Execution of the royal family in what year. Who shot the royal family

Hundreds of books have been published about the tragedy of the family of Tsar Nicholas II in many languages of the world. These studies fairly objectively present the events of July 1918 in Russia. I had to read, analyze and compare some of these works. However, many mysteries, inaccuracies and even deliberate untruths remain.

Among the most reliable information are interrogation protocols and other documents of the Kolchak forensic investigator for special important matters N.A. Sokolova. In July 1918, after the capture of Yekaterinburg by White troops, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of Siberia, Admiral A.V. Kolchak appointed N.A. Sokolov as leader in the execution case royal family in this city.

N.A. Sokolov

Sokolov worked in Yekaterinburg for two years, conducted interrogations large quantity people involved in these events, tried to find the remains of the executed members of the royal family. After the capture of Yekaterinburg by Red troops, Sokolov left Russia and in 1925 in Berlin he published the book “The Murder of the Royal Family.” He took with him all four copies of his materials.

The Central Party Archive of the CPSU Central Committee, where I worked as a leader, kept mostly original (first) copies of these materials (about a thousand pages). How they got into our archive is unknown. I read all of them carefully.

For the first time, a detailed study of materials related to the circumstances of the execution of the royal family was carried out on instructions from the CPSU Central Committee in 1964.

The detailed information “on some circumstances related to the execution of the Romanov royal family” dated December 16, 1964 (CPA Institute of Marxism-Leninism under the CPSU Central Committee, fund 588 inventory 3C) documents and objectively examines all these problems.

The certificate was then written by the head of the sector of the ideological department of the CPSU Central Committee, Alexander Nikolaevich Yakovlev, an outstanding politician Russia. Not being able to publish the entire reference mentioned, I will cite only some passages from it.

“The archives did not reveal any official reports or resolutions preceding the execution of the Romanov royal family. There is no indisputable information about the participants in the execution. In this regard, materials published in the Soviet and foreign press, and some documents from Soviet party and state archives were studied and compared. In addition, the stories of the former assistant commandant of the Special Purpose House in Yekaterinburg, where the royal family was kept, G.P., were recorded on tape. Nikulin and former member of the board of the Ural Regional Cheka I.I. Radzinsky. These are the only surviving comrades who had one way or another to do with the execution of the Romanov royal family. Based on the available documents and memories, often contradictory, it is possible to create the following picture of the execution itself and the circumstances surrounding this event. As you know, Nicholas II and members of his family were shot on the night of July 16-17, 1918 in Yekaterinburg. Documentary sources indicate that Nicholas II and his family were executed by decision of the Ural Regional Council. In protocol No. 1 of the meeting of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee of July 18, 1918, we read: “Listen to: Report on the execution of Nikolai Romanov (telegram from Yekaterinburg). Resolved: Based on the discussion, the following resolution is adopted: The Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee recognizes the decision of the Ural Regional Council as correct. Instruct tt. Sverdlov, Sosnovsky and Avanesov to draw up a corresponding notice for the press. Publish about the documents available in the All-Russian Central Executive Committee - (diary, letters, etc.) of the former Tsar N. Romanov and instruct Comrade Sverdlov to form a special commission to analyze these papers and publish them.” The original, stored in the Central State Archive, is signed by Y.M. Sverdlov. As V.P. writes Milyutin (People's Commissar of Agriculture of the RSFSR), on the same day, July 18, 1918, a regular meeting of the Council of People's Commissars was held in the Kremlin late in the evening ( Council of People's Commissars.— Ed.) chaired by V.I. Lenin. “During Comrade Semashko’s report, Ya.M. entered the meeting room. Sverdlov. He sat down on a chair behind Vladimir Ilyich. Semashko finished his report. Sverdlov came up, leaned towards Ilyich and said something. “Comrades, Sverdlov asks to speak for a message,” Lenin announced. “I must say,” Sverdlov began in his usual even tone, “a message has been received that in Yekaterinburg, by order of the regional Council, Nikolai was shot.” Nikolai wanted to run. The Czechoslovaks were approaching. The Presidium of the Central Election Commission decided to approve. Silence of everyone. “Let’s now move on to an article-by-article reading of the draft,” suggested Vladimir Ilyich.” (Spotlight Magazine, 1924, p. 10). This is a message from Ya.M. Sverdlov was recorded in minutes No. 159 of the meeting of the Council of People's Commissars of July 18, 1918: “Listen to: An extraordinary statement by the Chairman of the Central Executive Committee, Comrade Sverdlov, on the execution of the former Tsar Nicholas II by the verdict of the Yekaterinburg Council of Deputies and on the approval of this verdict by the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee. Resolved: Take note." The original of this protocol, signed by V.I. Lenin, kept in the party archive of the Institute of Marxism-Leninism. A few months before this, at a meeting of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, the issue of transferring the Romanov family from Tobolsk to Yekaterinburg was discussed. Ya.M. Sverdlov speaks about this on May 9, 1918: “I must tell you that the question of the position of the former tsar was raised in our Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee back in November, at the beginning of December (1917) and since then has been raised several times, but we did not accept no decision, taking into account the fact that it is necessary to first become acquainted with exactly how, under what conditions, how reliable the security is, how, in a word, the former king Nikolai Romanov." At the same meeting, Sverdlov reported to the members of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee that at the very beginning of April, the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee heard a report from a representative of the committee of the team guarding the Tsar. “Based on this report, we came to the conclusion that it was impossible to leave Nikolai Romanov in Tobolsk any longer... The Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee decided to transfer the former Tsar Nicholas to a more reliable point. The center of the Urals, Yekaterinburg, was chosen as such a more reliable point.” Old Ural communists also say in their memoirs that the issue of transferring Nicholas II’s family was resolved with the participation of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. Radzinsky said that the initiative for the transfer belonged to the Ural Regional Council, and “the Center did not object” (Tape recording dated May 15, 1964). P.N. Bykov, a former member of the Ural Council, in his book “ Last days Romanovs,” published in 1926 in Sverdlovsk, writes that at the beginning of March 1918, the regional military commissar I. Goloshchekin (party nickname “Philip”) went to Moscow specifically for this occasion. He was given permission to transfer the royal family from Tobolsk to Yekaterinburg.”

Further, in the certificate “On some circumstances related to the execution of the Romanov royal family”, terrible details of the brutal execution of the royal family are given. It talks about how the corpses were destroyed. It is said that about half a pound of diamonds and jewelry were found in the sewn-up corsets and belts of the dead. I would not like to discuss such inhumane acts in this article.

For many years, the world press has been spreading the assertion that “the true course of events and the refutation of the “falsifications of Soviet historians” are contained in Trotsky’s diary entries, which were not intended for publication, and therefore, they say, are especially frank. They were prepared for publication and published by Yu.G. Felshtinsky in the collection: “Leon Trotsky. Diaries and Letters" (Hermitage, USA, 1986).

I give an excerpt from this book.

“April 9 (1935) The White Press once very heatedly debated the question of whose decision the royal family was put to death. The liberals seemed inclined to believe that the Ural executive committee, cut off from Moscow, acted independently. This is not true. The decision was made in Moscow. It happened in critical period civil war, when I spent almost all my time at the front, and my memories of the affairs of the royal family are fragmentary.”

In other documents, Trotsky talks about a Politburo meeting a few weeks before the fall of Yekaterinburg, at which he defended the need for an open trial, “which was supposed to unfold the picture of the entire reign.”

“Lenin responded in the sense that it would be very good if it were feasible. But there may not be enough time. There were no debates because I did not insist on my proposal, being absorbed in other matters.”

In the next episode from the diaries, the most frequently quoted, Trotsky recalls how, after the execution, when asked about who decided the fate of the Romanovs, Sverdlov replied: “We decided here. Ilyich believed that we should not leave them a living banner, especially in the current difficult conditions.”

Nicholas II with his daughters Olga, Anastasia and Tatiana (Tobolsk, winter 1917). Photo: Wikipedia

“They decided” and “Ilyich believed” can, and according to other sources, should be interpreted as the adoption of a general fundamental decision that the Romanovs cannot be left as a “living banner of counter-revolution.”

And is it so important that the direct decision to execute the Romanov family was made by the Ural Council?

I present another interesting document. This is a telegraphic request dated July 16, 1918 from Copenhagen, in which it was written: “To Lenin, member of the government. From Copenhagen. Here a rumor spread that the former king had been killed. Please provide the facts over the phone.” On the telegram, Lenin wrote in his own hand: “Copenhagen. The rumor is false, the former tsar is healthy, all rumors are lies of the capitalist press. Lenin."

We were unable to find out whether a reply telegram was sent then. But this was the very eve of that tragic day when the Tsar and his relatives were shot.

Ivan Kitaev- especially for Novaya

reference

Ivan Kitaev is a historian, candidate of historical sciences, vice-president of the International Academy of Corporate Governance. He went from a carpenter working on the construction of the Semipalatinsk test site and the Abakan-Tayshet road, from a military builder who built a uranium enrichment plant in the taiga wilderness, to an academician. Graduated from two institutes, the Academy of Social Sciences, and graduate school. He worked as secretary of the Togliatti city committee, Kuibyshev regional committee, director of the Central Party Archive, deputy director of the Institute of Marxism-Leninism. After 1991, he worked as head of the main department and head of a department of the Russian Ministry of Industry, and taught at the academy.

Lenin is characterized by the highest measure

About the organizers and those who ordered the murder of Nikolai Romanov’s family

In his diaries, Trotsky does not limit himself to quoting the words of Sverdlov and Lenin, but also expresses own opinion about the execution of the royal family:

"Essentially, the decision ( about execution. — OH.) was not only expedient, but also necessary. The severity of the reprisal showed everyone that we would fight mercilessly, stopping at nothing. The execution of the royal family was needed not just to intimidate, terrify, and deprive the enemy of hope, but also to shake up one’s own ranks, to show that there was no retreat, that complete victory was ahead, or complete destruction. There were probably doubts and shaking of heads in the party's intellectual circles. But the masses of workers and soldiers did not doubt for a minute: they would not have understood or accepted any other decision. Lenin felt this well: the ability to think and feel for the masses and with the masses was extremely characteristic of him, especially at great political turns...”

About capital punishment characteristic of Ilyich, Lev Davidovich, of course, is the arch-right. Thus, Lenin, as is known, personally demanded that as many priests as possible be hanged, as soon as he received a signal that the masses in some localities had shown such an initiative. How can the people's power not support the initiative from below (and in reality the basest instincts of the crowd)!

As for the trial of the Tsar, which, according to Trotsky, Ilyich agreed to, but time was running out, then this trial would obviously end with Nikolai’s death sentence. Only in this case, unnecessary difficulties could arise with the royal family. And then how nice it turned out: the Ural Soviet decided - and that’s it, bribes are smooth, all power to the Soviets! Well, maybe only “in the intellectual circles of the party” there was some confusion, but it quickly passed, like with Trotsky himself. In his diaries, he cites a fragment of a conversation with Sverdlov after the Yekaterinburg execution:

“- Yes, where is the king? “It’s over,” he answered, “he was shot.” -Where is the family? - And his family is with him. - All? - I asked, apparently with a tinge of surprise. - All! - answered Sverdlov. - And what? He was waiting for my reaction. I didn't answer. - Who decided? “We decided here...”

Some historians emphasize that Sverdlov did not answer “they decided,” but “they decided,” which is supposedly important for identifying the main culprits. But at the same time they take Sverdlov’s words out of the context of his conversation with Trotsky. But here it is: what is the question, such is the answer: Trotsky asks who decided, so Sverdlov answers, “We decided here.” And then he speaks even more specifically - about the fact that Ilyich believed: “we cannot leave them a living banner.”

So in his resolution on the Danish telegram of July 16, Lenin was clearly disingenuous when speaking about the lies of the capitalist press regarding the “health” of the Tsar.

IN modern terms one can say this: if the Ural Soviet was the organizer of the murder of the royal family, then Lenin was the orderer. But in Russia, organizers rarely, and those who ordered crimes, almost never end up in the dock.

Regularly, by the middle of summer of each year, loud crying for the king, who was killed for no reason, is resumed. NicholasII, whom Christians also “canonized” in 2000. Here is Comrade. Starikov, exactly on July 17, once again threw “wood” into the firebox of emotional lamentations about nothing. I was not interested in this issue before, and would not have paid attention to another dummy, BUT... At the last meeting in his life with readers, Academician Nikolai Levashov just mentioned that in the 30s Stalin met with NikolaiII and asked him for money to prepare for a future war. This is how Nikolai Goryushin writes about it in his report “There are prophets in our fatherland!” about this meeting with readers:

“...In this regard, the information related to tragic fate last Emperor Russian Empire Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov and his family... In August 1917, he and his family were deported to the last capital of the Slavic-Aryan Empire, the city of Tobolsk. The choice of this city was not accidental, since the highest degrees of Freemasonry are aware of the great past of the Russian people. The exile to Tobolsk was a kind of mockery of the Romanov dynasty, which in 1775 defeated the troops of the Slavic-Aryan Empire (Great Tartaria), and later this event was called the suppression of the peasant revolt of Emelyan Pugachev... In July 1918 Jacob Schiff gives a command to one of his trusted persons in the Bolshevik leadership Yakov Sverdlov for the ritual murder of the royal family. Sverdlov, after consulting with Lenin, orders the commandant of Ipatiev’s house, a security officer Yakov Yurovsky carry out the plan. According to official history, on the night of July 16-17, 1918, Nikolai Romanov, along with his wife and children, was shot.

After the summit, I and my Italian friend, who was both my driver and translator, went to this village. We found the cemetery and this grave. On the plate was written in German: “ Olga Nikolaevna, eldest daughter Russian Tsar Nicholas Romanov” – and dates of life: “1895-1976”. We talked with the cemetery watchman and his wife: they, like all the village residents, remembered Olga Nikolaevna very well, knew who she was, and were sure that the Russian Grand Duchess was under the protection of the Vatican.

This strange find interested me extremely, and I decided to look into all the circumstances of the execution myself. And in general, was he there?

I have every reason to believe that there was no execution. On the night of July 16-17, all the Bolsheviks and their sympathizers left for railway to Perm. The next morning, leaflets were posted around Yekaterinburg with the message that the royal family was taken away from the city, - so it was. Soon the city was occupied by whites. Naturally, an investigative commission was formed “in the case of the disappearance of Sovereign Nicholas II, the Empress, the Tsarevich and the Grand Duchesses,” which did not find any convincing traces of the execution.

Investigator Sergeev in 1919 he said in an interview with an American newspaper: “I don’t think that everyone was executed here - both the tsar and his family. “In my opinion, the empress, prince and grand duchesses were not executed in Ipatiev’s house.” This conclusion did not suit Admiral Kolchak, who by that time had already proclaimed himself the “supreme ruler of Russia.” And really, why does the “supreme” need some kind of emperor? Kolchak ordered the collection of a second investigative team, which got to the bottom of the fact that in September 1918 the Empress and the Grand Duchesses were kept in Perm. Only the third investigator, Nikolai Sokolov (led the case from February to May 1919), turned out to be more understanding and issued the well-known conclusion that the entire family was shot, the corpses dismembered and burned at the stake. “Parts that were not susceptible to fire,” wrote Sokolov, “were destroyed with the help of sulfuric acid».

What, then, was buried? in 1998. in the Peter and Paul Cathedral? Let me remind you that shortly after the start of perestroika, some skeletons were found in Porosyonkovo Log near Yekaterinburg. In 1998, they were solemnly reburied in the Romanov family tomb, after numerous genetic examinations were carried out before that. Moreover, the guarantor of the authenticity of the royal remains was the secular power of Russia in the person of President Boris Yeltsin. But the Russian Orthodox Church refused to recognize the bones as the remains of the royal family.

But let's go back to the times Civil War. According to my data, in Perm royal family divided. The path of the female part lay in Germany, while the men - Nikolai Romanov himself and Tsarevich Alexei - were left in Russia. Father and son were kept for a long time near Serpukhov at the former dacha of the merchant Konshin. Later in the NKVD reports this place was known as "Object No. 17". Most likely, the prince died in 1920 from hemophilia. I can’t say anything about the fate of the last Russian emperor. Except for one thing: in the 30s “Object No. 17” Stalin visited twice. Does this mean that Nicholas II was still alive in those years?

The men were left hostage

To understand why such incredible events from the point of view of a person of the 21st century became possible and to find out who needed them, you will have to go back to 1918. Remember from school course stories about Treaty of Brest-Litovsk? Yes, March 3 in Brest-Litovsk between Soviet Russia on the one hand, and Germany, Austria-Hungary and Turkey on the other, a peace treaty was concluded. Russia lost Poland, Finland, the Baltic states and part of Belarus. But this was not why Lenin called the Brest-Litovsk Peace Treaty “humiliating” and “obscene.” By the way, full text The treaty has not yet been published either in the East or in the West. I believe that because of the secret conditions present in it. Probably the Kaiser, who was a relative of Empress Maria Feodorovna, demanded that all women of the royal family be transferred to Germany. The girls had no rights to the Russian throne and, therefore, could not threaten the Bolsheviks in any way. The men remained hostage - as guarantors that the German army would not venture further east than stated in the peace treaty.

What happened next? What was the fate of the women brought to the West? Was their silence a requirement for their integrity? Unfortunately, I have more questions than answers.

Interview with Vladimir Sychev on the Romanov case

Nicholas II and his family

The execution of Nicholas II and members of his family is one of the many crimes of the terrible twentieth century. Russian Emperor Nicholas II shared the fate of other autocrats - Charles I of England, Louis XVI of France. But both were executed by court order, and their relatives were not touched. The Bolsheviks destroyed Nicholas along with his wife and children, even his faithful servants paid with their lives. What caused such bestial cruelty, who initiated it, historians are still guessing

The man who was unlucky

The ruler should be not so much wise, fair, merciful, but lucky. Because it is impossible to take into account everything and many major decisions accepted, guessing. And it’s hit or miss, fifty-fifty. Nicholas II on the throne was no worse and no better than his predecessors, but in matters of fateful importance for Russia, when choosing one or another path of its development, he was wrong, he simply did not guess. Not out of malice, not out of stupidity, or out of unprofessionalism, but solely according to the law of “heads and tails”

“This means dooming hundreds of thousands of Russian people to death,” the Emperor hesitated. “I sat opposite him, carefully watching the expression of his pale face, on which I could read the terrible internal struggle that was taking place in him at these moments. Finally, the sovereign, as if pronouncing the words with difficulty, said to me: “You are right. We have no choice but to wait for an attack. Tell your boss General Staff my order for mobilization" (Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Dmitrievich Sazonov about the beginning of the First World War)

Could the king have chosen a different solution? Could. Russia was not ready for war. And eventually the war began local conflict Austria and Serbia. The first declared war on the second on July 28. There was no need for Russia to intervene radically, but on July 29 Russia began partial mobilization in four western districts. On July 30, Germany presented Russia with an ultimatum demanding that all military preparations be stopped. Minister Sazonov convinced Nicholas II to continue. On July 30 at 5 p.m., Russia began general mobilization. At midnight from July 31 to August 1, the German ambassador informed Sazonov that if Russia did not demobilize at 12 noon on August 1, Germany would also announce mobilization. Sazonov asked if this meant war. No, the ambassador replied, but we are very close to her. Russia did not stop the mobilization. Germany began mobilization on August 1.

On August 1, in the evening, the German ambassador again came to Sazonov. He asked whether the Russian government intended to give a favorable response to yesterday's note about the cessation of mobilization. Sazonov answered negatively. Count Pourtales showed signs of increasing agitation. He took a folded paper out of his pocket and repeated his question again. Sazonov again refused. Pourtales asked the same question for the third time. “I cannot give you any other answer,” Sazonov repeated again. “In that case,” said Pourtales, choking with excitement, “I must give you this note.” With these words, he handed the paper to Sazonov. It was a note declaring war. The Russian-German war began (History of diplomacy, volume 2)

Brief biography of Nicholas II

1868, May 6 - in Tsarskoe Selo
1878, November 22 - Nikolai's brother, Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich, was born
1881, March 1 - death of Emperor Alexander II
1881, March 2 - Grand Duke Nikolai Alexandrovich was declared heir to the throne with the title “Tsarevich”
1894, October 20 - death of the emperor Alexandra III, accession to the throne of Nicholas II
1895, January 17 - Nicholas II delivers a speech in the Nicholas Hall Winter Palace. Statement on Policy Continuity
1896, May 14 - coronation in Moscow.
1896, May 18 - Khodynka disaster. More than 1,300 people died in the stampede on Khodynka Field during the coronation festival.

The coronation festivities continued in the evening at the Kremlin Palace, followed by a ball at a reception French Ambassador. Many expected that if the ball was not cancelled, then at least it would take place without the sovereign. According to Sergei Alexandrovich, although Nicholas II was advised not to come to the ball, the tsar said that although the Khodynka disaster was the greatest misfortune, it should not overshadow the coronation holiday. According to another version, his entourage persuaded the tsar to attend a ball at the French embassy due to foreign policy considerations(Wikipedia).

1898, August - Nicholas II’s proposal to convene a conference and discuss at it the possibilities of “putting a limit to the growth of armaments” and “protecting” world peace
1898, March 15 - Russian occupation of the Liaodong Peninsula.
1899, February 3 - Nicholas II signed the Manifesto on Finland and published the “Basic provisions on the preparation, consideration and promulgation of laws issued for the empire with the inclusion of the Grand Duchy of Finland.”
1899, May 18 - the start of the “peace” conference in The Hague, initiated by Nicholas II. The conference discussed issues of arms limitation and ensuring lasting peace; Representatives from 26 countries took part in its work
1900, June 12 - decree canceling exile to Siberia for settlement
1900, July - August - participation of Russian troops in the suppression of the “Boxer Rebellion” in China. Russian occupation of all of Manchuria - from the border of the empire to the Liaodong Peninsula
1904, January 27 - beginning
1905, January 9 - Bloody Sunday in St. Petersburg. Start

Diary of Nicholas II

— January 6th. Thursday.
Until 9 o'clock let's go to the city. The day was gray and quiet at 8° below zero. We changed clothes at our place in the Winter Palace. At 10? went into the halls to greet the troops. Until 11 o'clock we set off for the church. The service lasted an hour and a half. We went out to see Jordan wearing a coat. During the fireworks, one of the guns of my 1st cavalry battery fired grapeshot from Vasilyev [sky] Island. and it doused the area closest to the Jordan and part of the palace. One policeman was wounded. Several bullets were found on the platform; banner Marine Corps was punched.
After breakfast, ambassadors and envoys were received in the Golden Drawing Room. At 4 o'clock we left for Tsarskoye. I took a walk. I was studying. We had dinner together and went to bed early.
— January 7th. Friday.
The weather was calm, sunny with wonderful frost on the trees. In the morning I had a meeting with D. Alexei and some ministers on the matter of the Argentine and Chilean courts (1). He had breakfast with us. Received nine people.
Let's go together and venerate the icon of the Sign. Mother of God. I read a lot. The two of us spent the evening together.
— January 8th. Saturday.
Clear frosty day. There was a lot of work and reports. Fredericks had breakfast. I walked for a long time. Since yesterday, all plants and factories have been on strike in St. Petersburg. Troops were called from the surrounding area to reinforce the garrison. The workers have been calm so far. Their number is determined at 120,000 hours. At the head of the workers' union is a priest - the socialist Gapon. Mirsky arrived in the evening to report on the measures taken.
— January 9th. Sunday.
Tough day! Serious riots occurred in St. Petersburg as a result of the workers’ desire to reach the Winter Palace. The troops had to shoot in different places in the city, there were many killed and wounded. Lord, how painful and difficult! Mom came to us from the city right in time for mass. We had breakfast with everyone. I was walking with Misha. Mom stayed with us for the night.
— January 10th. Monday.
There were no major incidents in the city today. There were reports. Uncle Alexey was having breakfast. Received a delegation of Ural Cossacks who arrived with caviar. I was walking. We drank tea at Mama's. To unite actions to stop the unrest in St. Petersburg, he decided to appoint General-M. Trepov as governor-general of the capital and province. In the evening I had a meeting on this matter with him, Mirsky and Hesse. Dabich (d.) dined.
— January 11th. Tuesday.
During the day there were no major disturbances in the city. Had the usual reports. After breakfast, Rear Adm. received. Nebogatov, appointed commander of the additional detachment of the squadron Pacific Ocean. I was walking. It was not a cold, gray day. I worked a lot. Everyone spent the evening reading aloud.

1905, January 11 - Nicholas II signed a decree establishing the St. Petersburg Governor-General. Petersburg and the province were transferred to the jurisdiction of the Governor General; all civilian institutions were subordinate to him and given the right to independently call up troops. On the same day, former Moscow Chief of Police D. F. Trepov was appointed to the post of Governor General
1905, January 19 - Nicholas II received a deputation of workers from St. Petersburg in Tsarskoe Selo. From own funds the tsar allocated 50 thousand rubles to help family members of those killed and wounded on January 9
1905, April 17 - signing of the Manifesto “On the approval of the principles of religious tolerance”
1905, August 23 - conclusion of the Portsmouth Peace, which ended the Russo-Japanese War
1905, October 17 - signing of the Manifesto on political freedoms, establishment State Duma
1914, August 1 - beginning of World War I
1915, August 23 - Nicholas II assumed the duties of Supreme Commander-in-Chief
1916, November 26 and 30 - The State Council and the Congress of the United Nobility joined the demand of State Duma deputies to eliminate the influence of “dark irresponsible forces” and create a government ready to rely on a majority in both chambers of the State Duma
1916, December 17 - assassination of Rasputin
1917, end of February - Nicholas II decided on Wednesday to go to Headquarters, located in Mogilev

The palace commandant, General Voeikov, asked why the emperor made such a decision when the front was relatively calm, while there was little calm in the capital and his presence in Petrograd would be very important. The Emperor replied that the Chief of Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, General Alekseev, was waiting for him at Headquarters and wanted to discuss some issues.... Meanwhile, Chairman of the State Duma Mikhail Vladimirovich Rodzianko asked the Emperor for an audience: “In that terrible hour that the homeland is going through, I believe it is my most loyal duty as Chairman of the State Duma to report to you in full about the threatening To the Russian state danger." The Emperor accepted it, but rejected the advice not to dissolve the Duma and form a “Ministry of Trust” that would enjoy the support of the entire society. Rodzianko urged the emperor in vain: “The hour that decides the fate of you and your homeland has come. Tomorrow may be too late” (L. Mlechin “Krupskaya”)

1917, February 22 - the imperial train departed from Tsarskoe Selo to Headquarters
1917, February 23 - Started
1917, February 28 - adoption by the Provisional Committee of the State Duma final decision about the need for the Tsar to abdicate in favor of the heir to the throne during the regency of Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich; departure of Nicholas II from Headquarters to Petrograd.
1917, March 1 - arrival of the royal train in Pskov.
1917, March 2 - signing of the Manifesto abdicating the throne for himself and for Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich in favor of his brother, Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich.
1917, March 3 - refusal of Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich to accept the throne

Family of Nicholas II. Briefly

1889, January - first acquaintance at a court ball in St. Petersburg with future wife, Princess Alice of Hesse
1894, April 8 - engagement of Nikolai Alexandrovich and Alice of Hesse in Coburg (Germany)
1894, October 21 - anointing of the bride of Nicholas II and naming her “Blessed Grand Duchess Alexandra Feodorovna”
1894, November 14 - wedding of Emperor Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna

stood in front of me tall a slender lady of about 50 in a simple gray sister's suit and a white headscarf. The Empress greeted me kindly and asked me where I was wounded, in what case and on what front. A little worried, I answered all Her questions without taking my eyes off Her face. Almost classically correct, this face in its youth was undoubtedly beautiful, very beautiful, but this beauty, obviously, was cold and impassive. And now, aged with time and with small wrinkles around the eyes and corners of the lips, this face was very interesting, but too stern and too thoughtful. That’s what I thought: what a correct, intelligent, strict and energetic face (memories of the Empress, ensign of the machine gun team of the 10th Kuban Plastun battalion S.P. Pavlov. Being wounded in January 1916, he ended up in Her Majesty’s Own infirmary in Tsarskoe Selo)

1895, November 3 - birth of a daughter, Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna
1897, May 29 - birth of a daughter, Grand Duchess Tatyana Nikolaevna
1899, June 14 - birth of a daughter, Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna
1901, June 5 - birth of a daughter, Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna
1904, July 30 - birth of a son, heir to the throne, Tsarevich and Grand Duke Alexei Nikolaevich

Diary of Nicholas II: “An unforgettable great day for us, on which the mercy of God so clearly visited us,” Nicholas II wrote in his diary. “Alix gave birth to a son, who was named Alexei during prayer... There are no words to be able to thank God enough for the consolation He has sent in this time of difficult trials!”
German Kaiser Wilhelm II telegraphed Nicholas II: “Dear Nicky, how nice that you offered me to be godfather your boy! Good is what is waited for a long time, says the German proverb, so be it with this dear little one! May he grow up to be a brave soldier, wise and strong statesman, may God's blessing always protect his body and soul. May he be the same ray of sunshine for both of you all his life as he is now, during trials!”

1904, August - on the fortieth day after birth, Alexei was diagnosed with hemophilia. Palace Commandant General Voeikov: “For the royal parents, life has lost its meaning. We were afraid to smile in their presence. We behaved in the palace as if in a house in which someone had died."
1905, November 1 - Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna met Grigory Rasputin. Rasputin somehow had a positive effect on the Tsarevich’s well-being, which is why Nicholas II and the Empress favored him

Execution of the royal family. Briefly

1917, March 3–8 - stay of Nicholas II at Headquarters (Mogilev)
1917, March 6 - decision of the Provisional Government to arrest Nicholas II
1917, March 9 - after wandering around Russia, Nicholas II returned to Tsarskoe Selo
1917, March 9-July 31 - Nicholas II and his family live under house arrest in Tsarskoe Selo
1917, July 16-18 - July Days - powerful spontaneous popular anti-government protests in Petrograd
1917, August 1 - Nicholas II and his family went into exile in Tobolsk, where the Provisional Government sent him after the July Days
1917, December 19 - formed after. The Soldiers' Committee of Tobolsk forbade Nicholas II to attend church
1917, December - The Soldiers' Committee decided to remove the Tsar's shoulder straps, which was perceived by him as a humiliation
1918, February 13 - Commissar Karelin decided to pay from the treasury only soldiers' rations, heating and lighting, and everything else - at the expense of prisoners, and the use of personal capital was limited to 600 rubles per month
1918, February 19 - an ice slide built in the garden for the royal children to ride on was destroyed at night with pickaxes. The pretext for this was that from the slide it was possible to “look over the fence”
1918, March 7 - the ban on visiting church was lifted
1918, April 26 - Nicholas II and his family set off from Tobolsk to Yekaterinburg

The main condition for the presence of immortality is death itself.
Stanislav Jerzy Lec

The execution of the Romanov royal family on the night of July 17, 1918 is one of the most important events of the era of the civil war, the formation of Soviet power, as well as Russia’s exit from the First World War. The murder of Nicholas 2 and his family was largely predetermined by the seizure of power by the Bolsheviks. But in this story, not everything is as simple as it is usually said. In this article I will present all the facts that are known in this case in order to assess the events of those days.

Background of events

We should start with the fact that Nicholas 2 was not the last Russian emperor, as many believe today. He abdicated the throne (for himself and for his son Alexei) in favor of his brother, Mikhail Romanov. So he is the last emperor. This is important to remember; we will return to this fact later. Also, in most textbooks, the execution of the royal family is equated with the murder of the family of Nicholas 2. But these were not all Romanovs. To understand how many people we're talking about, I will give only data on the latest Russian emperors:

Nicholas 1 – 4 sons and 4 daughters.
Alexander 2 – 6 sons and 2 daughters.
Alexander 3 – 4 sons and 2 daughters.
Nikolai 2 – son and 4 daughters.

That is, the family is very large, and anyone from the list above is a direct descendant of the imperial branch, and therefore a direct contender for the throne. But most of them also had children of their own...

Arrest of members of the royal family

Nicholas 2, having abdicated the throne, put forward fairly simple demands, the implementation of which was guaranteed by the Provisional Government. The requirements were the following:

The emperor's safe move to Tsarskoye Selo to his family, where at that time Tsarevich Alexei was no longer there.
The safety of the entire family during their stay in Tsarskoe Selo until Tsarevich Alexei’s complete recovery.
Safety of the road to the northern ports of Russia, from where Nicholas 2 and his family must cross to England.
After the end of the Civil War, the royal family will return to Russia and live in Livadia (Crimea).

These points are important to understand in order to see the intentions of Nicholas 2 and subsequently the Bolsheviks. The emperor abdicated the throne so that the current government would ensure his safe exit to England.

What is the role of the British government?

The Provisional Government of Russia, after receiving the demands of Nicholas 2, turned to England with the question of the latter’s consent to host Russian monarch. A positive response was received. But here it is important to understand that the request itself was a formality. The fact is that at that time an investigation was underway against the royal family, during which time travel outside Russia was impossible. Therefore, England, by giving consent, did not risk anything at all. Something else is much more interesting. After the complete acquittal of Nicholas 2, the Provisional Government again makes a request to England, but this time more specific. This time the question was posed not abstractly, but concretely, because everything was ready for moving to the island. But then England refused.

So when today Western countries and people shouting on every corner about innocent people killed, talking about the execution of Nicholas 2, this only causes a reaction of disgust at their hypocrisy. One word from the English government that they agree to accept Nicholas 2 and his family, and in principle there would be no execution. But they refused...

In the photo on the left is Nicholas 2, on the right is George 4, King of England. They were distant relatives and had obvious similarities in appearance.

When was the Romanov royal family executed?

Murder of Mikhail

After October Revolution Mikhail Romanov turned to the Bolsheviks with a request to remain in Russia as an ordinary citizen. This request was granted. But the last Russian emperor was not destined to live “in peace” for long. Already in March 1918 he was arrested. There is no reason for the arrest. Until now, no historian has been able to find one historical document explaining the reason for the arrest of Mikhail Romanov.

After his arrest, on March 17 he was sent to Perm, where he lived in a hotel for several months. On the night of July 13, 1918, he was taken from the hotel and shot. This was the first victim of the Romanov family by the Bolsheviks. The official reaction of the USSR to this event was ambivalent:

It was announced to its citizens that Mikhail had shamefully fled Russia abroad. Thus, the authorities got rid of unnecessary questions, and, most importantly, received a legitimate reason to tighten the maintenance of the remaining members of the royal family.
It was announced to foreign countries through the media that Mikhail was missing. They say he went out for a walk on the night of July 13 and did not return.

Execution of the family of Nicholas 2

The backstory here is very interesting. Immediately after the October Revolution, the Romanov royal family was arrested. The investigation did not reveal the guilt of Nikolai 2, so the charges were dropped. At the same time, it was impossible to let the family go to England (the British refused), and the Bolsheviks really didn’t want to send them to Crimea, because the “whites” were very close there. And throughout almost the entire Civil War, Crimea was under control white movement, and all the Romanovs located on the peninsula were saved by moving to Europe. Therefore, they decided to send them to Tobolsk. The fact of the secrecy of the shipment is also noted in his diaries by Nikolai 2, who writes that they would be taken to ONE of the cities in the interior of the country.

Until March, the royal family lived in Tobolsk relatively calmly, but on March 24 an investigator arrived here, and on March 26 a reinforced detachment of Red Army soldiers arrived. In fact, from that time on, enhanced security measures began. The basis is the imaginary flight of Mikhail.

Subsequently, the family was transported to Yekaterinburg, where they settled in the Ipatiev house. On the night of July 17, 1918, the Romanov royal family was shot. Their servants were shot along with them. In total, the following died that day:

Nikolay 2,
His wife, Alexandra
The emperor's children are Tsarevich Alexei, Maria, Tatiana and Anastasia.
Family doctor – Botkin
Maid – Demidova
Personal chef– Kharitonov
Lackey - Troupe.

In total, 10 people were shot. According to the official version, the corpses were thrown into a mine and filled with acid.

Who killed the family of Nicholas 2?

I have already said above that starting in March, the security of the royal family was significantly increased. After moving to Yekaterinburg it was already a full-fledged arrest. The family was settled in Ipatiev’s house, and a guard was presented to them, the head of the garrison of which was Avdeev. On July 4, almost the entire guard was replaced, as was its commander. Subsequently, it was these people who were accused of murdering the royal family:

Yakov Yurovsky. He directed the execution.
Grigory Nikulin. Yurovsky's assistant.
Peter Ermakov. Chief of the Emperor's guard.
Mikhail Medvedev-Kudrin. Representative of the Cheka.

These are the main people, but there were also ordinary performers. It is noteworthy that they all significantly survived this event. Most subsequently took part in the Second World War and received a USSR pension.

Massacre of the rest of the family

Beginning in March 1918, other members of the royal family were gathered in Alapaevsk (Perm province). In particular, the following are imprisoned here: Princess Elizaveta Fedorovna, princes John, Konstantin and Igor, as well as Vladimir Paley. The latter was the grandson of Alexander 2, but had a different surname. Subsequently, they were all transported to Vologda, where on July 19, 1918 they were thrown alive into a mine.

The latest events in the destruction of the Romanov dynastic family date back to January 19, 1919, when princes Nikolai and Georgiy Mikhailovich, Pavel Alexandrovich and Dmitry Konstantinovich were shot in the Peter and Paul Fortress.

Reaction to the murder of the Romanov imperial family

The murder of the family of Nicholas 2 had the greatest resonance, which is why it needs to be studied. There are many sources indicating that when Lenin was informed about the murder of Nicholas 2, he did not even seem to react to it. It is impossible to verify such judgments, but you can refer to archival documents. In particular, we are interested in Protocol No. 159 of the meeting of the Council of People's Commissars of July 18, 1918. The protocol is very short. We heard the question of the murder of Nicholas 2. We decided to take it into account. That's it, just take note. There are no other documents regarding this case! This is completely absurd. It's the 20th century, but not a single document regarding such an important document has been preserved. historical event, except for one note “Take note”...

However, the main response to murder is investigation. They started

Investigation into the murder of the family of Nicholas 2

The Bolshevik leadership, as expected, began an investigation into the murder of the family. The official investigation began on July 21. She carried out the investigation quite quickly, since Kolchak’s troops were approaching Yekaterinburg. The main conclusion of this official investigation is that there was no murder. Only Nicholas 2 was shot by the verdict of the Yekaterinburg Council. But there are a number of very weak points that still cast doubt on the veracity of the investigation:

The investigation began a week later. In Russia, the former emperor is killed, and the authorities react to this a week later! Why was there this week of pause?
Why conduct an investigation if the execution happened on the orders of the Soviets? In this case, on July 17, the Bolsheviks were supposed to report that “the execution of the Romanov royal family took place on the orders of the Yekaterinburg Council. Nikolai 2 was shot, but his family was not touched.”
There are no supporting documents. Even today, all references to the decision of the Yekaterinburg Council are oral. Even in Stalin’s times, when millions were shot, documents remained that said “the decision of the troika and so on”...

On the 20th of July 1918, Kolchak’s army entered Yekaterinburg, and one of the first orders was to begin an investigation into the tragedy. Today everyone is talking about investigator Sokolov, but before him there were 2 more investigators with the names Nametkin and Sergeev. No one has officially seen their reports. And Sokolov’s report was published only in 1924. According to the investigator, the entire royal family was shot. By this time (back in 1921), the same data was announced by the Soviet leadership.

The order of destruction of the Romanov dynasty

In the story of the execution of the royal family, it is very important to follow the chronology, otherwise you can very easily get confused. And the chronology here is this: the dynasty was destroyed in the order of contenders for succession to the throne.

Who was the first contender for the throne? That's right, Mikhail Romanov. I remind you once again - back in 1917, Nicholas 2 abdicated the throne for himself and for his son in favor of Mikhail. Therefore, he was the last emperor, and he was the first contender for the throne in the event of the restoration of the Empire. Mikhail Romanov was killed on July 13, 1918.

Who was next in line of succession? Nicholas 2 and his son, Tsarevich Alexei. The candidacy of Nicholas 2 is controversial; in the end, he abdicated power on his own. Although in his regard everyone could have played it the other way, because in those days almost all laws were violated. But Tsarevich Alexei was a clear contender. Father didn't have legal law give up the throne for his son. As a result, the entire family of Nicholas 2 was shot on July 17, 1918.

Next in line were all the other princes, of whom there were quite a few. Most of them were collected in Alapaevsk and killed on July 1, 9, 1918. As they say, estimate the speed: 13, 17, 19. If we were talking about random unrelated murders, then such similarity would simply not exist. In less than 1 week, almost all the contenders for the throne were killed, and in order of succession, but history today considers these events in isolation from each other, and absolutely not paying attention to controversial areas.

Alternative versions of the tragedy

A key alternative version of this historical event is outlined in the book “The Murder That Never Happened” by Tom Mangold and Anthony Summers. It states the hypothesis that there was no execution. IN general outline the situation is as follows...

The reasons for the events of those days should be sought in the Brest-Litovsk Peace Treaty between Russia and Germany. Argument - despite the fact that the secrecy stamp on the documents had long been removed (it was 60 years old, that is, there should have been publication in 1978), there is not a single full version this document. Indirect confirmation of this is that the “executions” began precisely after the signing of the peace treaty.
It is a well-known fact that the wife of Nicholas 2, Alexandra, was a relative of the German Kaiser Wilhelm 2. It is assumed that Wilhelm 2 introduced a clause into the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, according to which Russia undertakes to ensure the safe exit to Germany of Alexandra and her daughters.
As a result, the Bolsheviks handed over the women to Germany, and left Nicholas 2 and his son Alexei as hostages. Subsequently, Tsarevich Alexei grew up into Alexei Kosygin.

Stalin gave a new twist to this version. It is a well-known fact that one of his favorites was Alexey Kosygin. There are no big reasons to believe this theory, but there is one detail. It is known that Stalin always called Kosygin nothing more than “prince.”

Canonization of the royal family

In 1981 the Russian Orthodox Church abroad canonized Nicholas 2 and his family as great martyrs. In 2000, this happened in Russia. Today, Nicholas 2 and his family are great martyrs and innocent victims, and therefore saints.

A few words about Ipatiev’s house

The Ipatiev House is the place where the family of Nicholas 2 was imprisoned. There is a very reasoned hypothesis that it was possible to escape from this house. Moreover, in contrast to the unfounded alternative version, there is one significant fact. So, the general version is that there was an underground passage from the basement of Ipatiev’s house, which no one knew about, and which led to a factory located nearby. Evidence of this has already been provided in our days. Boris Yeltsin gave the order to demolish the house and build a church in its place. This was done, but one of the bulldozers fell into this same underground passage during the work. There is no other evidence of the possible escape of the royal family, but the fact itself is interesting. At the very least, it leaves room for thought.

Today, the house has been demolished, and the Temple on the Blood was erected in its place.

To sum it up

In 2008 Supreme Court Russian Federation recognized the family of Nicholas 2 as victims of repression. Case closed.

Moscow. July 17.. in Yekaterinburg, the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II and all members of his family were shot. Almost a hundred years later, the tragedy has been studied far and wide by Russian and foreign researchers. Below are the 10 most important facts about what happened in July 1917 in the Ipatiev House.

1. The Romanov family and their retinue were placed in Yekaterinburg on April 30, in the house of retired military engineer N.N. Ipatieva. Doctor E. S. Botkin, chamberlain A. E. Trupp, the Empress's maid A. S. Demidova, cook I. M. Kharitonov and cook Leonid Sednev lived in the house with the royal family. Everyone except the cook was killed along with the Romanovs.

2. In June 1917, Nicholas II received several letters allegedly from a White Russian officer. The anonymous author of the letters told the Tsar that supporters of the crown intended to kidnap the prisoners of the Ipatiev House and asked Nicholas to provide assistance - to draw plans of the rooms, inform the sleep schedule of family members, etc. The Tsar, however, in his response stated: “We do not want and cannot escape. We can only be abducted by force, just as we were brought from Tobolsk by force. Therefore, do not count on any of our active help,” thereby refusing to assist the “kidnappers,” but not giving up the very idea of being abducted.

It subsequently turned out that the letters were written by the Bolsheviks in order to test the royal family's readiness to escape. The author of the texts of the letters was P. Voikov.

3. Rumors about the murder of Nicholas II appeared back in June 1917 after the assassination of Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich. The official version of the disappearance of Mikhail Alexandrovich was an escape; at the same time, the tsar was allegedly killed by a Red Army soldier who broke into the Ipatiev house.

4. Exact text of the verdict, which the Bolsheviks brought out and read to the Tsar and his family, is unknown. At approximately 2 o'clock in the morning from July 16 to July 17, the guards woke up the doctor Botkin so that he would wake up the royal family, order them to get ready and go down to the basement. It took about different sources, from half an hour to an hour. After the Romanovs and their servants came down, security officer Yankel Yurovsky informed them that they would be killed.

According to various recollections, he said:

“Nikolai Alexandrovich, your relatives tried to save you, but they didn’t have to. And we are forced to shoot you ourselves.”(based on materials from investigator N. Sokolov)

“Nikolai Alexandrovich! The attempts of your like-minded people to save you were not crowned with success! And now, in a difficult time for the Soviet Republic ... - Yakov Mikhailovich raises his voice and chopping the air with his hand: - ... we have been entrusted with the mission of putting an end to the house of the Romanovs.”(according to the memoirs of M. Medvedev (Kudrin))

"Your friends are advancing on Yekaterinburg, and therefore you are sentenced to death"(according to the recollections of Yurovsky’s assistant G. Nikulin.)

Yurovsky himself later said that he did not remember the exact words he said. “...I immediately, as far as I remember, told Nikolai something like the following: that his royal relatives and friends both in the country and abroad tried to free him, and that the Council of Workers’ Deputies decided to shoot them.”

5. Emperor Nicholas, having heard the verdict, asked again:"Oh my God, what is this?" According to other sources, he only managed to say: “What?”

6. Three Latvians refused to carry out the sentence and left the basement shortly before the Romanovs went down there. The weapons of the refuseniks were distributed among those who remained. According to the recollections of the participants themselves, 8 people took part in the execution. “In fact, there were 8 of us performers: Yurovsky, Nikulin, Mikhail Medvedev, four Pavel Medvedev, five Petr Ermakov, but I’m not sure that Ivan Kabanov is six. And I don’t remember the names of two more,” G writes in his memoirs .Nikulin.

7. It is still unknown whether the execution of the royal family was sanctioned by the highest authority. According to the official version, the decision to “execute” was made by the executive committee of the Ural Regional Council, while the central Soviet leadership learned about what happened only after. By the beginning of the 90s. A version was formed according to which the Ural authorities could not make such a decision without a directive from the Kremlin and agreed to take responsibility for the unauthorized execution in order to provide the central government with a political alibi.

The fact that the Ural Regional Council was not a judicial or other body that had the authority to pass a sentence, execution of the Romanovs for a long time was not considered as political repression, but as a murder, which prevented the posthumous rehabilitation of the royal family.

8. After the execution, the bodies of the dead were taken out of town and burned, pre-watering with sulfuric acid to render the remains unrecognizable. The sanction for the release of large quantities of sulfuric acid was issued by the Commissioner of Supply of the Urals P. Voikov.

9. Information about the murder of the royal family became known to society several years later; initially Soviet power reported that only Nicholas II was killed, Alexander Fedorovna and her children were allegedly transported to a safe place in Perm. The truth about the fate of the entire royal family was reported in the article “The Last Days of the Last Tsar” by P. M. Bykov.

The Kremlin acknowledged the fact of the execution of all members of the royal family when the results of N. Sokolov’s investigation became known in the West in 1925.

10. The remains of five members of the imperial family and four of their servants were found in July 1991. not far from Yekaterinburg under the embankment of the Old Koptyakovskaya road. On July 17, 1998, the remains of members of the imperial family were buried in the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg. In July 2007, the remains of Tsarevich Alexei and Grand Duchess Maria were found.