Ambasador carske Rusije u Beogradu Nikolaj Hartvig (1857-1914) poznat kao veliki panslavista i prijatelj Srbije iznenada je preminuo u austro-ugarskom poslanstvu, prilikom posete ambasadoru Gizlu od Gizlingena 27. juna 1914. po starom (10 jula po novom kalendaru). Iako se sumnjalo da je otrovan, opšte je mišljenje da se Hartvig uzrujao pošto mu je pokazan ultimatum Austro-ugarske srpskoj vladi, posle čega je doživeo srčani udar i na mestu preminuo. Njegovom pogrebu 1 jula 1914 po starom (14 jula po novom) je prisustvovalo preko sto hiljada građana Beograda i cele Srbije.

Na filmu je zabeležen izlazak stranih diplomata iz zgrade ruskog poslanstva, izlazak mitropolita srpskog Dimitrija koji je sa niškim i šabaškim episkopima i trideset i tri sveštenika održao kratko opelo u poslanstvu, kao i iznošenje kovčega sa pokojnikovim telom iz zgrade poslanstva, koga su nosili oficiri i činovnici Ministarstva inostranih poslova na čelu sa predsednikom srpske vlade i Hartvigovim ličnim prijateljem Nikolom Pašićem. Kamera snimatelja koji je radio za producenta Đoku Bogdanovića je takođe snimila pogrebnu povorku na centralnoj beogradskoj ulici Terazije kojom se nepregledna kolona kretala na putu od Saborne crkve gde je služeno opelo do Novog groblja.

U najužoj pratnji pored svečanih kola sa pokojnikovim telom su išli najviđeniji članovi srpskog političkog, vojnog i kulturnog života, kao i ceo diplomatski kor. Poslednju molitvu pokraj Hartvigovog kovčega za pokoj njegove duše na Novom groblju je održao mitropolit Dimitrije, kraj koga su stajali Hartvigova supruga sa porodicom, predsednik vlade Nikola Pašić i ministar prosvete i crkvenih poslova Ljubomir Jovanović.

The funeral of the Russian imperial deputies N. Hartvig

Ambassador of the Russian Empire in Belgrade, Nicholas Hartwig (1857-1914), also known as an ardent Pan-Slavist and friend of Serbia, passed away unexpectedly in the Austro-Hungarian embassy, during his visit to the ambassador Baron Giesl von Gieslingen  on the 27th June 1914 upon the old Calendar (10th July upon the new Calendar). Although it was thought he had been poisoned, the general opinion is that Hartwig got upset after he had been shown the ultimatum of the Austro-Hungarian to the Serbian government, after which he had a heart attack and died on the spot.

Over a hundred thousand citizens of Belgrade and Serbia attended his funeral on the 1st July 1914 upon the old Calendar (14th July upon the new Calendar). Foreign diplomats exiting the building of the Russian mission can be seen in the film along with exiting of the Serbian Metropolitan Dimitrije and bishops from Niš and Šabac, with whom the Metropolitan (accompanied with thirty three priests) held a short requiem in the embassy, as well as carrying of the casket with the deceased body out of the embassy building by the officers and clerks of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headed by the President of the Serbian government and Hartwig`s close friend Nikola Pašić.

Camera of the cameraman working for the producer Đoka Bogdanović also recorded the funeral procession in the central Belgrade street Terazije, along which the vast convoy was on the way from the Cathedral Church of St. Michael the Archangel, where the requiem was held, to Novo groblje (New Cemetery). In the closest cortege walking beside the ceremonial car carrying the deceased body, there were the most prominent members of the Serbian political, military and cultural life, as well as the complete diplomatic corps. The last prayer for his soul to be at peace was held next to the Hartwig`s coffin at Novo groblje by the Metropolitan Dimitrije. Hartwig`s spouse and family stood beside the coffin together with the President of the Government Nikola Pašić and the Minister of Education and Ecclesial Affairs Ljubomir Jovanović.