The Romanov Rescue

1

We’re guessing here. There were, in fact, thirty-nine salvage companies that operated along the main lines of communication of the German Army, east and west. Where they were at any given time is a mystery. Warsaw seems a likely spot for some kind of huge dump of captured material, following the Gorlice-Tarnow Offensive in 1915. Nor is it likely that the Polish Legion would have used any of the Russian uniforms; theirs seem to have been closely based on German, with the addition of red piping to the collars and pockets, for example.

2

A Russian unit of distance close to, but just slightly farther than, a kilometer. Four versts would be about two and a half miles, or an hour’s easy walk, on flat and level ground, for a man in good shape, bearing a heavy pack.

3

The Arshin was an archaic Russian unit of measure, set by Tsar Peter the Great at exactly twenty-eight English inches.

4

The actual command is “Prepare to give way.”

5

6

Very free and loose translation:

Yes, Russian folk and army songs, to the extent these differ, often revolve around sentiments about the merest things of home.