Lena Goldfields Massacre and the Crisis of the Late Tsarist State

In 1912 a thin line of Russian soldiers, confronted by a large crowd of gold miners on strike for several weeks, reacted with fear and anger. At their officers’ orders, they opened fire, shooting five hundred unarmed protestors. The event reverberated across Russia.

The Lena goldfields massacre can be viewed from several distinct viewpoints, each presenting a contrasting story. Author Michael ...