Well Cory and AristoCat, that all sounds terrible.
I was not aware the Grand Duchess encouraged separatists in Ukraine and Moldova. Her comments usually seem so careful, with a focus on peace and conciliation. I'd be interested to read any provocative statements. Perhaps someone would be kind enough to post verifiable evidence to support such a claim? I know she acknowledged the
fait accompli of Crimea's return to Russia, 60 years of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR issued a decree to transfer the province from the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. But the Crimea is a bit of an exception, as the Grand Duchess explained in the
article Cory so kindly posted (I didn't see it until this morning). In the same interview she says that when it comes to any sort of territorial acquisition:
It is necessary always to consider if this specific instance will not end up damaging our common civilization, will be nothing more than a time bomb that will someday explode, will only spawn new problems in the interrelations between nations.
That seems fair enough to me, but maybe I have not seen the evidence that shows otherwise.
I had no idea Grand Duke Vladimir Kyrillovich supposedly had quiet talks with the Nazis about a possible restoration. How awful, not to mention treasonous. AristoCat says he,
supposedly had talks. I assume there is some evidence that led to this supposition; I'd be interested to see it. Perhaps someone would be kind enough to post verifiable evidence to support such a claim? This is all I have found so far. In 1938
Vladimir Kyrillovich publicly repudiated claims that the German Reich tried to tempt him with the offer of a crown. In 1942 the Grand Duke was placed in a
concentration camp at Compiegne after he refused to issue a manifesto calling on Russian emigres to support Germany's war against the Soviet Union. The obituary of
Grand Duchess Leonida Georgievna in
The Telegraph says that it was "falsely rumoured that Hitler wished to place him as a puppet Emperor in Russia." But maybe this was all just a smoke screen to cover the truth of co-operation with the Nazis. No smoke without fire, right? If so, the internment camp was a nice touch. However it seems unlikely, even if the Grand Duke was aggressively anti-communist. Also, I would assume his anti-communist views would exclude any toadying to the communists, but maybe I have not seen the evidence that shows otherwise.
I'm not aware of any cases of Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich's toadying to the Bolshiviks. I'd be interested to read about them. Perhaps someone would be kind enough to post verifiable evidence to support such a claim? Obviously Kirill Vladimirovich's recognition of the Provisional Government in 1917 was not exactly honourable. But that was the Provisional Government, not the Bolsheviks. However, I think it was understandable given the unprecedented circumstances. I know I would have found it difficult to maintain loyalty to an incompetent Emperor whose reign had been so disastrous. After the October Revolution, Grand Duke Kyrill Vladimirovich obviously recognised the dangers of a Bolshevik government and escaped to Finland. That seems fair enough to me, particularly as he had a young family to worry about, but maybe I have not seen the evidence that shows otherwise.
