Konrad and Alexandra (PDF) - Rolf Gross

Overnight the mood in St. Petersburg became ugly. The press screamed revenge, excited crowds in the streetsdemanded war against Austria. Nicholas ordered a general mobilization. A feverish exchange of letters between WilhelmII and Nicholas II was followed by a German ultimatum demanding an end to the Russian war preparations. Crowds ofvolunteers stormed the recruiting centers of the Russian army.Within a week the few political voices who urged moderation, among them Witte, were silenced by the universal patrioticcraze that swept Europe.On August 2, 1914 the Emperor was to address his people.A huge crowd flooded into Dvortskaya Square to cheer the father of all Russia—in the same square where therepresentatives of the people had been slaughtered nine years ago. Flags, banners, icons, peasants, popes, students,professors, workers, and the ornate Orthodox clergy massed in front of the Winter Palace.Pale and bewildered, Konrad and Vladimir, Alexandra and Otto, intimidated by the restive crowd, stood in the archedentry to a building.Tamara had refused to come along. She was not going to cheer the Russian Tsar! What did this war have to do with her?She was neither Russian nor German, she was Georgian. If this war would destroy the Russian Empire so much thebetter. Then the revolution would finally come, and Georgia would be freed from the Russian yoke.A government speaker announced that the Emperor was praying in his chambers. Voices from the crowd called on Godto protect the Tsar. Finally Nicholas in full uniform appeared on a balcony followed by a clergyman and the deathly paleEmpress who, hysterical blotches on her face, leaned with closed eyes on the Tsarevich.Loud cheers broke out, Long live the Tsar. Then silence. Nicholas, barely audible, began to pray. The crowd fell on theirknees repeating every one of his words. The Tsar called on God for guidance in this most fateful hour. Spontaneoussinging erupted.With his cross the clergyman blessed the crowd and read, into a breathless silence, the declaration of war.Pandemonium broke out. Cheers to Mother Russia, the Emperor. Shouts "Death to all Germans!", "New Year in Berlin!"The national anthem was played.Alexandra, ominous forebodings written all over her face, looked at her German husband. Konrad took her arm andwordlessly pulled her away from the crazed scene. They ducked past screaming people denouncing Germany andwaving red banners, from house entry to house entry through the back streets towards their apartment.Alexandra held onto the trembling Otto. "Mother," he asked, "why do these crazy people want to kill all Germans? I wasborn in Russia. I hate that Tsar."Outside their window on Liteini Boulevard the shouting mob surged through the night towards the German embassy,where they broke the windows, slashed the curtains and tapestries, threw the furniture into the street, and pilfered theprivate art collection of the ambassador. The idle police averted their eyes.During this fateful night Alexandra, depressed by the ominous, threatening future, cried herself to sleep.With the last mail from Germany arrived a letter from Claudia. She was jubilant. Niko had accepted the faculty position inGöttingen. He would be working closely with Professor Courant, a dynamic personality in applied mathematics. Theprofessorship came with an offer of German citizenship, an important benefit for Niko in these uncertain times. She wouldhave an assistant position in the faculty of medicine at the university and specialize in brain neurology. They would moveto Göttingen in early September.…Alexandra, can you believe it, I am pregnant! With the prospect of a child, Niko has become a different man. I havenever been so close to him nor felt so fortunate. Niko hovers over me with a never-before-shown love.When will I see you again, my dearest friend? Everything is well now. I meditate every morning on my happiness.Farewell, both of you.Love from your sister in spirit and in law.Claudia.61.The War Years 1914 – 1917All through early August patriotic spirits ran high. The Russian army had crossed the German border near Eydtkuhnenand was pushing into East Prussia.Alexandra thought of the Bredows. Like Helena’s parents, who had fled their estate eastwards, the Bredows would fleewest. What would become of their house and fields?193