The Year 1915
On the Southwest Front, Boehm-Ermolli's Austro-Hungarian forces advanced east of Brody. The Russians were falling back to the Sereth River.
The Tsar and Empress left Tsarskoe Selo for a rare visit to their capital at Petrograd to pray at his father's tomb in the St. Peter and Paul Cathedral. They then prayed for guidance before the icon of the Virgin at Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral. During the evening the Tsar delivered a speech at the first meeting of the newly formed Joint Special Councils, urging them to work for the good of the country. The Tsar was firm in his decision to assume the role of commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
On 3 September, at Petrograd, eight of thirteen Cabinet ministers signed a letter of resignation addressed to the Tsar, which begged him not to dismiss Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, stating “We venture once more to tell you that to the best of our judgment your decision threatens with serious consequences Russia, your dynasty and your person.” Their letter was handed to the Tsar, who then left for Stavka on the 4th, after having refused their resignations.
The London Times man in Petrograd, Robert Wilton, wrote privately to London, stating “The loathsome Rasputin played no small part in suggesting the Tsar's mystical motives for taking up the High Command. Rasputin always works in the same way. He tells the Empress that he had a vision that certain things must be done, the Empress then retails this stuff to her husband and the trick is done. It reminds one of the Byzantine Court.”
On the Northern Front, the Russians were forced over to the east bank of the Dvina River.
British submarine E.13 attempted to enter the Baltic Sea and was sunk by the Germans in Danish waters.
On the Western Front, the Russians briefly re-entered Grodno, and were now holding a line between the Pripyat marshes and the Dniester River.
Grand Duke Nicholai Nikolaevich was formally appointed Viceroy of the Caucasus.
German General von Beseler was appointed Governor General of Russian Poland.
On 4 September, on the Western Front, the Germans developed their offensive on the Dubno - Kovno road. The Russians slowly fell back in the center, while the Germans captured Grodno.
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