During the July crisis of 1914, demonstrations against Germany took place in Kharkiv. According to a report in the newspaper *Yuzhny Krai* dated July 21, the protesters gathered at the Belgian consulate, mistaking it for the German consulate. A noisy demonstration began. After the crowd realized its mistake, the procession moved toward the French consulate. The ambassador stepped out onto the balcony and sang “La Marseillaise.” The consulate was located at Basseyna Street, 39 (now Yaroslava Mudrogo Street).

The scent of a great war hung in the air, but no one could have imagined what a horrific meat grinder it would turn out to be, or how many lives would be shattered…