Discussions about Russian History > Imperial Russian History

Khodynka Disaster

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Jmentanko:
   Who is really responsible for the disaster at Khodynka field. Is it Serge? Or was he just a scapegoat. Was it insensitive of Nicholas to dance at a ball when so many of his subjects had just died? In the end, was it a better move to appease the French Ambassador or his own people?

Sarai_Porretta:
I have read that Nicholas and Alexandra truly did not feel like going to that ball, but they felt pressured to attend by Nicholas's uncles, who convinced him to go for diplomatic reasons, as the ball had already been arranged and for them not to show up would have been seen as a slight to the French Ambassador. Of course, the Russian people saw this move as a slight to themselves, and perceived their sovereigns as being insensitive people who were dancing the night away at a fabulous ball while their subjects grieved over this terrible disaster. But they seemed to forget that the Imperial couple spent that day visiting the injured in hospitals and were said to have danced at the ball with red eyes due to their sorrow; they were deeply shocked and moved by this disaster.

Personally, I think it would have been better if they had not have gone, thus showing their support for their people at a difficult time and mourning with them. I would think that the French Ambassador would have understood what a delicate situation this was and he should not have felt personally insulted. But even if he did, then it still may have been worth offending him and gaining the love and support of the Russian people, who were the ones whose opinion really mattered in the end. At the time, I suppose it seemed a better idea to appease the diplomats, but this whole incident did not look good in the eyes of the common people and it was just one more thing for them to resent the Tsar for.  People already saw so many bad omens early on in their reign, from Alexandra arriving behind her father-in-law's coffin to the Khodynka disaster and then this whole affair with the ball. They just started adding up strikes against them, and I think if they would not have gone to this ball, it would have been just one less strike.

Yet I can't blame the Imperial couple for going, as they were brand new sovereigns without much experience in diplomatic matters and relied on the advice of their relatives, which in this case just happened to probably have been bad advice. They felt pressured both ways and just happened to decide in favor of diplomacy rather than sensitivity, and I suppose they were haunted by this decision when all was said and done. But as they say, "hindsight is 20/20."

Belochka:
It is well known that Colonel A. Vlasovsky who was the chief of the Moscow Police was dissmissed because of this incident. By virtue of his position he was blamed for not anticipating the crowd numbers, by not providing enough police at the site. Those police who attended were unable to control the unexpected masses who turned up at the Khodynka field ... some half million citizens. It was the surge which resulted in many thousands moving forward which caused the tragedy.  

In this case perhaps it could be suggested that it was the mentality of the crowd itself which itself caused the disaster. Their prime concern was to ensure they received the free gifts along with the free distribution of food and beer. Those not positioned near the tables grew restless and feared that they would miss out.

Another factor to be considered was the topography of the land itself, which was pitted with ravines from past battles. These structures facilitated the demise of those who fell underneath as the crowd pulled forwards.

It seems that all these possible contingencies were not considered by the organizers. The resultant events were not foreseeable by anyone.

Grand Duchess Olga is correct to state that no-one was really to blame ...

The Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna and Sandro (Xenia's husband) and many others were only to pleased to blame Serge in his capacity as the Governor of Moscow. There were many backgound machinations going on. It was easy to direct blame towards those individuals where one beared some animosity.

The historian Lieven believes the fault lay with The Ministry of the Court under Count  I. I. Vorontsov-Dashkov. It was this body who were responsible for arranging the Coronation celebrations.

If blame must be placed, then perhaps it is this Authority where one could start pointing the finger on that fateful day in May.

Following the internal investigation by Count Pahlen neither Serge nor Vorontsov-Dashkov were placed at fault.

Protocol dictated that the new Tsar must attend the ball given by the French Ambassador. Russia had a newly signed Alliance with this country. We could argue that the Tsar was given the wrong advice by his advisers.  The new Tsar and Tsarina were forced to attend the French function despite their own personal feelings and obvious distress.

Grand Duchess Olga continued her memoirs about this disaster by concluding that to blame their own kin effectively implied that it incriminated all of the family.

Effectively the Romanovs considered that they ruled by divine right and were thus beyond earthly blame.

IMHO it is unreasonable to suggest that Nicholas was cold and uncaring regarding this incident. He reluctantly accepted the advice that it was more prudent to continue his Imperial duties ... it was his duty as the Tsar and not as an ordinary man to appease the French Government.

To make amends the Tsar and Tsarina visited the wounded in hospitals and personally funded all the families of those affected. These kind acts are not those of an uncaring insensitive Emperor. Sadly, his enemies and critics chose to ignore these facts while prefering to emphasize the more dramatic painful events for their own purposes.

     

Janet Whitcomb:
Belochka, you've given as good an account re: the responsibility for the Khodynka tragedy as any I've ever read . . . and I've read quite a few!

Crowd control is always an issue, and everytime I read of a similar disaster--at a stadium, a concert, a club, whatever--I am reminded of what happened at Khodynka Field. I spent much of my childhood/adolescent years at Disneyland, and it was  apparent--if you looked for it--that security personnel were everywhere you went, always watching watching watching, and constantly communicating with each other via radio transmitters.

Alas for the many cornonation festivity attendees, plus those who tried to supervise, there was no such way to communicate and avert disaster.

By the way, as I understand it, the field is now the site of Moscow's airport?!

Belochka:
Thanks Janet.

I was unaware that Sheremetyevo Airport was located on the Khodynka site. Something to contemplate on the next visit.

:o

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