Welcome to Russian History Retail, episode number 232, 1917, Part 5.

Last time we made it to the end of August of the incredible year of 1917.

Today we will finish the year with the Bolsheviks coming to power.

Our old friend Florence Harper gave this assessment about the Cornelaw affair which we talked about in the last episode.

One which many in the diplomatic court agreed with.

Quote,

I was filled with blind rage.

We all knew it was the last chance the Bolsheviks were armed.

The red guard was formed.

The split was definite.

Karinsky was doomed.

Having seen Cornelaw as the last chance for peace in Russia, many foreign nationals decided to leave the country.

Plans to evacuate all diplomatic embassies were being put into place.

The Americans had a steamship in the ready.

Important documents were moved by rail to Moscow to avoid having the Germans reach the capital.

Many foreign nationals who built businesses, raised families, and built lavish homes in Petrograd.

Left was what they could carry, leaving treasures behind.

This is about the time when my grandparents decided it was time to high-tail it out of Petrograd.

Many sold anything and everything they had to raise enough money to live outside Russia.

My grandparents decided to move to Belgrade, Serbia.

They were lucky as they were able to carry much of their wealth with them.

They would lose their fortune though when the Nazis took over during World War II.

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