The White Russians in Istanbul

After the revolution in 1917, Russian aristocracy found itself on the brink of disaster; they had a choice between being annihilated or leaving their homeland fast, and naturally chose the second course. It is estimated that nearly half a million White Russians passed through Istanbul, Turkey, between the years 1918-1920, most of whom went on to France, the United States or Canada. Some, however, remained in Turkey. A very small portion of the original immigrants are alive today, and those who have passed away have left their children behind, with faded photographs in ancient albums. As the White Russian community in Istanbul grows smaller and smaller, the memoirs of the survivors of the 1917 revolution become more and more important.