In 1914 after a long siege the Russian forces in Port Arthur surrendered to the Japanese. The humiliation added to the discontent and on 3rd January 1905 a strike began at the Putilov Iron works in St Petersburg which soon involved around 150000 workers
Economic grievances mixed with political ones and Father Gapon to whose union many of the strikes belonged decided to conduct a peaceful march to the Tsar's winter palace in the centre of St Petersburg
Gapon wished to present a petition to Nicholas II demonstrating the workers' loyalty but also requesting reform. Although Gapon was warned of the likelihood for trouble the march went ahead
Whereas Nicholas II chose to spend the weekend at Tsarskoe Selo his summer palace a little way from the city 12000 troops were used to break up the demonstration. The day became known as 'bloody sunday' and it sparked an outbreak of rebellion which spread throughout the Empire
The workers and families marched on 9th January singing hymns and carrying icons patriotic banners crosses and pictures of former Tsars. They set out from various points around the city heading for the Winter Palace
In the Winter Palace square the marchers met more Cossacks cavalry and some heavy artillery but they refused to disperse. When troops with bayonets assumed a shooting position many fell to their knees and crossed themselves- but the troops still fired
Only after the assassination of Grand Duke Sergei the Tsar's uncle did Nicholas finally agree to meet the workers' representatives at Tsarskoe Selo. Even then he inflamed sentiment by suggesting the marchers had been badly advised and that strikers should return to work
He dismissed the moderate Mirsky and brought in two new officials who were prepared a hard-line policy: Alexander Bulygin as his Minister for Internal Affairs and Major-General Dmitri Trepov as the new military governor of St Petersburg
