Because my maternal and paternal sides were Germans, who were from a huge range of backgrounds (titled to dirt poor and without property), had migrated to Russia from the time of Catherine II "The Great" to the early 1800s, I have been provided a huge range of views of Russia. Some say I've been blessed with being able to understand the many different levels of Russian society, customs and politics. Some believe it is my curse to have just a huge range of knowledge and not be loyal to one social group.
The "rescue" of the the mother of Nicholas II is just one example. Yes, I understand her personal needs, as she viewed them when she order her trunks of personal items to be taken on board of the British ship. And, I applaud her for making demands for the many people, who were in a panic because they saw her taking leave of Russia with the help of the British, to be given transportation from Yalta. However, when I read about the trunks left on dock, my mind immediately turns to the 200 tons of Romanov stuff already on the ships... And, then in my mind's eye I can see the thousands of desperate faces who would never be taken on board because of the 200 tons of stuff....
Of course the British didn't want all those "dirty flea bitten" peasants on the same ship as the Romanovs. And, yes, of course I understand they didn't have the facilities to handle the number of people which could have replaced the 200 tons of Romanov stuff.... And, yes, I've read and heard a hundred (well maybe not a hundred but many) excellent reasons why they couldn't take on board more passengers. But do me a favor. For a moment in your minds eye place a child standing next to one of those trunks left on the dock and then peer into the child's frighten eyes which were reflecting Nicholas II's mother sailing away on the British ship that day.... What kind of feelings does this stir up in your heart?
When the mother of Nicholas II left, the people left behind knew that Russia around them was about to change. Enough people who had already passed through had spread their stories of what had happen to them before they were able to flee.... As far as I know, the only ones who were happy were the revolutionaries and the people who believed the revolution was going to free them from the yoke of depression they had suffered under the Tsars.
The "lucky ones", who sailed away on transportation provided, were dropped off at Constaninople. And, I'm sure the survivors could have a thread about what happen to them because they weren't allowed their "stuff" so most of them just had the clothes they were wearing, a few Russian coins in their pockets and maybe a few pieces of jewelry....
AGRBear