Olga's pistol

[Janet Whitcomb]

It has been mentioned on this website that "Olga carried a concealed revolver on her within the Alexander Palace and later in Tolbolsk. Captain Koblinsky had to plead with her to give it up before they were transferred to Yekaterinburg."  What is the original source of this information?

[BobAtchison]

I have that in the site.

I'll look up my original source.  Koblinsky had to plead with Olga to give it up.  Nicholas gave it to her at some point.

Bob

[David Newell]

I have read that some where too. I'm sure it was in Tobolsk that she gave it up.

[jackie3]

I wonder if Olga knew how to shoot it. She was reputed to be a good horsewoman, anyone have any idea of her marksmanship? And if she was given the gun by Nicky or someone else was it because she asked for it or did all the children get one of their own?

I wish she had been allowed to keep it. And put it to some good use in the "House of Special Purpose".

[Janet Whitcomb]

Precisely, Jackie. I have to wonder how Olga acquired it and how (or if) she had learned how to use it.  And also, what "chutzpah" she had to hold on to it for so long! I can't picture the seven Romanovs and their retainers "shooting it out" in the manner of the O.K. Corral, but everyone I've mentioned this matter to has said, "Too bad she didn't get to keep and use it."

Her father, with his fatalistic passivity, would be the last person to recommend taking action against their captors. I have to think that Olga had an inkling of what was coming and somehow, perhaps early on during their initial captivity, managed to secret the gun away.  Brave woman! With her courage, sensitivity, humor and compassion, she would have made an excellent Tsarina, or at the very least served as an invaluable assistant to her brother.

[jackie3]

Brave woman! With her courage, sensitivity, humor and compassion, she would have made an excellent Tsarina, or at the very least served as an invaluable assistant to her brother.

I totally agree. I've said on the "Imperial Succession" board that I truly believe if there had been no WWI and the monarchy had not fallen then Olga would have replaced GD Michael as Potential Regent for Alexis if he ever managed to succeed. Especially since unlike his other family members (including Michael) Nicholas could have counted on Olga not to conspire against the throne.

[Kareena]

This story of Olga carrying a gun.  I would love to know what the source is on this.  It's certainly a dramatic claim!  Does anybody know, or is it a Romanov "urban myth".  Is it backed up with any real evidence?

[Belochka]

Yes indeed. I doubt that Olga would ever compromise her sisters by concealing any type of weapons let alone a gun.

This is absolutely unbelievable!

[BobAtchison]

Once when I met Vladimir Soloviev, the Attorney General of Russia and the head of the committee on the investigation of the remains he showed me the Sokolov dossier that Stalin had - I have mentioned that meeting before.  Afterwards we had a long talk about what he had found in his research through unpublished materials.  I asked him if he could tell me somethings he had learned about the members of the family that surprized him.  One thing he told me was the story of the small gun Olga carried.  He said, if I remember correctly but this could be wrong, she had it in her boot and she had been given the gun by her father.  He said Koblynski begged Olga to give it to him in Tobolsk.  Later I found this in writing - but I haven't been able to relocate it.
 
Bob

[nerdycool]

If it was given to her to help ward off sexual harassment, then all I can say is that it is too bad that she had to give up the gun in Tobolsk. She could have really used it to protect her and her sisters on the train to Ekaterinburg...

[Janet Whitcomb]

I am thinking that, given the particularly strong bond Nicholas had with his eldest daughter, along with his respect for her intelligence and sense of responsibility, he responded to her expressed fears by trusting her with a gun.

By the time they were on board the Rus, Olga apparently did not have the gun, so I believe it likely that she reverted to her intelligence and courage as a weapon against any ill intent toward her sisters and herself.  The emotional toll it would have taken on her, though, is another story . . .  

[Belochka]

I do not know if I am throwing in a new cat among the pigeons here but I was staggered by the revelation on this thread that Olga may have been given a weapon.

This caused me to search through my references and this is what I did find.

The citation comes from the Deposition given by Colonel Kobylinsky in Ekaterinburg between April 6 - 10 1918 by the Investigating Magistrate for Cases of Special Importance of the Omsk Tribunal.

.... "On one occassion (at Tsarskoe Selo) they (the First Regiment) saw the Tsarevitch carrying a small rifle. This rifle was a model of the standard infantry rifle, presented to the Tsarevitch by some munitions works. It was absolutely harmless ... The trouble was started by the Second regiment ... to avoid violence he took the rifle from the Tsarevitch ... Gillard and Tegleva told me the story ... and that the Tsarevitch was crying. I ordered the rifle to be given to me, and when I got it I took it apart, and in this way I smuggled it back to the Tsarevitch."

This incident is also mentioned in Gilliard's Diary (p 230) for the date Sunday June 10 1917. He adds that this toy gun was only then played with in his room.

No further references were made about this toy gun which I could find.

Could this be the item to which others here are refering to?

[BobAtchison]

I was told she kept it in her boot so it was small.

Bob

[livadiarose]

If anyone has the book "The Private World of the Last Tsar" by Paul and Beatrice von Grabbe and turns to page 61 there is a photo of Olga in Mogilev, and she appears to be carrying a gun.

If anyone else cares to take a look, let me know what you think. I could be mistaken, but that's what it looks like to me.

Alia

[Lanie]

Oh, wow, I didn't even notice anything was there hiding amongst her sweater (not the blanket..!).  I don't know if it's a gun.  Maybe it is, but why would she carry one around at Mogilev?  Hmm.  Looks like it could also be one of those cigarette cases to me.  And it's nice to see you around, Alia!