1905 Revolution
Early on the morning of 22 January 1905, on a cold, damp winter's day a group of workers and their families gathered together in different parts of the working class districts of St Petersburg. They formed five different processions which would meet in the centre of the city in the square in front of the Tsar's WinterPalace.

The processions were peaceful. Whole families joined the crowds of marchers. Many carried religious pictures and pictures of the Tsar and his wife. They sang hymns an the national anthem "God Save the Tsar" as they marched.

Leading the march was a young priest of the Orthodox Church, Father George Gapon. He was no revolutionary but a paid organiser of the union of Russian Factory Workers which had the support of the government and the police. This organisation was meant to prevent revolution rather than incite it.

Although the atmosphere was peaceful, there was a serious purpose to the march. The workers had reached the end of their patience. They could no longer tolerate their living and working conditions. It was hoped that the Tsar would take pity on their plight and use his power to improve their lives.

Nicholas had no desire to meet the workers. The day before the demonstration he and his family had left St Petersburg. He left the business of dealing with the demonstrators to his uncle, Grand Duke Vladimir, and the generals and police chiefs. These Russian officials were deeply afraid of any sort of public protest.

Before the marchers turned up in front of the WinterPalace they were confronted by armed soldiers and police and ordered to return to their homes. It was not possible for those behind the leaders to know what was holding up the march. They continued to press forward. When the crowd failed to obey the orders to disperse the soldiers fired blank shots over their heads. This caused more confusion in the crowd which continued to press forward. Without warning the soldiers fired live ammunition into the crowd.

Some soldiers on horseback rode into the crowd slashing them with their swords. Within a matter of minutes many hundreds lay dead on the streets and another 3000 were wounded, The peaceful demonstration was over. The Tsar's response to their march was brutal.

Sources - Bloody Sunday
Source B: Eyewitness account of the march

Along the Nevsky Prospect from the direction of the working-class districts came row upon row of orderly and solemn faced workers all dressed in their best clothes. Gapon, marching in front of the procession, was carrying a cross, and a number of the workers were holding icons and portraits of the Tsar...
We had already reached the Alexander Garden, on the other side of which lay the Winter Palace Square, when we heard the sound of bugles, the signal for the cavalry to charge. The marchers came to a halt, uncertain as to what the bugles meant and unable to see what was happening.
In front, on the right, was a detachment of police, but since they showed no signs of hostility, the procession began moving again. Just then however, a detachment of cavalry rode out...The first volley was fired in the air, but the second was aimed at the crowd, and a number of people fell to the ground. Panic-stricken, the crowd turned and began running in every direction. They were now being fired on from behind...I cannot describe the horror I felt at that moment. It was quite clear the authorities had made a terrible mistake, they had totally misunderstood the intentions of the crowd...the workers went to the palace without any evil intent. They sincerely believed that when they got there they would kneel down and the Tsar would come out and meet them or at least appear on the balcony.
A Kerensky, Russia and History's Turning Point reprinted in Orwell, Shaw & Pearce.

Source C: Father Gapon's account of the 1905 march

At last we reached within two hundred paces of where the troops stood. Files of infantry barred the road, and in front of them a company of cavalry was drawn up, with their swords shining in the sun...A cry of alarm rose as the Cossacks came down upon us...the soldiers drove their horses, striking on both sides. I saw the swords lifted and falling, the men, women and children dropping to the earth like logs of wood, while moans, curses and shouts filled the air.
At last the firing ceased...I cried to them to 'Stand up!' But they lay still...and I saw the scarlet stain of blood upon the snow...'There is no longer any Tsar for us!' I exclaimed...We had gone unarmed.
G Gapon, The Story of my Life 1905 (reprinted in Bucklow and Russel, Russia Why Revolution?)

Source D: An extract from a letter written by an US diplomat in 1905

The present ruler has lost absolutely the affection of the Russian people, and whatever the future may have in store for the dynasty, the present Tsar will never again be safe in the midst of his people...
Reprinted in Bucklow and Russel, Russia Why Revolution?

Exercise: Written task based on sources

Use Sources B, C, D and E. Follow the guidelines in analysing sources.
How useful would each source be to an historian?
How would they be useful?