Source E From a letter dated 15 November 1915, written by Alexandra to Nicholas giving him advice about fighting the war against Germany

‘Now before I forget, I must give you…a message from our Friend [Rasputin] prompted by what He saw in the night. He begs you to order that we should advance near Riga…says it is necessary, otherwise the Germans will settle down so firmly through all the winter, that it will cost endless bloodshed and trouble to make them move…he says this is just now the most essential thing and begs you seriously to order an advance, he says we can and we must, and I was to write it to you at once.’

Source F: From a report of 29 December 1916 by Stanislaus de Lazovert, a Polish aristocrat who had helped to murder Rasputin.

‘The story of Rasputin and his clique is well known. They sent the army to the trenches without food or arms, they left them there to be slaughtered, they betrayed…and deceived the Allies they almost succeeded in delivering Russia bodily to the Germans.

Rasputin…had absolute power in Court. The Tsar was a nonentity…his only desire being to abdicate and escape the whole vile business. Rasputin continued his life of vice, partying and passion. The Grand Duchess reported these things to the Tsarina and was banished from Court for her pains. This was the condition of affairs when we decided to kill this monster.’

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