First World War.com - Vintage Video - Tsar Nicholas II's Imperial War Declaration, 1914

First World War.com - A multimedia history of world war one

Tsar Nicholas II's imperial declaration of war, St. Petersburg, August 1914 Vintage Video: Tsar Nicholas II's Imperial War Declaration, 1914
Updated - Saturday, 29 November, 2003

With Russia's entry into the war against Germany popular reaction was - as elsewhere - enthusiastic. The popularity of the monarchy rose markedly and domestic political strife was, at least temporarily, set aside.

Tsar Nicholas II himself issued a public proclamation of war in St. Petersburg at the beginning of August 1914. This reflected perhaps the height of the Tsar's wartime popularity. Continuing military defeat, especially after the Tsar assumed personal command of his armies in 1915 (against the advice of his Cabinet), ultimately led to his downfall.

Click here to view footage of the proclamation and of the crowds gathered to view the Tsar and Tsarina (Windows Media, 41 seconds, 504KB).

The "Blue Max" was a reference to the prestigious German Pour le Merite medal.