Part 3: Chapter 20 Summary and Analysis

On August 2, 1914, the day after the declaration of war by Germany, the Tsar announced the news at the Winter Palace to a square packed with thousands of people. They attended the service in the Salle de Nicholas with the icon the Vladimir Mother of God. Tsars invoke the blessing of the icon during wars. Men enlisted in the military throughout Russia and a crowd stormed the German embassy and vandalized its furnishings and artwork. Many people lost interest in the revolution due to the war and thought that they would have an easy time against Germany.

Nicholas and Alexandra traveled to Moscow to begin the war by following the tradition of asking for God's blessing in the Kremlin. Alexis had to be carried into the ceremony since the eleven-year-old could not walk. Returning to Tsarskoe Selo, Nicholas banned the...