The Empress Alexandra Fights Back

I have decided to start this new thread on Alexandra that I promised to do last summer.  Now that I have had to step away from the Rasputin trial because of new employment responsibilities, I have spent my time sorting the Empress' correspondence 1914-1917 to Nicky into ten or twelve themes.  I had initialy put together a long chronology of events for 1915-1916 for the trial, and one of my constant sources was the correspondence.  Once I was not able to continue with the trial, I decided to do an in depth study of the correspondence. 

Now, as I am just about finished with the year 1914 I thought I might share some of the themes and then open discussion on them.  The reason I have named my thread "The Empress Alexandra Fights Back" is because when you really study the Empress' letters in context a very different picture begins to emerge than the one that is so often mindlessly repeated about this very faithful, very patriotic, very dedicated, and most of all, this very intelligent woman. 

The other thing is that by just reading the Empress' written thoughts on these various themes one gains a far more unbiased picture of her attitudes and concerns.  Here are a few things I have learned during my study of her thoughts: (1) She does not lie, (2) She is forgiving, (3) She is compassionate, (4) She learns quickly, (5) She is very perceptive, (6) She struggled constantly with health issues, (7) She is brave, ( She has a beautiful Christian character, (9) She is intuitive, (10) She has tremendous empathy, (11) She values her husband, actually she venerates her husband, (12) She loves her children and is proud of her older daughter's independence, (13) She tries to constantly reach beyond her own limitations, (14) She would do anything for Russia, (15) She is a loyal friend, (16) She is a loving wife, (17) She has a ministry and mission amoung women and the sick, (18) She deeply values education, (19) She loves to learn, (20) She is honest to a fault, and (21) She is clealy the daughter of a soldier. 

I can already feel the dogs biting at my heels and perhaps it is unfair of me to mention twenty-one things I have already learned reading the Empress' correspondence.  I should possibly have waited to see if others would eventually share these impressions by reviewing the Empress' thoughts.  Hopefully, if this exercise does not broaden in general an appreciation of the Empress' mind and character, it will prove to be helpful in challenging some of the misconceptions about this remarkable individual and raise some interesting questions.   

Well anyway here is my plan.  I will take each theme for the entire year and post it and then we can comment on our impressions.  I have broken the themes into 31 or so topics: Ania, Anniversaries and Birthdays, Audiences, Church, Daughters, Dinners, Ducky, Ella, Fredericks, Her Health, Her trips, Their telegrams and letters, Letters from England, Letters from Germany, Lucheons, Marva, Nicky's trips, Olga (sister-in-law), Opinions, Concerns and Advise, Patriotism, Prayers & Blessing, Rasputin, Separation, Son's Health, Suffering and Humiliation over Germany, Teas, Weather, Xenia. 

I still have to sort through Winter 1914 but that should only take some small amount of time......Griff

Well...I actually found a person who thinks exactly like me about Empress Alexandra! Your conclusions are indeed excellent and I share every point of them.

I'm ready to discuss here, in this thread, for I think it is really interesting and very "against-all-that-was said about-Alix".

Congrats!

RealAnastasia.

[Ania]

Hey thank you so much Real Anastasia for those really encouraging remarks and you are spot on about the purpose of this new thread.  Well I finally completed the correspondence of the Empress Alexandra for 1914 and now have 43 themes.  I had to add German POW's, Spys, and a few other themes that suggested themselves to me after I had lumped them all into Patriotism and War.  

I suppose I could start with the themes Ania, or Rasputin, or Ella but I would rather start with Officer's and Friends .  In this way we don't start with either side of a debate, but we get to know the Empress in the first year of the war as a true daughter of a soldier. 

ALEXANDRA’S CORRESPONDENCE TO NICKY IN 1914
ARRANGED INTO THEMES

OFFICERS AND FRIENDS

No. 6. Tsarskoe Selo, 23th Sept. 1914 Rouzsky
How interesting it must all have been. - Rouzsky. for sure was deeply moved that you made him general adj.

No. 6. Tsarskoe Selo, 23th Sept. 1914 Kniaievich and Lancers
Schulenburg saw the lancers, their horses are completely done up, the backs sore to blood - hours in the saddle - & their legs quite weak. As the train stood near Vilna several of the officers Came & slept change about several hours on his bed, & they enjoyed this luxury of a train-bed even, & to find a real W. C. was exquisite joy to them, Kniaievitch did not want to come out any more he was so comfortable there! (this Sch's wife related to Ania).

No. 7. Tsarskoe Selo, 24-th Sept. 1914 Keller
What joy for Keller - he really has deserved his cross and now he has repayed us for everything, it was his ardent wish all these years. –

Letter No. 10. Tsarskoe Selo, Oct. 22-nd 1914 Keller
I enclose a telegram from Keller sent through Ivanov to Fredericks for me - an answer to mine probably of congratulations for his St. Georges Cross.

Letter No. 10. Tsarskoe Selo, Oct. 22-nd 1914 Lichatchev
What is our blacksea fleet doing? The wife of my former "Crimean" A Lichatchev wrote to Ania from Hotel Kist, that a shell had burst quite near on the place there. She pretends the German ship got one shot from us, but that he was not blown upby our mines, over which she went, because Eberh. had them (how does one say it? ausgeschaltet, I can't find the word, my brain is cretinised. Probably our squadron was intending to go out, she said they were heating the boilers when the shots flew - well, this is lady's talk, may or may not be true.

Letter No.11. Tsarskoe Selo, Oct. 23-rd 1914 Alexander Squadron
Thank God my Alexander squadron has turned up. I was so anxious about them.

Letter No.11. Tsarskoe Selo, Oct. 23-rd 1914 Endigarov and Crimeans
My sweetest Love,
Thank God for the good news that the Austrian army is in full retreat from the river San, and what good news in Turkey - Endigarov is wild with joy and my "Crimeans".

Letter No.11. Tsarskoe Selo, Oct. 23-rd 1914 Crimeans and Lancer Ellis
We worked all the morning and were very sad to bid goodbye to my 5 Crimeans, and lancer Ellis who are off with 3 others in a waggon with a nurse and 1 sanitary to Simferopol and KutchukLambat. –

Letter No. 13 Tsarskoe Selo October 25-th 1914 Gogoberidze
Gogoberidze the "Erivanetz" had just arrived. –

Letter No. 13 Tsarskoe Selo October 25-th 1914 Egor
Egor gave me news you had seen him. –

Letter No. 14. Tsarskoe Selo, Oct. 26-th 1914 Izmailov Officers
Then off to the Constantin School on the Fontanka. There 35 men some lzmailov officers.

[Letter No. 15 Tsarskoe Selo, Oct. 27-th 1914 Keller]

Letter No. 15 Tsarskoe Selo, Oct. 27-th 1914 Keller
We had a letter from Keller again. –

Letter No. 15 Tsarskoe Selo, Oct. 27-th 1914 Carlow and Orjevsky
Css. Carlow's second daughter Merica is engaged to a Chevalier C. Orjevsky, who is only 22 the mother is not contented.

Letter No. 15 Tsarskoe Selo, Oct. 27-th 1914 Eberhardt
What is Eberhardt doing?

Letter No. 15 Tsarskoe Selo, Oct. 27-th 1914 Alix’s Squadrons
My Becker wired from Varsovie telling about my squadrons 5 weeks amongst the enemy. They lost 1 officer & 23 men.

Letter No. 18. Tsarskoe Selo, Nov. 19-th 1914 Giants
Did you hear whether "Giants" are wounded, there are such rumors from town. –

Letter No. 18. Tsarskoe Selo, Nov. 19-th 1914 Mitschenko and Arseniev
How lucky one has taken Rennenkampf away before you came, I am glad may they only find a good one instead - it wont be Mistchenko by any chance? He is so loved by the troops and a clever head, is he not? - One says the blue curassiers are enchanted to have my Arseniev and well they may be. –

Letter No. 18. Tsarskoe Selo, Nov. 19-th 1914 Yagmin
Yagmin arrived ("Nizfiegorodsky" )

Letter No. 21. Tsarskoe Selo, Nov. 21-st 1914 Officer’s losses increasing
It is such anguish to think of our tremendous losses; several wounded officers, who left us a month ago, have returned again wounded. Would to God this hideous war could end quicker, but one sees no prospect of it for long. Of course the Austrians are furious being led by Prussians, who knows whether they wont be having stories still amongst each other. –

No. 25 Tsarskoe Selo, Nov. 26-th 1914 Ambrazantzev
But ah me, what heartrending losses, if one can believe what town says. Ambrazantzev is killed, Mme Knorring ('his great friend,' nee Heyden) got the news. One says terrible losses in the hussars, but I cannot trust to it being true.. But I have no right to fill your ears with "les on dit", I pray they may not be true.

Letter No. 27 Tsarskoe Selo, Nov. 28-th 1914 Nishegorodtzy, Navruzov and Yagmin
This morning both "Nishegorodtzy", Navruzov and Yagmin were operated - so we want to peep in this evening & see how they feel. They were mad with joy over your telegr. which they read in the papers - that you called them "incomparable" is the greatest recompense, as such a word was never used before.

Letter No. 29 Moscow, Dec. 12-th 1914 Groten
Lovy dear, why dont you nominate Groten for your hussars, they sorely are in need of a real commander.

Letter No. 30 Tsarskoe Selo, Dec. 14-th Tchakhov, Jedigarov and Malama
A. received 2 letters from Tchakhov, 2 from Jedigarov and Malama so touching all of them - I begged them always to give us news through A.

Letter No. 30 Tsarskoe Selo, Dec. 14-th Alrosimov
I shall see Alrosimov tomorrow he leaves back to the regiment which soon goes to the "Stavka", and longs to see its beloved "chef" (and family) there.

Letter No. 30 Tsarskoe Selo, Dec. 14-th Olga Evg.’s brother
 - I saw Olga Evg. she has quite broken down after her brothers death, the nerves have given way and phisically her strength fails her, wretched soul so she needs a month's good rest and hopes then to set to work again.

Letter No. 30 Tsarskoe Selo, Dec. 14-th Alexei Orlov
Can you find out whether it is true that little Alexei Orlov is wounded? It may be again gossip -, I do not know where the regiment is, and wh. one is at the General Quarter now.

Letter No. 31. Tsarskoe Selo, Dec. 15-th 1914 Butakov
And this morning Selenetzki let me know and then Kiryll wired from town, that our dear Butakov had been killed - it is too sad, that kind good man, loved by all. How wretched his little wife will be, she who is only one bit of nerves already. Another one of our yacht friends gone already, how many more will this terrible war yet claim! –

Letter No. 32. Tsarskoe Selo, Dec. 16-th 1914 Keller
 I enclose a letter of Keller - as it will interest you to see what he says - happily he seems not badly wounded.

Letter No. 33. Tsarskoe Selo, Dec. 17-th 1914 Butakov
The train with poor Butakov's body is 24 hours late, so the funeral can only be to-morrow morning.

[Officers and Friends]

Just a quick note to say that I did not realize that I had included a few entries that refer to injured officers in my Officers and Friends theme.  I thought that I had put all of the references to injured officers in my Hopspital Work theme, but apparently not. 

I also took a few of the entries about the Empress' anxious desire for news about the war out of my Patriotism and War theme as it seemed to give a context for her increasing concern over the number of casualties amoung officers and enlisted men as the war advanced toward December 1914. 

If anyone thinks that somehow the Empress was shielded from the horrors of WWI, they have never been a nurse.  I find that the Empress' emotional stamina was incredible as, like others working in hospitals during the war, she saw hideous injuries that had never before been inflicted on armys because of the advances in destructive war armaments.  At one point the Empress will even be shown the cruel Dumb-Dumb bullets used by the Germans.  I also wanted to add that the War is a complex period for the Empress and I have dealt with each element individually.  As I already mentioned, there are the themes, Patriotism and the War and Hospital Work; and in addition to these are the following themes, Suffering and Humiliation Over Germany; German POW's;  and Wartime Benefits and Fund Drives.   I think one can already see by the love and devotion of the Empress for her the men serving under her name, not to mention the number of officers she was personally concerned about, that Alexandra had an unqualified devotion for a complete Russian victory.   

Thank you for going to the trouble to make this list for us.

[Patriotism and War]

You are welcome Lemur.  This next post covers the theme of Patriotism and War. 

ALEXANDRA’S CORRESPONDENCE TO NICKY IN 1914
ARRANGED INTO THEMES

PATRIOTISM AND THE WAR

Letter No. 3. Tsarskoe Selo, Sept. 19-th 1914
…I know how deeply you have been suffering all this time - yr. restless sleep has been even a proof of it.  It was a topic I on purpose did not touch, knowing & perfectly well understanding your feelings, at the same time realising that it is better you are not out at the head of the army.

Letter No. 4. Tsarskoe Selo, Sept. 20-th 1914
I am not sure I like the Idea of Indian troops coming to fight in Europe, but they are picked regiments and when served in China and in Egypt kept perfect discipline so that those who ought to know best are confident they will behave perfectly well no leeting or massacring. The superior officers are all English. Ernies friend the Maharagah of Biskanir is coming with his own contingent - last time I saw him was as Ernie's guest at Wolfsgarten.

Letter No. 4. Tsarskoe Selo, Sept. 20-th 1914
It is distressing that the only passage into the Baltic for men-of-war, wh. is at all possible of being used, is through the Sound, wh. is not deep enough for battleships or big cruisers.

No. 5. Tsarskoe Selo, 21th Sept. 1914
God bless your presence there. Do so wonder, hope and trust that you will see the troops.

No. 6. Tsarskoe Selo, 23th Sept. 1914
Thank God the news continues being good & the Prussians retire. The mud hunted them away. Mekk writes that there are a good many cases of cholera & dissentry in Lvov but they are taking sanitary measures. - There have been difficult moments there, according to the papers; but I trust there wont be anything serious - one cannot trust those Poles --after all we are their enemies & the catholics must hate us. –

No. 6. Tsarskoe Selo, 23th Sept. 1914
What a recompense to the brave garrison of Ossowetz if you go there; - perhaps Grodno, if some troops are still resting there. –

No. 6. Tsarskoe Selo, 23th Sept. 1914
Have you spoken to Feodorov about the military students & Drs?

No. 7. Tsarskoe Selo, 24-th Sept. 1914
How deadtired the French and English troops must be, fighting without ceasing for 20 days or more. - And we have the big guns from Koenigsberg against us.

No. 7. Tsarskoe Selo, 24-th Sept. 1914
At Vilna there are many troops resting as the horses are so worn out, I hope you can see them,

No. 7. Tsarskoe Selo, 24-th Sept. 1914
I read such a pretty article out of an English paper - they praise our soldiers so much and say that their deep religiousness and veneration for their peace-loving monarch makes them fight so well and for a holy cause. –

No. 7. Tsarskoe Selo, 24-th Sept. 1914
With God's help here all will go well and end gloriously, and it has lifted up spirits, cleansed the many stagnant minds, brought unity in feelings and is a "healthy war" in the moral sense.

No. 7. Tsarskoe Selo, 24-th Sept. 1914
I am deeply disappointed for you that one advises you not to go to the fortress - it would have been a real recompense to those wonderfully brave men.

No. 7. Tsarskoe Selo, 24-th Sept. 1914
Only one thing I long that our troops should behave examplarily in every sense, and not rob and pillage - leave that horror to the Prussian troops. It is demoralising, and then one looses the real control over the men they fight for personal gain and not for the country's glory, when they reach the stage of high-way robbers. - No reason to follow bad examples - the rearguard, "obozy" are the curse in, this case all speak in despair of them, nobody to hold them in hand. - There, are always ugly sides and beautiful ones to everything, and so is. it here. Such a war. ought to cleanse the. spirits and not defile them, is it not so? Some regiments are very severe I know and try to keep order - but a word rd from above would do no harm, this is my very own idea, Darling; because I want the name of our russian troops to be remembered hereafter in the countries with awe and respect - and admiration. Here people do not ever quite grasp the idea that other peoples property is sacred, and not to be touched - victory does not mean pillage. Let the priests in the regiments say a word to the men too on this topic.
Now I am bothering you with things that do not concern me, but only out of love for your soldiers and their reputation.

Letter No. 9. Tsarskoe Selo, Oct. 21-st 1914
I long for news from the Black Sea God grant our fleet may have success, I suppose they give no news, so as the ennemy should not know their whereabouts by wireless telegraphy.

Letter No. 9. Tsarskoe Selo, Oct. 21-st 1914
'Your Rifles feel sad with you away. –

[Letter No. 10. Tsarskoe Selo, Oct. 22-nd 1914]

Letter No. 10. Tsarskoe Selo, Oct. 22-nd 1914
What good news! Sandomir ours again and masses of prisoners heavy guns and quickfiring ones - your journey has brought blessings and, good luck again. –

Letter No. 12. Tsarskoe Selo, Oct. 24-th 1914
I received a wire from the Governor thanking for the Images and gospels you had left there from me. –

Letter No. 13 Tsarskoe Selo October 25-th 1914
it was surely pleasant seeing your dear hussars, and the G. a Cheval in Reval. –

Letter No. 13 Tsarskoe Selo October 25-th 1914
Thank God all goes so well in Turky - would that our fleet could have success. –

Letter No. 14. Tsarskoe Selo, Oct. 26-th 1914
do so wonder, whether you can get for a peep to Lublin or anywhere else to see some troops.

Letter No. 15 Tsarskoe Selo, Oct. 27-th 1914
All over the world losses ! Well, some good must come out of it, & they wont all have shed their blood in vain. Life is difficult to understand - "It must be so - have patience", thats all one can say. - One does so long for quiet, happy times again ! But we shall have long to wait before regaining peace in every way.

Letter No. 18. Tsarskoe Selo, Nov. 19-th 1914
I get no news - in town one says it was bad yesterday - in the papers lots are white, not printed; - probably we retreated near Sukhatchev. Some of these wounded had been taken by the Germans and then ours got them after 4 days back again.

Letter No. 21. Tsarskoe Selo, Nov. 21-st 1914
Still no news of the war through fat Orlov since you left.

Letter No. 23 Tsarskoe Selo, Nov. 24th 1914
Yes, its a strong enemy we have facing us and a stubborn one. –

No. 25 Tsarskoe Selo, Nov. 26-th 1914
My very own precious One. I congratulate you with the St. George's feast - what a quantity of new cavaliers heroes we have now.

No. 25 Tsarskoe Selo, Nov. 26-th 1914
Well, we all knew that such a war would be the bloodiest and most awful one ever known, and so it has turned out to be the case, and one yearns over the heroic victims martyrs for their cause ! –

Letter No. 30 Tsarskoe Selo, Dec. 14-th
One says the sisters (ladies) in the "otriad" of Sandra have received medals on St. Georges ribbons, as were working under fire, taking out the wounded, I think. –

Letter No. 30 Tsarskoe Selo, Dec. 14-th
- Wont you ask Shavelsky to send out the Priest in the regiments more Saint Sacrements and wine, so as that more can take Holy Communion - I send what I can with our store trains, - Ella too. - -

Letter No. 30 Tsarskoe Selo, Dec. 14-th
Where are all the sailors now united? –

Letter No. 30 Tsarskoe Selo, Dec. 14-th
Loman found no wounded there, [Varshau] so has gone to look for them else where. Doe;s that mean all is quiter these days (their Xmas and we like Christians don't profit) and therefore less losses?

Letter No. 31. Tsarskoe Selo, Dec. 15-th 1914
My beloved Darling,
Fredericks let me know that you are only returning on Friday as are going to see the troops - I am delighted for you and them, a great consolation for you all and will give them new strength.

Letter No. 32. Tsarskoe Selo, Dec. 16-th 1914
Long for news of the war so anxious. -

Letter No. 33. Tsarskoe Selo, Dec. 17-th 1914
Now you are with the troops a joy for you and them - tho' painful to see are masses of known faces missing.

Letter No. 33. Tsarskoe Selo, Dec. 17-th 1914
Thoughts so much with you - what joy to see the dear brave troops. –

Letter No. 33. Tsarskoe Selo, Dec. 17-th 1914
The papers say we took German quickfiring guns at -- it does indeed seem strange!

[Patriotism and War]

It found it very interesting that the Empress' first entry in this theme, Patriotism and War, was her comforting her husband's restlessness over not taking over the Supreme Command and in spite of her witnessing first hand, Nicky's sleepless nights, she she feels it is best that he does not take on the responsibilities of the Supreme Command in 1914.  In 1914 the Empress appears to have no problem with Nikolasha as Commander and Chief as the theme Nikolasha, I believe will make clear when I post it.  The other thing that stands out so clearly to me is the Empress' wonderful Christian character in her letter No. 4. Tsarskoe Selo, Sept. 20-th 1914 about her concerns for the brutality of the Indian troops and especially in her letter No. 7. Tsarskoe Selo, 24-th Sept. 1914 when she pleads that common humanity be maintained by the Russian troops. 

I think that it is difficult for us some 90 years later to understand the dedication to the teachings of Christ Jesus that Chrisitian monarchs such as Nicholas and Alix (and especially Alix's grandmother, Queen Victoria) adhered to in their desire to rule justly.  They saw themselves as upholding a standard in an enlightened age.  WWI would eventually erase any trace of Christian Idealism.  WWI destroyed the centuries of Christian reform of War that had already begun to break down in the Crimean War and American Civil War when civilians lost their non-combatant status at Bull-Run and at the Charge of the Light Brigade.  By WWI all civilians, not just battle field observers had lost their non-combatant status and were slaughtered without thought.  500 years of Christian reform vanished overnight by December 1914.

I read that during her wedding and corrination that the Russian court made fun of her because she was German and said something like this "la femme habite en la chaussure" a woman who lived in a shoe Alix had got angry. They were also picking on her because she did not know how to speak french at the time very well but parcially Nicholas had helped her read novels in french and write in french and they were sending letters in correspondence Nicholas corrected Alix's spelling errors in French.

But I think that Alix wanted to fight back because she was sick of the peasants critizing about her because she was german and blaming her and Anya for being both spies for Germany and accusing her of controlling and using Nicholas as a pawn to get what she wanted. They said that she was trying to dominate Russia and Nicholas.

[…I know how deeply you have been suffering all this time - yr. restless sleep has been even a proof of it. It was a topic I on purpose did not touch, knowing & perfectly well understanding your feelings, at the same time realising that it is better you are not out at the head of the army.]

That is really interesting Elizabeth-Princess.  I did not know that Nicky tutored Alix in French.  Thank you for sharing that information.  And yes that entire fantasy about Aliz and Ania being German spies was such a cruel trick to try and remove Alix.  One of the typical arguments was that Aliz encouraged Nicky to take on the Supreme Command so that she could rule as a tool of Rasputin.  But that argument falls apart with  her letter No. 3. Tsarskoe Selo, Sept. 19-th 1914
…I know how deeply you have been suffering all this time - yr. restless sleep has been even a proof of it.  It was a topic I on purpose did not touch, knowing & perfectly well understanding your feelings, at the same time realising that it is better you are not out at the head of the army.

This proves that an entire year before Nicky took over as Head of the Army in Sept 1915 that he, not his wife, was already wanting to do this.  Moreover, it was his wife in Sept. 1914 that was infulencing him not to take such a step.  Nicky's desire to take over the High Command grew in intensity as the army faced defeat and started to retreat in 1915 and the Empress must have witnessed Nicky's growing sense of urgency to stand with his men in this crisis.  I believe that when Alix finally supports her husband's desire to take Command in Sept. 1915, that she is not expressing her desire so much as giving Nicky the moral support and the strength to act on his convictions.   

Next I will share the theme, Suffering and Humiliation Over Germany as this theme covers the complex emotions that Aliz experienced in terms of Germany and her family one hand and the Kaiser and Prussian atrocities on the other hand.   

[ALEXANDRA’S CORRESPONDENCE 1914-1917ARRANGED INTO THEMESSUFFERING AND HUMILIATION OVER GERMANY]

ALEXANDRA’S CORRESPONDENCE 1914-1917
ARRANGED INTO THEMES

SUFFERING AND HUMILIATION OVER GERMANY

Letter No. 3. Tsarskoe Selo, Sept. 19-th 1914
Except all I go through with you & our beloved country & men I suffer for my "small old home" & her troops & Ernie & Irene & many a friend in sorrow there - but how many go through the same. And then the shame, the humiliation to think that Germans should behave as they do –

Letter No. 4. Tsarskoe Selo, Sept. 20-th 1914
In the North Sea the Germans have strewn mines far out all over the place recklessly endangering neutral trading ships and now that the first strong autumn winds are blowing, they will drift (for they are not anchored) on the Dutch and Norwegien and Danish shores (some round the German, one must hope)

No. 7. Tsarskoe Selo, 24-th Sept. 1914
This miserable war, when will it ever end. William, I feel sure must at times pass through hideous moments of despair, when he grasps that it was he, and especially his antirussian set, wh. began the war and is dragging his country into ruin. All those little states, for years they will continue suffering from the after effects. It makes my heart bleed when I think how hard Papa and Ernie struggled, to bring our little country to its present state of prosperity in every sense.

No. 7. Tsarskoe Selo, 24-th Sept. 1914
How utterly shameful that the Germans have shut the little Grandduchess of Luxemburg in a castle near Nuremberg, - such an insult! –

Letter No. 10. Tsarskoe Selo, Oct. 22-nd 1914
How vile one having thrown bombs from aeroplanes on to King Albert's Villa in which he just now lives - thank God no harm was done but I have never known one trying to kill a sovereign because he is ones enemy during the war! -

Letter No. 15 Tsarskoe Selo, Oct. 27-th 1914
They have been bombarding Poti.
Oh this miserable war! At moments one cannot hear it any more, the misery & bloodshed break one's heart; faith, hope & trust in God's infinite justice & mercy keep one up. - In France things go very slowly - but when I hear of success & that the Germans have great losses, I get such pang in the heart, thinking of Ernie & his troops & the many known names.

Letter No. 15 Tsarskoe Selo, Oct. 27-th 1914
I saw in the papers that Greek Georgie & wife have left for Greece from Copenhagen via Germany, France & Italy - I am astonished one has let them through.

[ALEXANDRA’S CORRESPONDENCE TO NICKY IN 1914ARRANGED INTO THEMESNIKOLASHA, [Grand Duke Nicholas, Commander and Chief of the Russian Armed Forces]]

Here is the theme Nikolasha as promised earlier.  I do need to post the theme Hospital work so that we can gain a real sense of the magnitude of the Empress's labor to constantly improve the conditions of care for the injured soldiers and her desire to alleviate suffering.  Even in the following theme, Nikolasha, the Empress’ concerns for improving the convalescence of the officers is apparent. 

It is also interesting that even though the Empress repeats Rasputin's distrust of Nikolasha she does not make any statement herself and in this excerpt from letter no. 4 the Empress even finds Rasputin's concerns foolish and has Ania quiet him.  It is especially interesting to view Rasputin from the letters of the Empress as such a different picture emerges from the one that police reports reveal.  But as I said before I am waiting to post the more controversial themes until after we get a sense of the Empress and her active participation in the war effort through her Hospitals and Sanitary trains.   

ALEXANDRA’S CORRESPONDENCE TO NICKY IN 1914
ARRANGED INTO THEMES

NIKOLASHA, [Grand Duke Nicholas, Commander and Chief of the Russian Armed Forces]

Letter No. 4. Tsarskoe Selo, Sept. 20-th 1914
He [Rasputin] always fears Bonheur, that is to say, the crows want him to get the P. throne or in Galicia that that is there aim but I said she [Ania] should quieten him, even out of thanks you would never risk such a thing. Gr. loves you jealously and cant hear N. playing a part. –

Letter No. 10. Tsarskoe Selo, Oct. 22-nd 1914
Well, I went to see my supplytrain No. 4 with Mekk - they leave to-night for Radom I think and from there Mekk will go to see Nikolasha, as he must ask him some questions.

Letter No. 13 Tsarskoe Selo October 25-th 1914
Paul came to tea. He longs to go to the war, and so I am writing this to you with his knowledge, so as for you to think it over before you meet him again. All along he hoped you would take, but now he sees there is little chance, and to remain at home doing nothing drives him to exasperation. He would not like to go toRussky's staff as would be inconvenient, but if he might begin by going out to his former comrade Bezobrazov he would be delighted. Wont you speak this question over with Nikolasha?

Letter No. 16 Tsarskoe Selo, Nov.17th 1914
Its good you can have a thorough talk with N. & tell him your opinion of some people & give him some ideas.

Letter No. 23 Tsarskoe Selo, Nov. 24th 1914
…I don't listen to the gossip of town which makes one otherwise quite nervous, but only believe what Nikolasha lets know.

Letter No. 29 Moscow, Dec. 12-th 1914
I want to remind you to speak to Nikolasha about alowing officers to go on leave home to be treated and not to have them kept in towns, where by chance the sanitary train has brought them, - They will recover far quicker if can be near their families and some must finish their cures in the south to get their strength back, especially those wounded through the chest. –

Letter No. 30 Tsarskoe Selo, Dec. 14-th  
Won't you speak about Kirill to Nikolasha? and then tell your Mama; it wld. really be good to settle all, and now during the war its easiest being done. –

Your welcome Griff Rasputin gave advice to Alexandra and wanted her to give it to Nicholas. Many accuse her of sleeping in the same bed with Rasputin. Many believed he was fake holy man so do I but Alix trusted him too much and let him take advantage of her. Notice he was only concerned about taking over Russia he wanted to get rid of Nicholas so he use Alix as a pawn to try to get what he wanted like got her to tell him how to rule the country.

 This is just plain sad people are just using people as pawns to get what ever they wanted. But many warned Alix that Rasputin is not a holy man and he only wants to rule Russia and get rid of Nicholas Ella tried to warn her but she refused to listen. She believed that Rasputin was a man of god and would never do such things. Many wondered why do Alix like Rasputin so much was was the importance? they kept the secret about Alexei's hemoplillia.They believed that Rasputin was the only one that could heel their son. Thats why they wanted the girls to keep it a secret so they did for the rest of their lives.

Remember that the time I am refering to is between 1916-1917 that this happened possibly.

[Hospital work]

Elizabeth-Princess those are all really good points and as you say the refer to those bewilderingly complex years of 1916-1917.  I think it will be clear why the Empress believed in Rasputin when I post the Rasputin theme for 1914, but before I do that I want to complete a picture of the Empress' compassion and courage and plain hard work with the theme Hospital work.  There are a few other themes that will complete the picture of the Empress' total involvement in the war effort.  Then we can go on to Rasputin, Ania V, Ella, Alix's daughters, Alexis, the Romanoff family, etc.   

I think that it is important to include a word about the Empress' involvement in War Relief inorder to give a fuller sense of her involvement in the war.  Duma member, Paul Gronsky tells us:

"By this time the [mid August 1914] Government itself decided to establish certain central institutions to care for the needs of public welfare, under the presidency of members of the Imperial Family.  On 11th August 1914 there was formed, by Imperial ukase, the Supreme Council for the Care of Soldiers' Families, and of Families of the Wounded and Dead.  At the head of this Council, in the capacity of president, was placed the Empress Alexandra, who was assisted by her sister, the Grand Duchess Elizabeth, and the eldest daughter of the Emperor, the Grand Duchess Olga, as vice-presidents.

The membership of this Council included a number of the highest officials, the Ministers of Interior, Finance, Transport, and Argiculture, the President of the Red Cross and the Chief Commissioner of the All-Russian Union of Zemstvos.  Besides these members, the Council included also the Presidents of the Duma and the State Council, as well as two member of the Duma and of the Council...A singular feature of the membership of this institution was that the representatives of the State Council and Duma were appointed by the Empress.  Moreover, the Empress was free to invite whomever she pleased to be a member of the Council, and to bring up for discussion any question she chose." [ref: Gronsky, "The War And The Russian Government," pp. 29-30.]

I will post Gronsky's information about Tatiana's Committee when I post the theme Her Daughters.

ALEXANDRA’S CORRESPONDENCE TO NICKY IN 1914
ARRANGED INTO THEMES

HOSPITAL WORK

Letter No. 3. Tsarskoe Selo, Sept. 19-th 1914
Looking after wounded is my consolation & that is why the last morning I even wanted to go there, whilst you were receiving, so as to keep my spirits up & not break down before you. To lessen their suffering even in a small way, helps the aching heart.

No. 5. Tsarskoe Selo, 21th Sept. 1914
and then off to the train - not very many wounded. Two officers of one regiment and rota died on the journey and one soldier. Their lungs are much attacked after the rain and having gone through the Nieman in the water - no acquaintances army regiments - one soldier remembered seeing us at Moscou this summer at the Khodynka. Paretzky got worse from his ill heart and overstrain, looks very bad, sunken in face, staring eyes, grey beard, painful impression poor dear - not wounded. –

No. 5. Tsarskoe Selo, 21th Sept. 1914
At 3 went to our little hospital to put on our chalat and off to the big hospital, where we worked hard…

No. 5. Tsarskoe Selo, 21th Sept. 1914
Then back to the little hospital, where children were working and I did 3 new officers - them showed Karangosov and Zhdanov how to really play domino.

No. 6. Tsarskoe Selo, 23th Sept. 1914
Then we fetched the Pss. G. at Anias.

No. 6. Tsarskoe Selo, 23th Sept. 1914
We worked from 10-1, as there was an operation wh. lasted long.

No. 7. Tsarskoe Selo, 24-th Sept. 1914
We only went at 11 to the hospital, fetched the Pss. at Anias. We assisted at 2 operations - she did them sitting, so as that I could give her the instruments sitting too. The one man was too amusing when he came to himself again in bed - he began singing away at the top of his voice and very well, and conducting with his hand, upon wh. I concluded he was a "Zapievalo" - and so he was most cheery and said he hoped he had not used rude language - he wishes to be a hero and soon go back again to the war as soon as his foot heals up again. - The other one smiled mischivously and said: "I was far, far away, I walked and walked, - It was nice over there. Almighty God, we were all together you don't know where I have been!" and thanking God and praising him - he must have seen wonderful sights whilst one was extricating the ball out of his shoulder. She did not let me bind up anyone, so as to keep quiet, as felt my head and heart.