, but they also refused. Geroge V lsater regretted not letting him come.
Primeminister Alexander Kerensky moved the royal family to an run-down mansion in Tobolsk on Liberty Street. The Government restored it and created a comfortable residence. Nicholas and Alexandra haa bedroom. The grand duchesses shared another bedroom and Alexei had a room. the Provisional Government apprpriated a pension of 200,000 rubles a year. Soldiers guarded them more for protection than inprisonment. Nuns and farmers nearby hekped to provision them. Alexandra taught Alexei his catechism. The Royal Family was held at Tobolsk. Alexei wrote in his diary about how bored he. He begged God to have mercy upon him. He was permitted by his captives play outdoors from time to time. He had two playmates. One was Kolya, the son of one of his doctors. There was also a kitchen boy named Leonid Sednev. He seems to have taken greater risks in captivity. Once he recklessly rode a sled down the stairs of the prison house, injuring himself severely in the groin. The bleeding was extensive.
The Bolsevicks seized power overthrowing the Provisional Government (November 15, 1917).
The Bolsheviks made changes in the treatment of the royal family. They announced that the family would be put on put on soldiers' rations (600 rubles per person per month) (March 1, 1918> They no longer received "luxuries" such as butter and coffee. Their meals were soup, fish or meat. The Bolshevicks moved the royal family to Yekaterinburg (April 1918). Alexi was so ill that he could not be moved. So they moved his parents and older sister Maria to Yekaterinburg (April 1918). The three other sisters remained with Alexei until he was strong enough to make the trip. As a result of his injuries he was confined to a wheelchair.
The Bolsheviks gave secret police officer Vassili Vassilievich Yakolev the task of moving the royal family (April 22, 1918). The initial plan was to bring them back to Moscow. The Bolshevicks were concerned, however, that one of the monarchist groups would free the family. Yakolev and the Romanovs arrived at Ekaterinburg in Siberia (April 30, 1918). They were lodged in the Ipatiev House. The family was only allowed the use of the main floor, The six servants they were allowed shared their accommodations. There was a first no running water or ventilation. The windows were whitewashed and barred to prevent any communication with the outside woirld. The bathrooms were filty and even has pornographic drawings of the Tsarina and Rasputin. The family was only permitted an hour outside each day for a walk in the garden.
After about 2 1/2 months in Ekaterinburg, the royal family's stay, came to a bloody end. Alexei was almost 14 years old when an execution squad carried out their orders in the cellar room of the Ipatiev House in Yekaterinburg. Yakov Yurovsky commanded the squad of the Bolshevik secret police. It was early on the morning of July 17, 1918.
Alexandra was sitting up in bed reading silently while Nicholas slept next to
her. Alexei was sleeping on a cot nearby. Then, all of a sudden, there was a
loud knock at the door. This woke up Nicholas and Alexei. The guard told
them to get dressed. So the three of them got dressed, this took about half
an hour. Then when they went out into the hall, they met up with the rest of
their group. The guards then lead the group slowly through the house.
Nicholas lead the way with Alexei. As they walked toward the basement,
not a single person in that group revealed that they were aware of what was
happening. Along the way, Yurovsky told them that because of the
approaching White forces, they are to be moved. Thus, they are being taken
to the basement to wait for a car to arrive.
When they arrived at the basement, they
noticed that there were no chairs. Alexandra
asked about this, then two chairs were brought in. Alexandra sat in one; Alexei sat in the other. The guards left the room and closed
the door behind them. During this time, it is not
historically noted what occurred during the
guards absence. However, they probably talked about
where they were being taken. Some of them probably thought Moscow; some probably thought Livadia.
During this time, I'm sure Alexei did not contribute much to the conversation. He probably just sat
there thinking about the life he lead. Thinking of everything that has happened; wondering what
will happen next. Unfortunately he would not have to wonder for much longer.
After around 20 minutes since their arrival at the
basement, a group of guards returned to the room. Some had their hands in their pockets; some had their hands behind their backs. The group was surprised at
the large group of guards. Yurovsky then approached them. He pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket. From it, he read, "In light of the approaching white forces, and for crimes against Russia, The Ural
Soviet has decided to put you to death." Everyone was in shock. Alexei looked up at his fathers face one last time. He was his father say, "What?" He stared at his father, who was once the absolute ruler of
Russia, as Yurovsky replied with, "Your lives are finished." Then as his eyes made contact with his father's, he heard a loud blast. His father's
eyes went blank, as the back of his head was ripped off by the bullets exit. Alexei, and the rest of them screamed. As he screamed for his mother, she met with the same fate as her husband. All around him,
Alexei's world was dying. Everyone that he loved was being killed in the span of seconds. He turned to his mother in time to see her fall out of her chair. In fear, he did the same. As fell to the ground, he saw Olga's brutal death.
The bullets stopped. Nicholas II, Tsarena Alexandra Feodorovna Romanov, Grand Duchess Olga Nicholaevna Romanov, Doctor Eugene Botkin, Alexei Yegorovich Trupp and Ivan Alexandrovich Kharatinov were
dead. Alexei Nicholaevich, was probably hit, but not in a vital location. His three remaining sisters were screaming in fear, as was the maid, Anna Demidova. As Yurovsky walked up to Alexei, he saw four of the guards go get bayonets from outside the room. As they returned, he knew what was to happen to his sisters. He knew they were to be stabbed with the bayonets. Then he looked up at Yurovsky who was hovering over him. He was
probably thinking, "Why have they done this?". Within the past minute, half of his family had been taken from him in the most violent manner possible. He was probably thinking, "Where did everything go wrong?" Then I'm sure before the end came, he realized one glorious thing, "There will be no more pain." Then he (knowing there is nothing he can do.) turned his head to the right. He saw someone who wasn't one of the executioners come in, and look on horrified. Then, he saw a bright flash, probably heard a loud blast. And it was finally over.
The bodies were hidden. Some of the remains have only recently been found and identified. They were given a Christian burial in 199?. Press reports in 2007 reported that Russian authorities had found the possible remains of Aleksei and one of his older sisters in a secret grave near Yekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains--close to the site of the house in which the entire royal family was shot to death on Lenin's orders.
New York Times (August 25, 2007).
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site royal pages:
[Return to the Main Nicholas II page]
[Return to the Main Russian royalty page]
[Austria]
[Belgium]
[Bulgaria]
[Denmark]
[France]
[Germany]
[German states]
[Hesse]
[Italy]
[Japan]
[Jordon]
[Luxemburg]
[Monaco]
[Netherlands]
[Norway]
[Romania]
[Spain]
[Sweden]
[United Kingdom]
[Yugoslavia]