Forty-fifth installment from the diary of my great-grandfather’s sister Alise, written during the First World War. When the diary starts, she is living just a few miles from the front lines of the Eastern Front, and is then forced to flee with her husband and two young daughters to her family’s house near Limbaži as the war moves even closer. Her third child, a son, was born there in February 1916. The family has now relocated to a home near Valmiera, and the Russian Revolution is in full swing. For more background, see here, and click on the tag “diary entries” to see all of the entries that I have posted.

New! If there is mention of a recognizable historical figure and event, I will provide a Wikipedia link so that you can read more about the events that Alise is describing.

September 6, 1917

The Provisional Government has proclaimed the Russian Republic. Rationing has grown, and soldiers are participating in destruction and theft. Our old LÄ“durga is completely destroyed, residents driven out, all of our old acquaintances have fled to the forest and are living there. Mr Å mits came to us and told us about his crazy experiences, which would require a lot of time to write down. So many terrible stories are coming from all directions. How long will we remain saved? Each day brings with it its own horrors. Still, the soul quietly hopes for what God will decide, who has Him in his heart will survive, when life is hard, God sends help. Destruction cannot be greater than the Saviour…