The Last Days of the RomanovsSokolov, N. (Nikolai)
History
The Last Days of the Romanovs
Sokolov, N. (Nikolai)
Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia, 1868-1918; Romanov, House of
I woke up after eight o’clock and went to the commandant’s room. I met
there the president of the district soviet, Beloborodoff and Commissar
Goloschekin and Ivan Starkoff; the last-named was on duty (he had been
selected to be senior two or three weeks before). All the rooms in the
house were in disorder. Things were scattered. Suit-cases and trunks
were opened. Piles of gold and silver things were laid on the tables of
the commandant’s room. Objects of jewelry which were taken from the
members of the czar’s family just before the murder, were also there; as
well as things that were on them after their death, such as bracelets,
earrings and watches. The precious objects were put into trunks that
were brought from the coach house. The assistant commandant was present.
In one of the rooms I found under the Holy Bible six ten-rouble bank
notes and appropriated them. I took also several silver rings and a few
other trifles.
On the morning of the 18th my wife arrived and I went with her to the
Sissert factory. I was instructed to distribute wages to the guardsmen’s
families. On July 21st I returned to Yekaterinburg. All the czar’s
belongings were already taken from the house and the guards relieved. On
July 21st I left Yekaterinburg together with the commissar, Mrachkovsky.
In Perm the Commissar Goloschokin assigned me to the party that was in
charge of preparations for the destruction of the stone bridge, in case
of the appearance of the White troops. I had not time enough to blow up
the bridge, according to the instructions received by me, and
furthermore I did not wish to do it either, as I was to surrender myself
voluntarily. I received the order to blow up the bridge when it was
under the fire of the Siberian troops and I surrendered voluntarily.
Answering the question as to where the bodies of the killed were taken,
I can say only the following: On the way from Yekaterinburg railway
station to the Alapaievsk I met Peter Ermakoff and asked him where the
bodies had been carried. Ermakoff explained to me that the bodies were
thrown down the shaft of a mine near the Verkh Issetsk works and after
that the shaft was destroyed by bombs or explosives in order to fill it
up. I do not know and never heard anything concerning the wood piles
that were burned near the shaft. I do not know anything more as to where
the bodies are. It did not interest me on whom depended the fate of the
czar’s family and who had the right to dispose of them. I executed only
the order of those in whose service I was.
The above is all that I can tell in reference to the accusation that is
made against me. I can not say any more. My testimony has been read to
me and it is taken correctly.
(_Signed_) MEDVEDEFF.
_Member of the Yekaterinburg District Court_,
J. SERGEEFF.
RESOLUTION:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account