View of Moscow, the Kremlin and St. Basil's Cathedral along the Moskva River. The message on the reverse was dated from Moscow May 29, 1914 (new style); multiple postmarks May 17 (old style; May 30 new style) and May 21 (old style; June 3 new style).
Москва-Кремль Moscou-KremlinVue généraleReverse:Message dated from Moscow May 29, 1914 (new style); multiple postmarks May 17 (old style; May 30 new style) and May 21 (old style; June 3 new style)
Moscow was, after the capital of Petrograd, the second city in Russia. Maurice Paléologue, French Ambassador to Russia, referred to it as 'the sacred city, and the very heart of Russian nationalism.' His memoirs record suspicion in both cities that the Empress and her circle were carrying on a secret correspondence with Germany. He also reported that the Grand Duke Nicholas, Commander of the Army, was held in high regard.At the end of December 1914, Tsar Nicholas visited Moscow after a tour of the Caucasus front. The Tsar found an ardent desire for Russia to capture Constantinople, the former center of the Eastern Rite Church, and incorporate it into the Empire.In June 1915, Russian troops had been retreating before the Gorlice-Tarnow Offensive leading to several days of unrest in Moscow. Rumours of treason circulated among the crowd and accusations were made openly against the Tsar Nicholas, his wife, Rasputin, and other influential persons at Court. Shops belonging to Germans or with German names were looted.In September 1916, distribution failures left food in short supply in many cities and town and rumors of strikes and riots in Moscow reached the front.In December 1916, the police suppressed a congress of the the Union of Zemstvos and the Union of Towns, private associations which had supplied the army and civilian population since the war began.From December 1916 to February 1917 snow slowed the war and transportation with food in short supply in Petrograd and Moscow. By February sabotage — of transportation, industrial plants, factories, mills, workshops, and laboratories — was increasing as were calls to bring the underfed, inactive soldiers home. As the crisis worsened, demonstrations for Peace and Bread turned to demands for Bread. Revolution followed.
Moscow is a city in Russia.
