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)
"Newcomers have told us many stories of life in the heart of Russia. In some places there is such a shortage of foodstuffs that, unless the authorities build up sufficient stocks, there could be famine during the coming winter. Dissatisfaction is still rife in many cities. There have been rumours of strikes and even riots in Moscow, but nothing has been officially confirmed. In the city of Petrograd, there is such unrest; and there is severe criticism regarding the Imperial Family. The Empress comes in for a big share of it and in certain cliques is referred to openly as the Nemka [German woman]. The Tsar — God bless and preserve him,' they said — is doing his best to please his family, to whom he is devoted . . ."
Beginning of the entry for September 5 (August 23 Old Style), 1916, from the diary of Florence Farmborough, an English nurse serving with the Russian Red Cross. Tsaritsa Alexandra, the German-born wife of Tsar Nicholas II, although raised for much of her life in England, was widely believed to be sympathetic to Germany if not actively working in its interest. She was deeply under the influence of the monk Rasputin at whose direction she urged her husband to replace ministers, to wage or terminate military campaigns, and to be an autocrat in all. Nicholas was weak, and when he resisted her, did so briefly.
Nurse at the Russian Front, a Diary 1914-18 by Florence Farmborough, page 233, copyright © 1974 by Florence Farmborough, publisher: Constable and Company Limited, publication date: 1974
1916-09-05, 1916, September, Tsar Nicholas, Nicholas II, Tsaritsa, Empress, Moscow, riot, food shortage, Petrograd
