“finally it became clear that the Germans were by no means vicious. When our fat Sanya took a spill on the slippery sidewalk and began to bawl, a German soldier who was passing by said

‘Whoops’

cheerfully, lifted him up, snapped his fingers cleverly and whistled so loudly that Sanya immediately shut up. And I was convinced that the Germans were good people who were not only for the Tsar, but for all of us.”

…

But I, from the age of ten, was convinced that the Germans were the most cultured people in the world and the best friends of Russia, and the German monarchy was the fairest form of government.”