https://project1917.com/ 13.03.1917-21.01.1917
“1917. Free History” is a project that enables participants to find out about the history of 1917 from those who lived during this defining moment of twentieth century history.
The project consists entirely of primary sources. It includes not a trace of invention. All the texts used are taken from genuine documents written by historical figures: letters, memoirs, diaries and other documents of the period.
“1917. Free History” is a serial, but in the form of a social network. Every day, when you go onto the site, you will find out what happened exactly one hundred years ago: what various people were thinking about and what happened to each of them in this eventful year. You may not fast-forward into the future, but must follow events as they happen in real time.
“1917. Free History” is a way of bringing the past to life and bringing it closer to the present day. It is a way of understanding what the year 1917 was like for those who lived in Russia and in other countries. We have scoured archives and storerooms for texts, photographs and videos, many of which have never seen the light of day before.
The project is the work of a team of journalists, experts, designers, animators and illustrators.
How does it work?
Our main aim is to make history popular – to bring a multitude of voices from a diverse array of historically significant figures to as wide an audience as possible. That is why we do not always observe all those standards which are normally considered inviolable in serious scholarship.
We shorten texts to make them more readable. However, we never change the words or the sense of what has been written
Next to each entry, users will find a link directing them to the original document from which it was taken.
Project Team
Mikhail Zygar – project author, founder and editor-in-chief
Aleksandr Kerensky
Mikhaylovskoye artillery school, Petrograd, Russian Empire
Comrades! There arise moments in the existence of every nation – just as they do in the existence of individuals – when the most pressing question of the day is no longer how best to live, but whether life will continue at all. We are going through just such a moment, and must ask ourselves whether Russia will survive if the old order continues to exist. We are gathered here to swear that Russia will be free.
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Anna Akhmatova
Sreznevskikh's ap., 9, Botkinskaya, Petrograd, Russian Empire
It’s going to be the same as the Great French Revolution, perhaps even worse.
Isabella Bottino
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Vasily Shulgin
Shpalernaya, 47, the Tauride Palace, Petrograd, Russian Empire
The situation is such that we cannot do without many old bureaucrats. For who can replace them? And so they’ve decided to send members of the State Duma as ‘commissars’. One of the major and successful appointments was that of a Duma member and engineer Bublikov as commissar of ‘Communications’.
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Alexander Bublikov
Railway ministry, Petrograd, Russian Empire
My first task was to dispatch a network-wide communiqué to the railwaymen regarding today’s events, and to call upon them to work toward the benefit of this newly free country. My second task was to ascertain the whereabouts of the Tsar.See more
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Nicholas II
Likhoslavl, Tver region, Russian Empire
We left Mofilev at 5 o’clock in the morning. The weather was bright and frosty.
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Sophie Buxhoeveden
The Empress had said to me that to go "would look like flight," and she was also afraid of the risk to the children had they been moved while they were so ill. On the morning, however, she told me that I should "quietly pack my bag to be able to start with them at any moment, should this prove necessary." The gentlemen had on that morning again raised the question of the Empress's departure, but it was too late now.
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Zinaida Gippius
Sergievskaya 83, Petrograd, Russian Empire
There will be further battles. Lord! Save Russia. Save her, save her, save her. Save her from herself, guide her as You see fit. See more
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Maurice Paleologue
10, Kutuzov embankment, Petrograd, Russian Empire
The firing, which had died down by this morning, began again about ten o'clock; it seemed to be pretty vigorous in the region of the Admiralty. Armoured cars, with machine-guns and displaying red flags, were continually passing the embassy at top speed. More fires were blazing at several points in the capital.See more
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Vladimir Lenin
Zurich, Switzerland
From Russia we receive nothing, not even letters! We relay through Scandinavia.
Berlano Andrade, Isabella Bottino
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Alexandra Kollontai
Oslo, Norway
No sooner do I take a seat in the carriage than I see the following large-lettered headline on the front page of my neighbour’s newspaper: REVOLUTION IN RUSSIA. My heart quivers. For some reason, I believe it at once: this is no journalistic bluff, this is for real. I try to make out what it says. It’s too late to buy a paper of my own – the train has set off. “When you’re done with it, lend it to me,” I say to my neighbour. “I’m Russian – it’s only natural that I should be in interested in what’s going on.”
Smiljana Antonijević, Jess Zilla and 1 other
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Nikolai Wrangel
Petrograd, Russian Empire
I see a handsome officer decorated with the order of St George. He is surrounded on all sides, surrounded tightly, as if in grips of a vise. He turned pale, but remains calm. No a single face muscle twiched; he looks right at the bastards’ faces with cold, calm eyes and I feel that he will look at death the same way.See more
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Nikolay Punin
Fountain house, 53, Liteynyy avenue, Petrograd, Russian Empire
The troops are disorganised, they’re all thronging about while officerless military patrols attempt to maintain order. Could it really be that socialism’s creative energies will be put into effect? My people, will you find in it yourselves to become great at last?
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Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich
Petrograd, Russian Empire
8 o’clock, we were woken up by heavy traffic, of both passenger and freight cars, that were overcrowded with soldiers who were shooting, mostly, into the air—there were also strong explosions of hand grenades. See more
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Jean Cocteau
Rome, Italy
We are once again in Rome after our travels in Naples, where we also explored Pompey in an automobile. I think that no city in the world will ever please me such as did Naples. See more
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Sergei Bulgakov
Zubovsky boulevard 15, ap. 11, Moscow, Russian Empire
Military units and automobiles had already materialised, together with sinister-looking, revolver-wielding, long-haired types – and girls of a corresponding appearance. The Kremlin was taken almost without a single shot being fired, and, come evening, Moscow found itself in the hands of the revolutionary authorities.See more
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Maxim Gorky Ekaterina Peshkova
Petrograd, Russian Empire