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[6/8] Moments: The execution of Russia’s last imperial family (July 17, 1918)
[...] in the early hours of the morning of Wednesday 17 July, they [the Romanovs] were unexpectedly awoken by their captors and ordered to dress (The Romanov Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra by Helen Rappaport).
In their bedroom, the girls carefully slipped into their jewel-lined camisoles, making sure every tiny eye hook was securely fastened before donning their plain white blouses and black skirts. Alexei, too, put on an undershirt concealing gems, while Alexandra tied a cloth belt containing several rows of large pearls around her waist (The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming).
[The family was] Told that they were being moved downstairs for their safety from unrest and artillery fire in the city, they complied without question. In an orderly line Nicholas, Alexandra and their five children, Dr. Botkin and their three loyal servants Demidova, Trupp and Kharitonov, walked quietly down the wooden stairs from their apartments, across the courtyard and into a digny basement room. As they went, there were ‘no tears, no sobs and no questions’ (The Romanov Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra by Helen Rappaport).
Yurovsky began reading from the paper: “In light of the fact that your relatives in Europe [are] continuing their aggression against Soviet Russia [it] has been declared that [you are] to be shot”. “Lord, oh my God!” stammered Nicholas. He turned to his family. [...] “I can’t understand you”, said Nicholas. “Read it again, please”. Yurovsky did. “What?” Nicholas cried again. “What?” (The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming).
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