March 1917: The Red Wheel, Node III, Book 3 (The Center for Ethics and Culture Solzhenitsyn Series)

In March 1917, Book 3 the forces of revolutionary disintegration spread out from Petrograd all the way to the front lines of World War I, presaging Russia’s collapse. One of the masterpieces of world literature, The Red Wheel is Nobel prize–winner Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s multivolume epic work about the Russian Revolution told in the form of a historical novel. March 1917 ―the third node―tells the story, day by day, of the Russian Revolution itself. Until recently, the final two nodes have been unavailable in English. The publication of Book 1 of March 1917 (in 2017) and Book 2 (in 2019) has begun to rectify this situation. The action of Book 3 (out of four) is set during March 16–22, 1917. In Book 3, the Romanov dynasty ends and the revolution starts to roll out from Petrograd toward Moscow and the Russian provinces. The dethroned Emperor Nikolai II makes his farewell to the Army and is kept under guard with his family. In Petrograd, the Provisional Government and the Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies continue to exercise power in parallel. The war hero Lavr Kornilov is appointed military chief of Petrograd. But the Soviet’s “Order No. 1” reaches every soldier, undermining the officer corps and shaking the Army to its foundations. Many officers, including the head of the Baltic Fleet, the progressive Admiral Nepenin, are murdered. Black Sea Fleet Admiral Kolchak holds the revolution at bay; meanwhile, Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich, the emperor’s uncle, makes his way to military headquarters, naïvely thinking he will be allowed to take the Supreme Command. Cover Title Page Copyright Contents FRIDAY, 16 MARCH CHAPTER 354 / Lomonosov and Bublikov hunt for the royal Manifesto CHAPTER 355 / Admiral Kolchak’s youth. – The navy’s revival after the Japanese war. – Appointed to the BlackSea fleet. – Plan to seize the Bosphorus. Obstacles from GHQ. – First news about Petrograd events. – Kolchak’s decision for his fleet. – A secret mission to the grand duke CHAPTER 356 / How Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich endured his Caucasus exile. – His role inNikolai II’s abdication. – He accepts the post of Supreme Commander CHAPTER 357 / Ministers hear the news: the wrong kind of abdication! – Delay the Manifesto. – Go see Mikhail collectively CHAPTER 358 / Telegraph conversation between Rodzyanko and Ruzsky: delay the Manifesto CHAPTER 359 / General Evert’s nighttime agony. – Telegram to Rodzyanko. – Wrong again! CHAPTER 360 / General Alekseev learns from Rodzyanko: delay the Manifesto. – Communications with the army groups DOCUMENTS – 12 / General Ivanov to General Alekseev CHAPTER 361 / Kostya Gulai knocks down a German sign CHAPTER 362 / Varsonofiev’s awakening. – A cacophony of bells CHAPTER 363 / Likonya: she wasn’t herself! CHAPTER 364 / In Admiral Nepenin’s circle. Night. – And morning CHAPTER 365 / General Ruzsky incapacitated after his conversation with Rodzyanko.– But they must fight the gangs CHAPTER 366 / Guchkov and Shulgin return to Petrograd. – Shulgin reads the abdication to a soldier formation. – No, it must not be announced! CHAPTER 367 / Lomonosov seizes the Manifesto original CHAPTER 368 / Guchkov at the engine depot CHAPTER 369'' / (from the newspapers) CHAPTER 370 / Kutepov hops off the Moscow train DOCUMENTS – 13 / Appeal to soldiers of the Preobrazhensky Battalion CHAPTER 371 / Vorotyntsev arrives in Kiev. – News from the papers CHAPTER 372 / Sasha Lenartovich at the commissariat. – Nighttime meeting with Matvei Ryss.– “The revolution has not been brought to completion!” CHAPTER 373 / Fragments from the day CHAPTER 374 / Duma members visit Grand Duke Mikhail CHAPTER 375 / General Alekseev sees that Rodzyanko has deceived him. – Convene a conference of the commanders-in-chief? CHAPTER 376 / Evert is baffled. – Well, a decision, apparently! CHAPTER 377 / The meeting at Grand Duke Mikhail’s continues. – He decides to abdicate CHAPTER 378 / Peshekhonov with the machine-gunners’ billeting officers CHAPTER 379 / Vorotyntsev on Kiev streets CHAPTER 380 / Sapper battalion elects Stankevich to the Soviet CHAPTER 381 / Kolya Stanyukovich. – Feeding soldiers in a grand home. Likonya CHAPTER 382'' / (from Izvestia of the Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies) CHAPTER 383 / The abdication is written. – Mikhail signs CHAPTER 384 / Shlyapnikov’s own Bolsheviks do not let him start an uprising CHAPTER 385 / A new daily life for the Executive Committee. – The Romanov dynasty’s fate. – Start the streetcars DOCUMENTS – 14 / From the minutes of the Executive Committee of Soviet of Workers’and Soldiers’ Deputies: on the Romanovs’ arrest CHAPTER 386 / State coats of arms smashed CHAPTER 387 / Kerensky and lawyers in Karabchevsky’s apartment CHAPTER 388 / Bublikov’s final efforts at the ministry. They start printing the Manifesto CHAPTER 389 / Tolstoy’s secretary intercedes for condemned sectarians CHAPTER 390 / 123The Empress learns of Nikolai’s abdication CHAPTER 391 / Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich in harrowing uncertainty CHAPTER 392 / Evert between firmness and weakness CHAPTER 393 / Alekseev tries in vain to coordinate the commanders-in-chief. Everything drifts.– No, everything collapses: full abdication! CHAPTER 394 / Milyukov decides not to leave his ministerial post. – And convinces Guchkov to stay CHAPTER 395 / Varya Piatigorskaya runs the soldiers’ tearoom CHAPTER 396 / Day and evening, fragments CHAPTER 397 / Peshekhonov at the Tauride Palace. – Permission to print CHAPTER 398 / The Paramonov brothers. – The new order wins out in Rostov CHAPTER 399 / Helsingfors. Mutiny on the St. Andrew CHAPTER 400 / The mutiny spreads. – Admiral Nepenin attempts to talk matters through with the sailors. – “The Baltic fleet has ceased to exist.” CHAPTER 401 / Nikolai Nikolaevich demonstrates his authority. – Alekseev finds out – about Guchkov’s resignation? – Nepenin’s panicked telegrams CHAPTER 402 / Nikolai en route to Mogilev. – General Alekseev brings the news that his brother has abdicated CHAPTER 403 / Svechin’s view of what is happening. – His turn toward the Emperor. A meeting with the Emperoron the Mogilev train station platform CHAPTER 404 / Rodzyanko at the telegraph again: all is in order in Petrograd and everyone in good spirits. – General Alekseev’s bitterness CHAPTER 405 / Lomonosov takes Nikolai’s Manifesto to the Tauride Palace CHAPTER 406 / General Alekseev’s unease before the Emperor. – Manifestos sent to the army groups CHAPTER 407 / 178General Gurko at Special Army headquaters. – The dynasty’s end?– He writes a letter to the Emperor. SATURDAY, 17 MARCH CHAPTER 408 / Nepenin holds the line. – Sailor radio: “Don’t believe the tyrant!” CHAPTER 409 / The German sign again. – Gulai goes to the infantrymen CHAPTER 410 / Northern HQ edits the Supreme Commander. CHAPTER 411'' / (from the newspapers) CHAPTER 412 / Lieutenant Colonel Tikhobrazov and the Emperor CHAPTER 413 / The Emperor’s morning at GHQ. – Alekseev’s last report CHAPTER 414 / At Tsarskoye Selo after the abdication. – The Empress submits.– A telephone conversation with the Emperor. – Do not lose heart. Ecstasy CHAPTER 415 / Admiral Nepenin removed by the sailors from command of the fleet.– And arrested CHAPTER 416 / Ksenia on the Moscow streets. – A parade of troops on Red Square.– Children in the Aleksandrovsky garden CHAPTER 417 / Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich receives Georgian socialists.– Recoils from Kolchak’s proposal CHAPTER 418 / The killing of Nepenin CHAPTER 419 / The abdicated Emperor hampers Alekseev. – General Kornilov passes through GHQ. – Voeikov and Frederiks to leave. – Bands apply pressure, even in Mogilev. – Guchkov reassures General Alekseev CHAPTER 420 / Guchkov. Where to begin his war ministry? – What to do about Order No. 1? – Order No. 114. – The Polivanov commission begins CHAPTER 421 / Polovtsov in a turbulent situation. – Revolutionary amusements. – Seeks an arrangement for himself CHAPTER 422 / Kozma Gvozdev’s bafflement at the Executive Committee CHAPTER 423 / Split rule on the Petersburg side CHAPTER 424 / General Ruzsky seeks means against the front’s collapse.– A move through Bonch-Bruevich? – Jointly with Nepenin? CHAPTER 425 / Change the abdication to Aleksei! – The Emperor’s attempt CHAPTER 426'' / (from Izvestia of the Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies) CHAPTER 427 / Vorotyntsev and Krymov at the Ungheni Train Station CHAPTER 428 / Himmer’s peculiar position in the revolution. – We must answer Milyukov!– and appeal to the European proletariat CHAPTER 429 / News from the Don from his sister Masha.– Fyodor Kovynev observes the revolution’s ways. CHAPTER 430 / Vespers with the veneration of the Cross. CHAPTER 431 / Rodichev in Helsingfors CHAPTER 432 / The Provisional Government’s first decisions SUNDAY, 18 MARCH CHAPTER 433'' / (account of revolutionary events in the newspapers) CHAPTER 434 / Lieutenant Colonel Boyer assigns Sanya to read the abdications CHAPTER 435 / The battery listens to the abdication CHAPTER 436 / St. George battalion marches to the Marseillaise. – The Emperor at mass in the headquarters church. – Here it is, the Precious Cross CHAPTER 437 / Ruzsky is powerless. – A spontaneous parade in Pskov CHAPTER 438 / Kolchak learns of the abdications. – His first experiment with a sailors’ assembly CHAPTER 439 / Yarik on leave in Rostov CHAPTER 440 / Lenartovich at the Union of Officer-Republicans CHAPTER 441 / ations. – Where to bury the revolution’svictims. – Chkheidze’s speech on resumption of work in the plants. – It is resolved CHAPTER 442 / Spontaneous crowds on the Petersburg side CHAPTER 443 / Kerensky in the Senate. – Kerensky in the Winter Palace CHAPTER 444 / The Mogilev garrison on parade. – General Alekseev tries in vainto get action out of the government CHAPTER 445 / Guchkov faces the collapse of the army and navy. – He receives General Kornilov. – At a session of the Council of Ministers. – In the corridors: arrest the Tsar! CHAPTER 446 / (The provinces according to contemporary newspapers. Fragments) CHAPTER 447 / Frederiks and Voeikov must leave GHQ? – The Dowager Empress in danger even in Kiev. – The Emperor listens to General Ivanov’s explanations. – A letter from General Gurko CHAPTER 448 / Shingarev begins work at the Ministry of Agriculture CHAPTER 449 / Lenin and the Paris Commune. – Torn by the news from Russia: leave right away? wait and see?– A tactical program for those going to Russia. – Hurry the German ambassador! – Lecture at Chaux-de-Fonds. Do not repeat magnanimity in revolution! – Plans for Inessa CHAPTER 450 / Vyborg men to Kronstadt for reinforcement! CHAPTER 451 / How soldiers saved General Ushakov. – Anarchy in Pskov. – Letter to General Ruzskyfrom V. Bonch-Bruevich. – Telegram in reply from Ruzsky. – Chaos rolls towardthe front-line positions. Ruzsky prepares a delegation to the Soviet of Workers’ Deputies. – M. Bonch-Bruevich returns CHAPTER 452 / Guchkov and Kornilov go to Tsarskoye Selo. – In the palace with the Tsaritsa CHAPTER 453 / The Red Cross MONDAY, 19 MARCH CHAPTER 454'' / (from the free newspapers, 18–20 March) CHAPTER 455 / Kutepov’s past service and battles in the Preobrazhensky Regiment. – Return to the regiment. – Dismay in the regiment. – But there is still the Supreme Commander! CHAPTER 456 / The Emperor weighs on Alekseev at GHQ. – Permission arrives for him to go CHAPTER 457 / Nikolai Nikolaevich bids farewell to the Caucasus CHAPTER 458 / (How it was in the provinces. Fragments) CHAPTER 459 / This winter in Kamenka. – In the Bruyakin family. – School dictation. – Pluzhnikov’s moment arrives CHAPTER 460 / Tolstoy’s secretary at the Kerenskys’ home CHAPTER 461 / Rodzyanko gets a little relief. – Private conference of Duma members. – Proclamation about bread CHAPTER 462 / Obodovsky at the Polivanov commission. – How to return the plants to operation? CHAPTER 463 / The EC composes Order No. 2. – The issue of the Romanovs’ arrest. – Allow all newspapers? CHAPTER 464 / The collapse of the Northern Army Group. – Izvestia responds anonymously to General Ruzsky. – Order No. 2 arrives CHAPTER 465 / Guchkov over his papers. – Goes around making speeches. – Dmitri Vyazemsky’s funeral at the Monastery CHAPTER 466 / The Empress burns her diaries CHAPTER 467 / Shlyapnikov: Is there really going to be no uprising? The workers’ guard. – The power of Pravda. – Kshesinskaya asks for her mansion back CHAPTER 468 / Kerensky receives Tolstoy’s secretary DOCUMENTS – 15 / Lenin’s telegram CHAPTER 469 / 2At the Executive Committee. – Ruzsky’s delegation. Mistake with Order No. 2? – Request for 10 million rubles CHAPTER 470 / Dinners at the Korzners’. – “We are doomed to be victorious!” CHAPTER 471 / Artillerymen in dugout. “Peace is coming.” CHAPTER 472 / Executive Committee delegation at Guchkov’s CHAPTER 473 / Milyukov ministers. – With the Allies’ ambassadors. – The question of Nikolai’s departurefor England. – Telegram from King George. – Should the Tsar be arrested for now?– Session of the Provisional Government, current issues. – Kerensky flashes by with an amnesty.– Guchkov demands guarantees of public safety CHAPTER 474 / The abdication has definitely occurred. Lenin raring to get to Russia. – Inessa hesitates about going. – A program for the Petersburgers. – “Martov plan” through Germany! CHAPTER 475 / Likonya: once again he hasn’t called CHAPTER 476 / Ministers’ private conversation about the Tsar’s arrest CHAPTER 477 / Lvov and Guchkov’s telegraph conversation with General Alekseev. Resignation for Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich TUESDAY, 20 MARCH CHAPTER 478 / General Alekseev’s sleepless night. — Refuses the Supreme Command anew. – A chaotic morning. A proposal from the Allied military representatives CHAPTER 479'' / (from the socialist newspapers, 18–20 March) CHAPTER 480 / Kerensky’s arrival in Moscow. At the train station CHAPTER 481 / Captain Nelidov. Bringing order to the Moscow Battalion. – Save whoever you can CHAPTER 482 / They’ve started the streetcars! Aunts Agnessa and Adalia go for a walk CHAPTER 483 / Shlyapnikov at the Executive Committee. – Don’t let them remove the 1st Machine-gun Regiment! CHAPTER 484'' / (from the free newspapers, 20 March) CHAPTER 485 / Kerensky with the agents of justice. – In front of the Moscow garrison assembly. Faints CHAPTER 486 / Sanya. Order No. 1 brought from the infantry CHAPTER 487 / Himmer’s difficulties composing an appeal to the peoples of the world. The dull forceof the peasant soldiery. – Gorky’s failed speech at the Soviet’s worker section DOCUMENTS – 16 / Note for the Church of the Annunciation clergy CHAPTER 488 / Kerensky at the English Club CHAPTER 489 / A stop in Mogilev. – Svechin over strategic plans CHAPTER 490 / The Emperor’s lofty mood. – He writes his farewell order to the Army CHAPTER 491 / Nikolai Nikolaevich on the train, en route from the Caucasus CHAPTER 492 / Kolchak seeks a way to save the fleet. – A gathering of officers. – On the balcony of the Naval Officers’ Club CHAPTER 493 / Guchkov in gloom. – At a government session. – On the Tsar’s arrest. – Another appeal, and another CHAPTER 494 / Sanya at the battery. – Newspapers. – The general-professor’s death CHAPTER 495 / Kerensky and Gruzinov at the City Duma. – Kerensky at the Moscow Soviet. – He leaves CHAPTER 496 / Likonya returns: Is everything between us all right? CHAPTER 497 / General Alekseev gives consent to announce the Emperor’s farewell order. – Kislyakov reveals to him the order for the Tsar’s arrest WEDNESDAY, 21 MARCH CHAPTER 498 / Vorotyntsev reads the Emperor’s farewell order CHAPTER 499 / General Evert submits to the current. – His service is over CHAPTER 500 / The Emperor says farewell to the GHQ officers CHAPTER 501 / General Kornilov arrests the Empress CHAPTER 502 / Establishes security measures at the Tsarskoye Selo palace CHAPTER 503'' / (February’s figures of speech) CHAPTER 504 / Andozerskaya over the newspapers. – The vulgarity is suffocating CHAPTER 505 / General Alekseev’s request to Guchkov about the Emperor’s order!Conceals the secret of the arrest DOCUMENTS – 17 / 538From General Janin to General Alekseev CHAPTER 506 / With Lieutenant Colonel Boyer. – Orders, orders CHAPTER 507 / The machine-gun regiment does not leave. – Motorcar concerns for Peshekhonov at thecommissariat. – There is no popular authority CHAPTER 508 / At the EC session. Current business. – The situation in the plants.– Liaison Commission elections CHAPTER 509 / A muddle in the Soviet’s soldier section. – Declaration of the Rights of the Soldier CHAPTER 510'' / (from the Western press) CHAPTER 511 / 558Bublikov at Mogilev. – The Tsar’s arrest. CHAPTER 512 / 561Vladimir Nabokov takes over the Provisional Government’s administration. – Current affairs. CHAPTER 513 / 566The Emperor is informed of his arrest. – Departure from Mogilev. CHAPTER 514 / 570The Tsaritsa: to see all from the other side. CHAPTER 515 / 572Guchkov’s ministerial affairs. – A formal evening by the War Industry Committee. CHAPTER 516 / 576The Tsar’s arrest through General Alekseev’s eyes. – Allied demands and Alekseev’s thoughts. – Izvestia with an article against him. – Used. THURSDAY, 22 MARCH CHAPTER 517'' / (from the free newspapers, 21–22 March) CHAPTER 518 / Guchkov has a heart attack CHAPTER 519 / The Emperor’s final hours on his train. – Arrival in Tsarskoye Selo CHAPTER 520 / General Ruzsky’s interview in Stock Exchange Gazette CHAPTER 521 / (Army fragments) CHAPTER 522 / At the Executive Committee. Panic over the Tsar’s escape DOCUMENTS – 18 / 605Urgent EC communiqué to everyone CHAPTER 523 / The situation in the plants. – Factory owners prepared for concessions. – Gvozdev tasked to arrest the Tsar CHAPTER 524 / Maslovsky is given the great revolutionary assignment. – Departure for Tsarskoye Selo CHAPTER 525 / Milyukov talks with correspondents. – With Buchanan about the Tsar, what is new in his position. – With Princle Lvov on the fate of the Tsar. – America recognizes the Provisional Government DOCUMENTS – 19 / From General Alekseev to General Janin CHAPTER 526 / The Emperor alone with Alix. – Detained on his walk CHAPTER 527 / Maslovsky at the Tsarskoye Selo town hall CHAPTER 528 / Shlyapnikov insists: “Down with the war!” – The soldiers’ section, discussion of the Declaration of the Rights of the Soldier DOCUMENTS – 20 / From Guchkov to General Alekseev CHAPTER 529 / Prince Lvov mollifies the Executive Committee. – Principles for governing Russia.– Provisional Government session CHAPTER 530 / Maslovsky penetrates the Aleksandr Palace. – A clash with officers. – Produce the Tsar! CHAPTER 531 / Produced for inspection MAPS INDEX OF NAMES "The Red Wheel is Solzhenitsyn's magnum opus about the Russian Revolution. Solzhenitsyn tells this story in the form of a meticulously researched historical novel, supplemented by newspaper headlines of the day, fragments of street action, cinematic screenplay, and historical overview. The first two nodes, August 1914 and November 1916, focus on Russia's crises and recovery, on revolutionary terrorism and its suppression, on the missed opportunity of Pyotr Stolypin's reforms, and how the surge of patriotism in August 1914 soured as Russia bled in World War I. The third node, March 1917, tells the story of the Russian Revolution itself, during which not only does the Imperial government melt in the face of the mob, but the leaders of the opposition prove utterly incapable of controlling the course of events. The action of book 1 (of four) of March 1917 is set during March 8-12. The absorbing narrative tells the stories of more than fifty characters during the days when the Russian Empire begins to crumble. Bread riots in the capital, Petrograd, go unchecked at first, and the police are beaten and killed by mobs. Efforts to put down the violence using the army trigger a mutiny in the numerous reserve regiments housed in the city, who kill their officers and go and rampage. The anti-Tsarist bourgeois opposition, horrified by the violence, scrambles to declare that it is provisionally taking power, while socialists immediately create a Soviet alternative to undermine it. Meanwhile, Emperor Nikolai II is away at military headquarters and his wife Aleksandra is isolated outside Petrograd, caring for their sick children. Suddenly, the viability of the Russian state itself is called into question. The Red Wheel has been compared to Tolstoy's War and Peace, for each work aims to narrate the story of an era in a way that elevates its universal significance." -- Publisher's description