Bolshevik Leaders correspondence

Bolshevik leadership Correspondence. 1912-1927
Collection of documents 1996.
Compiled by: A.V.Kvashonkin, L.P.Kosheleva, L.A.Rogovaya, O.V.Khlevnyuk.

No. 62

Telegram of L. D. Trotsky to I. V. Stalin

January 9, 1920

Adopted 9/1-20

THE REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL OF THE SOUTHERN FRONT TO STALIN.

By direct wire, immediately transfer personally to Stalin.

An extensive telegram was received from Makhno motivating his refusal to submit to command and join the Polish front .

First. Tell us what you know about Makhno's army, its combat composition in relation to ammunition and sources of replenishment.

Second. Do you think it possible to immediately begin encirclement and complete military liquidation of Makhno.

Third. In any case, I think it is necessary to immediately open the widest campaign, branding Makhno for refusing to obey the order and defend the right-bank Ukraine from the Polish lords as a simple robber and deserter.

Fourth. At the same time, it is probably possible to disarm his artillery base, sending there under the guise of anarchists a completely reliable audience. Since the Makhnovists almost completely do not take security measures, it is probably possible to destroy his stocks of cartridges.

January 9, 1920

TROTSKY.

RTSKHIDNI. F. 558. On. 1. D. 5458. L. 3v. Handwritten text.

Notes:

1 . See Document #63.

No. 63

Telegram from I. V. Stalin to L. D. Trotsky

[January 9, 1920]

Moscow is the Kremlin for Trotsky. Submit personally.

First. According to unverified information, Makhno's corps consists of no more than a thousand sabers and two thousand infantry 1 . Second, the encirclement of Makhno, begun a few days ago, will end on the ninth. The order to attack the Poles 2 was deliberately given in order to obtain extra material against Makhno in order to corrupt his associates, among whom disagreements reign. Your advice on a broad campaign is being carried out by the Revolutionary Military Councils and the Revolutionary Committee of the Ukraine 3 .

Stalin.

RTSHIDNI; F. 558. On. 1. D. 5458. L. 3. Autograph.

Notes:

On January 10, 1920, in an additional telegram to Trotsky, Stalin clarified the data on the number of Makhno's detachments: to Makhno in the difficult moments of the Red Army, and now gravitating towards us, the remaining third are more or less loyal [...] ”(RTSKHIDNI. F. 558. On. 1. D. 5458. L. 5-8).

2On January 8, 1920, in accordance with the order of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Southern Front, the command of the 14th Army issued an order, which, in particular, said: “The good army has been defeated, parts of it are fleeing from the punishing hand of the Red Army. The valiant units of the 14th and neighboring Red armies are approaching the sea [...] At the same time, the Poles [in] the area of Mozyr and Korosten, having concentrated the forces pushed by the Entente, are pressing the units of the Red Army [and] achieved temporary success. In order to put an end to the further advance of the Poles and deliver a decisive blow to them, according to the instructions received from the center, the Revolutionary Military Council of the 14th Army orders the head of all armed detachments, Makhno, to immediately, upon receipt of this order, proceed along the route Alexandria-Cherkasy-Borispol-Brovary-Chernigov-Gomel, where, having concentrated, to enter the disposal of the RVS of the 12th Army [...] ”(Civil War in Ukraine. Vol. 2. P. 635). Makhno and his commanders refused to carry out this order, which was telegraphed to Trotsky (see Document No. 62).

3On January 9, 1920, the Military Revolutionary Committee of Ukraine adopted and published a resolution declaring Makhno and his detachments illegal. “[...] The military command [...] suggested that the Makhnovists oppose the Poles and thereby support the Red Army and liberate our villages and cities from the yoke of the Polish landlords, and the workers from the slavery of the capitalists. But Makhno did not submit to the will of the Red Army, refused to oppose the Poles, declaring war on our liberator, the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army. Thus, Makhno and his group sold the Ukrainian people to the Polish lords, like Grigoriev, Petlyura and other traitors to the Ukrainian people. Therefore, the All-Ukrainian Revolutionary Committee decides: 1. Makhno and his group are outlawed as deserters and traitors. 2. All who support and shelter these traitors of the Ukrainian people will be mercilessly exterminated [...