Awareness of possible execution/Do you think they knew?

[stacey]

I think that both Olga and Alexei feared that they might be killed. With his usual fatalism, I think Nicholas too believed he might die, but I think he hoped that the rest of his family would be spared.

I think tho that they were also very much hoping to be rescued (as they nearly were). 

The one I am least sure about is Alexandra. I've read a lot about her, and while I sometimes find her exasperating  I also find her quite a sympathetic character. But she still is quite an enigma to me. It seems to me (and I could be wrong of course!!) that she tended to swing from optimism to pessimism--not just regarding their ultimate fate, but throughout her life. When feeling optimistic, I am sure she believed that God would send someone to rescue them, as she felt Rasputin could rescue Alexei from his hemophiliac crises. But when feeling pessimistic, I think she was resigned like her husband---she dreaded the worst.

On the whole tho I don't get the impression that they felt that night that they were literally being led to their deaths. They were just too calm, IMO.

[ImperialxTwilight]

I believe that Nicholas was probably sure he would be killed sooner or later, but nobody would have suspected the children would have been murdered.
They were probably all still hoping for rescue...for the entire family, of course, but especially for the children...

[LadyTudorRose]

I think Nicholas knew he would probably executed and at least thought it was possible the rest of the family might be killed as well. Alexandra had probably at least thought about the worst case scenario, but still thought it was likely they would be rescued. The children I'm sure, especially Olga, knew it was possible something might happen to their parents or possibly the whole family. But I doubt any of them really thought it was coming. Kids, even up through their late teens, unless they've been exposed to a lot of violence, tend to have this subconscious belief that they're "protected" and that no one would have any reason to harm them. It's a real phenomena that's been observed in crime victims. Consciously they know it's possible the worst will happen, but subconsciously they convince themselves they're going to be alright.

From what I've read when they were woken the morning of their deaths there was little to indicate any of them knew they'd be killed right then and there. I think the element of surprise was one of the things the killers banked on to make the whole thing go "smoothly".

[rosieposie]

I think Nicholas knew he would probably executed and at least thought it was possible the rest of the family might be killed as well. Alexandra had probably at least thought about the worst case scenario, but still thought it was likely they would be rescued. The children I'm sure, especially Olga, knew it was possible something might happen to their parents or possibly the whole family. But I doubt any of them really thought it was coming. Kids, even up through their late teens, unless they've been exposed to a lot of violence, tend to have this subconscious belief that they're "protected" and that no one would have any reason to harm them. It's a real phenomena that's been observed in crime victims. Consciously they know it's possible the worst will happen, but subconsciously they convince themselves they're going to be alright.

From what I've read when they were woken the morning of their deaths there was little to indicate any of them knew they'd be killed right then and there. I think the element of surprise was one of the things the killers banked on to make the whole thing go "smoothly".

Your forgetting that Olga and Tatiana witnessed the assination of Stolypin.   Also the Imperial Family knew that their lives were at high risk especially in their position.    Remember when Nicholas' father Alexander had a few assination attempts, even one where the whole family were on board one of the Imperial trains and the carriage next to them blew up, causeing their carriage to be smashed.  Luckly all those on their carriage came away with scratches nothing serious.
A 5 year old Olga A was recorded to have screamed "Oh my God they are trying to kill us!"   That was from a 5 year old baby.   
I think that Nicholas had a sense of Forboding when they got to the Ipatiev house,  I read somewhere that Nicholas had an ill feeling about the place.   
The IF knew their fate was going to end tragically they just had to wait for the time to come.   

[Romanov_fan]

I thought the incident on one of the Imperial trains- the one where Alexander III had to lift part of the train I think, was an accident.

[rosieposie]

I thought the incident on one of the Imperial trains- the one where Alexander III had to lift part of the train I think, was an accident.

On the doco about Olga A the narrator said it was an assination attempt not an accident.    It was saying even at 5 years old Olga A knew their family was at great risk.   

Also Nicholas remembered seeing his grandfather dying on his deathbed.  After his grandfather was bombed.

[Romanov_fan]

Which documentry?

[nena]

I didn't see a documentary, but I have heard for only doc. about Olga A. - 'The Last Grand Duchess' or something like that.

I have always though it was acident. But it might be assination atempt. Don't know for sure.

Well, I still think both Olga and Aleksei feraed what might be happen to them.

[Romanov_fan]

I had always read it was an accident, but certainly it was suspicious. Just curious what documentry it was- I'm not familiar with any documentries, though.

[rosieposie]

I didn't see a documentary, but I have heard for only doc. about Olga A. - 'The Last Grand Duchess' or something like that.

I have always though it was acident. But it might be assination atempt. Don't know for sure.

Well, I still think both Olga and Aleksei feraed what might be happen to them.

The Doco was "The Last Grand Duchess: The life and times of Olga Alexanorvena Romanov".  It was shown on ABC Australia, it's been on again recently.   I am sure it was an assination attempt, however it could have been drummed into her head that their family was suspectle to attacks from the outside world.   Even at a young age Olga A knew their family were always in danger.

[Alice]

I think that, for all of them, the uncertainty about their future would've been almost unbearable: hence the crying Grand Duchess, etc. But I agree with Lisa: I don't that that anyone thought that OTMAA would be harmed.

They probably didn't think that the guards in the house were capable of such an atrocity. The GD's especially had become quite friendly with some of them. Yurovsky even visited Aleksei and asked about his health, prior to the murders.

[GoldenPen]

Yes, I belive Olga knew even before the arrest.

Truly, GoldenPen

[Ally Kumari]

What do you mean BEFORE the arrest? In Tsarskoe Selo? By that time they all were hoping to go to Livadia and a little alter to England.

[GoldenPen]

Sort of, like right before the revolution were to take place. I think she had an understanding on what was happening around her and the people of her country. 

Truly, GoldenPen

[Ally Kumari]

She definitely saw things clearer then most people around her, but I don´t think even she saw what would come and to what end it would all lead.