(58), The SR Combat Organization decided the next man to be assassinated was the Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich. Stolypin took revenge on the rebels and "more than 100 leading Kadets were brought to trial and suspended from their part in the Vyborg Manifesto." (81), Stolypin attempted to provide a balance between the introduction of much needed land reforms and the suppression of the radicals. To prevent a catastrophe the Tsar himself must be removed, by force if there is no other way. I met nobody who regretted his assassination or condemned the authors." He loathed the revolution with the fierce loathing of a police detective grown old in his profession, threatened by a bomb from around every street corner; he pursued sedition with bloodshot eyes - but in vain. (108), The main fear was that Russia might negotiate a separate peace with Germany, thereby releasing the seventy German divisions tied down on the Eastern Front. (118), Stanislaus de Lazovert agrees with this account except that he was uncertain who fired the shot: "With a frightful scream Rasputin whirled and fell, face down, on the floor. The SDLP was banned in Russia so most of its leaders were forced to live in exile. A situation like this cannot last long. She was also a feminist and felt the Bolsheviks had not done enough to support the demands of women members. RUSSIAN REVOLUTION PRIMARY SOURCES TSAR NICHOLAS II QUOTES âWhat is going to happen to me and all of Russia? Primary Source Document #1: Below is an excerpt of Czar Nicholas II messaging Kaiser Wilhem II via telegram (July 29 1914): "In this serious moment, I appeal you to help me. The Grand Duke Nikolai Romanov agreed and urged the Tsar to bring in reforms. By this time Dr. Stanislaus de Lazovert and Lieutenant Sergei Mikhailovich Sukhotin had fled from the city. (40), The strike spread to other factories. Sazonov was of the opinion that in the event of a war, Russia's membership of the Triple Entente would enable it to make territorial gains from neighbouring countries. (121) Stanislaus de Lazovert takes up the story when they arrived at Petrovskii: "We bundled him up in a sheet and carried him to the river's edge. The Russian government considered Germany to be the main threat to its territory. That is simply essential now, since otherwise everything will be finished... You too must take part in it. A small table was spread with cakes and rare wines - three kinds of the wine were poisoned and so were the cakes. He had five younger siblings: Alexander (1869–1870), George (1871–1899), Xenia (1875–1960), Michael (1878–1918) and Olga (1882–1960). Almost everybody I had an opportunity of consulting, is of the same opinion. "By avoiding confrontation with peasant representatives in the Duma, he was able to secure the privileges attached to nobles in local government and reject the idea of confiscation." Nicholas fell in love with Alexandra of Hesse-Darmstadt since 1889. We have suffered terrible things, but we are pressed ever deeper into the abyss of poverty, ignorance and lack of rights." On 1st March, 1881, Alexander II decided to travel along the Ekaterinsky Canal. Remember one thing: if the tsar's government falls, you will see absolute chaos in Russia, and it will be many a long year before you can see another government able to control the mixture that makes up the Russian nation." In most cases, he attributed revolutionary activity to university students or Jewish plotters. Plehve was replaced by Pyotr Sviatopolk-Mirsky, as Minister of the Interior. Some of the women insisted on walking in the first rows, in order, as they said, to protect me with their bodies, and force had to be used to remove them. With medical staff spread out across a 500 mile front, the likelihood of any Russian soldier receiving any medical treatment was close to zero". Witte defends this very energetically." (82), However, he also introduced new measures to repress disorder and terrorism. For a long time, I have resisted my feeling that my dearest dream will come true.\" However, Alexander III was vehemently anti-German and had no intention of allowing the couple to marry. We drove rapidly to the home of the Prince and descended to the library, lighted only by a blazing log in the huge chimney-place. He glared at us with his black, black eyes as though he read our minds and would fool us." Remember, primary sources were written around the same time as an event or during a particular historical time period. No other possibility for the salvation of the state exists. On that day the danger of a German hegemony will be finally removed, and each one of us will be able to devote himself quietly to his own affairs." Leon Trotsky commented: "Plehve was as powerless against sedition as his successor, but he was a terrible scourge against the kingdom of liberal newspapermen and rural conspirators. One need only add that revolution in Russia may place a democratic workers' government in power." He was for peace between all nations and between all religions." Nicholas II was passionate about motorcars, and his son Alexei shared his fatherâs interest. (88). Alexander III became Tsar of Russia on the assassination of Alexander II. A selection of books/e-books available in Trible Library. The Tsar rejected all these proposals and dissolved the Duma. The doctor declared that the bullet had struck him in the region of the heart. I agreed." The government must either place itself at the head of the movement which has gripped the country or it must relinquish it to the elementary forces to tear it to pieces." The government must be ready to proceed along constitutional lines. Extracts from the letters of Nicholas II . The Tsar's only son, Alexei, suffered from haemophilia (a disease whereby the blood does not clot if a wound occurs).