Konrad and Alexandra (pdf) - Rolf Gross

later. For the remainder of Ordzhonikidze’s reign in Georgia she lived under special protection
at her hospital.
Konrad and Alexandra moved into two rooms at the hospital. Asmat and "little" Sophia
stayed with Alexandra’s parents—Tamara had gone underground. The two girls became
Tamunia-Deda’s life-spirit. They would slip through the guards surrounding the Dadiani house,
ferrying messages and food, which Alexandra had the hospital kitchen prepare for them. Irakli
sank into a despondent state. Occasionally Alexandra would obtain special permission to visit
her parents, then Irakli would perk up for a few hours only to go back, unshaven and listless, to
his bed when Alexandra left.
The Soviet troops stationed in Tbilisi were mostly Georgians, by and by Tbilisi reverted
to the old Georgian humdrum ways. Corruption became the way of life, and despite food
shortages—largely created by the disappearance of the landowning families and the general
incompetence of the new regime—one could still obtain vegetables and an occasional chicken
on the black market. The bakers worked under the threat of gun-toting soldiers using flour often
provided by shipments from the American Hoover Foundation.
Apparently a letter from Otto reached Alexandra in 1923. She writes of her surprise that
it had reached her at the hospital by regular mail.
…I am happy that you and Annika are still together. You should know that you and she,
should you want to marry her, have all my blessings and good wishes.
In veiled terms she warns him of the censors and the dangers he could put her and
others into. Personal messages were all right, and he should continue to send his mail to the
hospital address.
But then she continues with her sad news:
Irakli died peacefully last year. We were given permission to bury him quietly, using one
of my hospital vans as a hearse. There was even a priest. They have become few and are
old, hungry, and dirty. It was a rare occasion where we were allowed to get together as a
group of more than three people: Deda—who was less depressed than I had feared,
Asmat keeps her young—Dato, Christine, Bertha, and Sagdulla—whom we have become
very close to—Olga and Leist—who are very old too, the surprise was Henri, and finally
Konrad and myself. We have not heard from Asmat’s mother. Irakli’s colleagues did not
attend but sent flowers anonymously. We had a small dinner at a restaurant which has
recently opened in the former Bazaar.
This was the end of my dear, most beloved father. An extraordinary man in spirit and
wisdom and my closest friend, even before and above Konrad.
Alexandra sent this letter with a Russian Socialist attending a meeting in France in the
spring of 1924. It came too late, Annika was dead by the time this message reached Otto.
Lenin’s death in 1924 unleashed a fierce power struggle in Moscow in which Stalin
usurped the party leadership. At first there was rejoicing in Georgia, the "Georgian Tiger" on
the throne of the Russian empire would finally "make good" and elevate Georgia to supremacy
and independence.
This national fantasy quickly turned into a cruel hoax. Lenin had so far curtailed Stalin’s
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