Today is the official memorial for the martyred family of the last Czar of Russia in the Russian Orthodox Church. It was on this day that Czar Nicholas II, Czarina Alexandra, Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia and the Czarevich Alexi were massacred on orders from Vladimir Lenin by the Communist Red Guards. It was, however, more than the brutal, mass-murder of a beautiful family; it was the attempted murder of an idea. It had to be so because, by 1918 especially, the Imperial Family was no threat to anyone. The demonic forces of the revolution had prevailed. Like a nest of termites they had been eating away at the autocracy for years and had finally overcome it thanks to the added stress of World War I. The Imperial Family was guilty of nothing, were not cruel or malicious but on the contrary were the ideal family. There was never a better example of true soul mates than Nicholas and Alexandra and there were never two parents more devoted to their children. It was truthfully said that there was no one the Czar would prefer to spend time with more than his own wife and children.By 1918 Nicholas II had abdicated, the Romanov monarchy was gone and the Imperial Family were helpless prisoners. As such, there was no reason for their brutal massacre other than the fanatical communist determination to erase all remnants and all reminders of the once proud Russian Empire. They wanted to destroy the very foundations of all that had been Russian greatness and all memory of what had been the basis of the Romanov monarchy; authority "by the grace of God". Had not the world already been punch-drunk from the horrendous suffering of World War I the massacre of the Romanovs would have undoubtedly caused a greater uproar. However, the loss would be felt across the globe in the years to come with the rise of the Soviet Union, the spread of revolutionary communism, the start of the Cold War and brutal, murderous, Bolshevik client-regimes around the world from Cuba to North Korea. The deaths of the Romanovs meant misery for Russia and misery for countless others across the globe and the massacre of tens of millions to an extent even the most barbaric eras in history could not match for cruelty. The Romanovs were the first victims but by no means the last.
Indeed a sad day, sir!
ReplyDeleteIt had to be so because, by 1918 especially, the Imperial Family was no threat to anyone. The demonic forces of the revolution had prevailed.
Perhaps so. Perhaps!
We must remember that there was a civil war going on. The outcome was not decided. Although the Imperial Family was not directly a threat to the revolution, it represented what a part of the White Army was fighting for.
Even though the Emperor had abdicated more than a year earlier, the Imperial Family could still be seen as an object of loyalty. As such, it was a threat to the revolution.
Many, not so nice things can be said about the Bolsheviks, but they were not stupid.
Indeed so. I was, perhaps, unclear. Destroying what they represented was indeed the point and that (the monarchial principle) was of course a threat. My meaning was that the family themselves were not a threat in that they were within the power of their enemies, were no longer giving orders and were at the mercy of their captors. However, the idea that they were the living embodiment of was the threat that the Bolsheviks intended to murder.
ReplyDeleteYes, they were within the power of and at the mercy of their captors.
ReplyDeleteHowever, that might as well have been temporary. Murder is a permanent solution.
When debating capital punishment for times of war, an argument that often comes up is that imprisonment can be imprisonment only until rescued by the traitors' supporters.
There was always the risk that the White Army could succeed in rescuing the Imperial Family. One could argue that the risk was fairly low at the time, but it is better to act when you are totally in control and can execute (no pun intended) your plans exactly as you wish.
Of course, I am only analyzing how they might have thought -- not giving any justification.