Presentation of the book "My Service in the Old Guard, 1905-1917," by Yu.V. Makarov

The book's presentation which took place on 1 November, 2001, is one of the first steps in the program launched by the State Hermitage to create a Museum of the Russian Guards in the Central Staff building. The Sudarynya Publishing House from St. Petersburg for the first time in Russia published the memoirs of Yury Makarov who was born into an officer's family and emigrated from Russia after the 1917 revolution. (The book was first published in 1951 in Buenos Aires by the author's widow).

Yury Vladimirovich Makarov was officer of the Semenovsky Regiment of Life Guards, one of the oldest Russian regiments, glorified in many wars. In his memoirs he traced the principal events of the Semenovsky Regiment's history during the last years of its existence, from 1905 to 1917. This is an objective and impartial yet deeply personal story of the life of Russian officers, first of all their elite, the Guards, of their traditions and customs, strong ties of friendship, fidelity to the oath and the officer's code of honor. The author describes picturesquely the Regiment's life in times of piece and war and presents a gallery of portraits of typical representatives of the Russian officer corps, from lieutenant to general. The book is especially valuable because it contains unique information hardly available to contemporary historians. The internal life of the Officers' Assembly in and outside the capital is described in detail. Quite a few pages deal with the cultural life of St. Petersburg/Petrograd at the dawn of the 20th century.

Yu.V. Makarov dedicated his book "to the memory of Russian warriors who defended their Fatherland during the thousand years of its history."

Yu.V. Makarov's book "My Service in the Old Guard, 1905-1917"

G.V. Vilinbakhov, Deputy Director

Yu.V. Makarov's grandson at the book's presentation

At the book's presentation