Messages

1

The Russian Revolution / Re: World War I - Reassessing the Blame

« on: October 13, 2013, 09:37:25 AM »

Difficult to say who is to blame. If the murder in Serajevo didn't take place, what would have ignited it? The political system of alliances survived more political crises. With no Serajevo murder, the system could have survived.

Russia was weakened after the war with Japan and the 05 revolution. Therefore they backed out in hard times. After 1913 or so, they felt stronger again and put up the pressure. As a result of which was the unnecessary mobilization of july 1914. This cooked up the political system of alliances. Germany felt encircled by Russia, France and England. Therefore they made a pre-emptive strike.

2

The Russian Revolution / Re: What Could Nicholas II Have Done to Preserve the Imperial Throne?

« on: January 01, 2012, 05:52:38 AM »

Same question would be: How could Wilhelm have preserved the throne or Franz Joseph. Only answer relevant: prevent WWI from happening.

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Books about the Romanovs and Imperial Russia / New book on Alexander III?

« on: December 18, 2011, 08:43:48 AM »

Some time ago it was mentioned that a new book in English on Alexander III would come out in 2011.

Is there any news on this?

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Alexandra Feodorovna / Re: Whereabouts on 3 June 1916

« on: June 26, 2011, 12:30:16 PM »

But, no mention of a meeting with General Brusilov.....

5

Books about the Romanovs and Imperial Russia / Re: Tales of Imperial Russia by Francis W. Wcislo

« on: June 26, 2011, 06:06:54 AM »

Petr,

I absolutely agree with you. On this forum Witte was even depicted as an enemy of the royal family. But if there was only one strong supporter of autocracy, it was Witte. I recall from his memories that he proudly remembers how he was on a visit in France, he was complemented with the building of the Trans Siberian railway and that such a vast undertaking would have been imposslble in a democracy as France because it would take years before the decisionmaking would have been completed. The proudness in this remark proves that Witte was a true supporter of autocracy.

And indeed: if AIII only lived longer.....

6

The Russian Revolution / Re: When Revolution started?

« on: March 22, 2011, 02:05:04 PM »

Rush Limbaugh is a complete moron, and a cynical moron at that, which is an unusual combination to say the least. Trust me, he doesn't believe a word he says. But he says it because like Ann Coulter he knows he'll get high ratings for being totally unfair and outrageous. The more unfair and outrageous the better.

Marx stood not only for apocalyptic class warfare (in some interpretations) but also simply for social justice (in others). I'm sick and tired of this very American attitude that everything socialist is necessarily bad for you. Look at Scandinavia, look at Germany, even look at France and Great Britain. For that matter, look to your own shores. Without Marxism there would probably be no social safety net for anybody but the very rich, anywhere in the world.

Nice post, and very much to the point. Westerners often overlook the massive benefit Commuism delivered to THEM in holding capitalism in check. Without the fear of western nations in turn "going Bolshie" if they didn't it is highly unlikely that any capitalist nation would ever have acceeded to the creation of a welfare state.

I am afraid that it seems to me that there is something of an idiotic "we won" attitude at large in the west since the fall of communism, which is starting to produce some nasty effects in terms of the way that governments - and their sponsors - behave. This is very noticeable in Britain and the U.S., but also in Sarkozy's France to a degree. As an agnostic, I don't want to live in a country enslaved to the infallibility of the Market any more than I want to live under Stalin. :-)

Janet and Elisabeth, I completely agree with you. Btw this goes for the Netherlands as well.

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Imperial Russian History / Re: World War I

« on: January 16, 2011, 06:50:17 AM »

A website with much info on WWI

http://www.vlib.us/wwi/resources/

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Marie Feodorovna / Re: Marie Feodorovna -  Your Opinion

« on: January 04, 2011, 01:21:05 PM »

I have recently read "Little mother of Russia" and what comes to mind is: How could anyone survive so much personal drama!! Losing so many loved ones. Today it would destroy everybody. But in those times I guess people were much tougher.

Concerning the battle of jealousy between Dagmar and Alix: I think both women were doing the other unjust. It would have helped them both if they took the time to step back a little while and they could have realized that in fact they have exactly the same goals: preserving the dynasty. Both on their own way.

9

Nicholas II / Re: Nicholas II & Matilda Kschessinska - her love affairs with his cousins

« on: December 25, 2010, 06:35:59 AM »

In the era we are talking about it was normal way of things that royals would marry out of convenience and not out of love. the marriage of Alexander III and Dagmar was at first also a marriage of convenience. The laison of Dagmar with Nixa was too, but it became a real love affair. After his death, the marriage with Alexander III was at first a marriage of convenience and it grew into mutual love and understanding.

It means something that Nicholas broke with that tradition.

He wanted to marry Alix one way or another, or else not marry at all. Many people see this as romantic etc. but it was also very stubborn and not wise in dynastic way of things. He should have understood that for him, marring was not for fun but simply his duty as future Tsar. Indeed it was very stubborn from him to refuse his parents wishes.

This maybe a sign that the times were changing, breaking with the old disciplined way of upbringing.

Strange that so many people who see his choice for Alix as him, following his heart and this being a strong character of him, while they condemn him for, with he same strenght of heart, later stubbornly refusing all kind of liberal reforms when the people of Russia needed this, and passionately holding on to autocracy.

So the medal has two sides, as usual.

BTW Merry christmas everybody!

10

Marie Feodorovna / Re: Books on Empress Marie

« on: December 07, 2010, 04:27:45 PM »

I know some of you had been talking about the "Little Mother of Russia" book and how it was out of print and expense when found, but I found it on Amazon for only 12 bucks! http://www.amazon.com/Little-Mother-Russia-Biography-Fedorovna/dp/0841914214
Just thought I'd let everyone know.

Thank you. I just bought it.

11

Rulers Prior to Nicholas II / Re: Alexander III

« on: December 06, 2010, 05:15:34 PM »

Charles Lowe's book ALEXANDER III OF RUSSIA, which was first published in 1895,  gives us a lengthly character study of the Emp. and Tsar Alex. III:
>>The personality of late Tsar, in spite of his simplicity in some things, was a most perplexing one.  Some one aptly described him as a "psychological enigma."  He was a large but by no means a luminous figure on the canvas of time, and it was hard to say which of his ancestors he most resembled. Perhaps it would be near the truth to say that he was a kind of "Frankenstein monster," compounded of fragments of the characters of some of his predecessors on the throne of the Romanoffs.  In his prime he enjoyed the physical strength of the Great Peter without Peter's tremendous energy; and his physical courage was never of the highest. There were some taints in his mental composition which reminded on of his great-grandfather Paul, who was deposed and strangled as a kind of a dangerous lunatic; nor was he all together without a taint of the dreamy idealism which distinguished his grand-uncle, Alexander Il, of who Madame de Stael said his "character was a constitution to his subjects." Again, he had much in common which his grandfather, the despotic and reactionary Nicholas; while on the other hand, his tendencies at one time betrayed the benevolent and reforming spirit of his father the "Tsar Emancipator."<<

Agree, if so,  why?

Disagree, if so, why?

I couldn't resist to react.
In part I agree. But the language used by this writer has an obvious superior tone and sounds very denigrating. He has some political interest in making a caricature of the Tsar. That is why I don't want to read that book. It would only annoy me.

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Rulers Prior to Nicholas II / Re: Auction±Alexander III

« on: December 06, 2010, 05:03:33 PM »

Interesting auction!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11913509

To me this is the news of the year!! Wonderful.

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Imperial Russian History / Re: World War I

« on: November 27, 2010, 10:42:00 AM »

With time I believe it will rank with the Black Plague (if it doesn't already) as one of the seminal catastrophes in European History

You got that right.  Europe, and in fact, the world, is still reaping the bitter harvest of the seeds the First World War and its aftermath planted.

... its aftermath was just a prolonged prelude to WWII

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Imperial Russian History / Re: Signs of war in the Pre WW1 period

« on: November 13, 2010, 03:32:50 PM »

The Balkans seem to be number one reason for the European tensions. As 3 of the biggest nations wanted to grow their influence in the Balkan States. (Russia, Austria and Germany)

Also the increasing agressive politics of England against Germany to protect their Empire were a reason for increasing tensions. They worked actively - but also secretly - on making alliances with France and Russia. This all increased the antagonism between nations.

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Imperial Russian History / Re: Signs of war in the Pre WW1 period

« on: November 13, 2010, 11:28:52 AM »

Here you can find much info on signs of the War

http://net.lib.byu.edu/estu/wwi/1914m/gooch/firstpps.htm