SIR JOHN HANBURY WILLIAMS
CHIEF OF THE BRITISH MILITARY MISSION IN RUSSIA
"January 14, 1916:
The Russian New Year's Day.
Had a long talk to Alexeieff and Admiral Russin on munition matters, in which there appears to be some improvement, due no doubt to the energy with which the Emperor pursues this all-important question.
March 17, 1916:
The Emperor after an absence of some time returned to Headquarters yesterday. He is always so bright and cheerful that one cannot but be cheerful with him. It is a wonderful temperament for a man who must have such cares and anxieties on his mind, and I am sure is a good inspiration for others."
VASILY YAKOVLEV
BOLSHEVIK COMMISSAR
From the arrival at Ekaterinburg Station: April 30, 1918
On the morning of the 30th we arrived in Ekaterinburg without any incident. Despite our early arrival, the Ekaterinburg station was overflowing with people … The situation was becoming extremely dangerous. The crowd was pushing against us and kept getting closer to the train. Its mood was becoming more threatening … In order to at least temporarily restrain them, I shouted loudly to my lined-up guards: “Prepare the machine guns”. The pushing crowd fled, but threatening shouts towards me could be heard. The same fat commissar with a big stomach yelled in a frenzied voice: “We are not afraid of your machine guns. We have prepared cannons against you. See them sitting on the platform”!
IPATIEV HOUSE GUARD
BOLSHEVIK
Testimony
Maria Nicholaevna was to me more friendly. If she had been fed when hungry and would be allowed to rest out in the open air, she would have done. A true Russian beauty, although in her veins flowed a blood rather more German, Danish and English than Russian. When Maria Nicholaevna smiled, her eyes shined so brightly that it was a pleasure to see. His face was more often pink than her sisters. Her laughter was so cheerful.
ANATOLY YAKIMOV
IPATIEV HOUSE GUARD
Testimony
The Tsar approached him and started talking about the weather. The Tsar was no longer young. His beard had some grey in it. I saw him in a tunic, belted with an officer’s belt with a buckle. The buckle was yellow, and the belt was yellow. Not light yellow, but dark yellow. The tunic was khaki. The same khaki colour were his pants, and old worn looking boots. His eyes were nice, kind, as was his entire face. In general, he gave the impression of being a nice person, simple, sincere and talkative. He looked like he wanted to talk to us.
NICHOLAS II ROMANOV
ROYAL MARTYR
Letter to his mother: October 20, 1902
In the sight of my Maker I have to carry the burden of a terrible responsibility, and at all times be ready to render an account to Him of my actions. I must always keep firmly to my convictions and follow the dictates of my conscience.