Nicholas and Alexandra

11 The Tsar walking, rowing: ibid., 40, 56.

12 “We are passing through picturesque country”: N to AF, 16.

13 “My hanging trapeze”: ibid., 13.

14 Alexis to Stavka: Gilliard, 148.

15 “See that Tiny”: AF to N, 182. “Tiny loves digging”: ibid., 192.

16 “Take care of Baby’s arm”: ibid., 225. The Empress went to his empty room: Vyrubova, 127.

17 Gilliard and the Empress: Gilliard, 167–8.

18 “We used to start out immediately after lunch”: ibid., 125.

19 “At his father’s heels”: ibid., 149.

20 The Governor’s house: N to AF, 73; Gilliard, 150; Vyrubova, 143.

21 “It is very cosy”: N to AF, 95. “I read all letters aloud”: ibid., 197.

22 “A thunderstorm broke out”: ibid., 186.

23 “He wakes up early”: ibid., 96. “He always carries his little gun”: ibid., 97.

24 “We go out in the car”: ibid., 96. “Soft sand”: ibid., 184.

25 “Peasant boys”: ibid., 211. “An enormous hotel”: ibid., 227. “He sits on my left hand”: ibid., 96.

26 Alexis at Stavka: Hanbury-Williams, 237–9.

27 “He dragged some of us off after lunch”: ibid., 109.

28 “Wet sleeves and boots”: N to AF, 225.

29 Front-line dressing station: Gilliard, 152. “Very few hands were lifted”: ibid., 154. Four British submarines: ibid., 153.

30 “Alexei crept into every possible hole”: N to AF, 102.

31 The cavalry charge: Gilliard, 154–5.

32 “The Heir! The Angel! The pretty boy!”: N to AF, 108. “Alexei’s cat ran away”: ibid., 284. “Alexei has borne the strain”: ibid., 110.

33 The Empress visits Stavka: Vyrubova, 142–3.

34 “Much easier to get on with”: Hanbury-Williams, 93. “She is so proud of Russia”: ibid., 117.

35 “Baby played the fool”: N to AF, 104. “His elbow would not bend”: ibid., 236.

36 “The Little One is suffering”: ibid., 291. “Baby’s leg hurts”: ibid., 292.

37 “He rarely refers to the Tsarevich’s health”: Hanbury-Williams, 57.

38 The nosebleed: Gilliard, 155–6; Vyrubova, 169–70.

39 “Owing to the deep, thick mud”: N to AF, 119. “Tell him that they always finish their zakouska”: ibid., 124.

40 “Thank God, your heart can be quiet”: AF to N, 235. “Baby has got up”: ibid., 240. “Sunbeam is at last going out”: ibid., 243. “He received a charming telegram”: ibid., 248.

41 The snowball: Gilliard, 165 n.

42 “He is very proud of his stripes”: Hanbury-Williams, 104.

43 “Papa told me to come to sit with you”: ibid., 138.

CHAPTER 22 “POOR FELLOWS, THEY ARE READY TO DIE FOR A SMILE”

 1 Austrian defeat in Galicia: Golovine, 214; Pares, 204–5.

 2 “It instructs me to impress”: Paleologue, I, 129.

 3 “If you chase two hares”: Knox, 144.

 4 “The poor boys were keen as mustard”: ibid., 102.

 5 Russian cavalry and infantry tactics: ibid., 103, 109.

 6 One million casualties: Golovine, 217.

 7 The officers walked erect: Pares, 211. Losses in the Preobrajensky Guard: Knox, 189. In the 18th Division: ibid., 194. “These people play at war”: ibid., 249.

 8 3,000 cadets: ibid., 177. 15,000 students: Paleologue, I, 171.

 9 “Remember what I am going to say”: Golovine, 66.

10 Officers asked no questions: Knox, 115. German officer shot his stretcher bearers: ibid., 65.

11 “The value of prayer”: Knox, 262. “Poor fellows”: ibid., 262.

12 The German attack at Easter: Pares, 358.

13 New recruits: Golovine, 107. Przemysl fell: Pares, 227. “Nicolasha came running”: N to AF, 38.

14 “Colossal works”: ibid., 48.

15 The Russians storm the Carpathians: Pares, 228–9.

16 The German General Staff decided to destroy Russia in 1915: Golovine, 145. 1,500 guns, 700,000 shells: Knox, 282.

17 “From a neighboring height”: Pares, 230.

18 “Lost all its blood”: ibid., 231. “Poor Nicolasha”: N to AF, 55.

19 Arm the infantry with axes: Golovine, 127. “These poor devils had to wait”: Paleologue, II, 34. “Churned into gruel”: Knox, 270, 319.

20 “You know, sir, we have no weapons”: Pares, 232.

21 “We are playing the game”: Golovine, 240.

22 Preserve the army: ibid., 224. “We will retire to the Urals”: Knox, 309. Half the army was destroyed: Golovine, 98.

23 “The spring of 1915”: ibid., 145.

24 20,000 guns: Cornelius Ryan, The Last Battle (New York, Simon and Shuster, 1966), 352.

25 Silent crowds: Meriel Buchanan, 108. “Nitchevo, little sister”: ibid., 121.

26 Anti-Germanism: Almedingen, 137. “I am going to make a row”: AF to N, 37.

27 Nemtsy: Paleologue, I, 238. The story about the Tsarevich: Bruce Lockhart, 102–3.

28 Pianos thrown into the street: ibid., 110.

29 Grand Duchess Elizabeth: Paleologue, II, 13; Almedingen, 143.

30 “All faithful sons of the fatherland”: Paleologue, II, 23.

31 Polivanov: Knox, 415.

32 “Where our retreat will end”: Golovine, 231.

33 The Tsar’s patriotism: Florinsky, End, 60–1. “You have no idea”: Gilliard, 137.

34 Alexandra distrusted the Grand Duke: Mosolov, 87. “Nicholas III”: Pares, 250. “Yes, do come. I’ll hang you”: Knox, 334; Buchanan, I, 238.

35 Rasputin’s arguments: Paleologue, I, 286, 341.

36 “Please my angel”: AF to N, 87. “Would to God”: ibid., 89. “I have absolutely no faith in N”: ibid., 97. “N’s fault and Witte’s”: ibid., 100. “I loathe your being at Headquarters”: ibid., 110.

37 “I never discuss an opinion”: Paleologue, I, 305. “All faithful subjects know”: ibid., 261.

38 “Darling mine, I do not agree”: N to AF, 43.

39 “I consider it my duty”: Golovine, 231–2.

40 “The Emperor, white and trembling”: Vyrubova, 123.