This Day In History

On this day in 1905, Russian workers were massacred by Tsarist troops, an event which became known as ‘Bloody Sunday’. The workers were staging a peaceful, unarmed march to Tsar Nicholas II’s Winter Palace to petition him. They were gunned down by the Imperial Guard. The massacre, and apparent disregard for the lives of Russian citizens shown by the Tsar undermined support for the government. It also set off the failed 1905 Revolution, and some have said gave impetus to the successful 1917 Revolution, when the Bolsheviks seized power and created the Soviet state.

By the Julian calendar, which was used at this time, the massacre occured on the 9th January. By the modern Gregorian calendar, it would have fallen on January 22nd. The march was led by Father Gapon, and the participants sang patriotic songs such as ‘God Save the Tsar!’.

The number of deaths varies. Official tsarist accounts recorded 96 dead and 333 injured, however anti-government sources claimed some 4000 died. Moderate estimes are of around 1000 being killed or wounded.

As Gapon saw the horror unfurling, he supposedly said:
“There is no Tsar…”