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. 68

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

March 21 [1920]

Kharkov, to Stalin by direct wire 1 ,

I send Tukhachevsky the following request:

After you have captured Novorossiysk and Grozny 2 , it is planned to take 3 rifle divisions and 3 cavalry divisions from you . Top-ups can only be given to you with the opening of navigation. Please answer, do you consider it possible under such conditions to immediately conduct an operation to capture and hold Baku? Take into account the possibilities of support for Azerbaijan by Georgia 4 .

20th of March.

I add to this: It is desirable to conclude a deal with Georgia, promising her full immunity and oil. I consider it possible to remove not 6 divisions, but 4 from the Caucasian Front for the Western Front.

Let me know your thoughts.

Moscow, March 21.

Trotsky, chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council.

I ask you to reply to this dispatch during the night, in any case not later than 11 a.m. on March 22.

Commissioner M. Grushin

RTSKHIDNI. F. 558. On. 1. D. 5481. L. 4-7. Original, telegraph form.

Notes:

1 On Lenin's initiative, in February 1920, Stalin was entrusted with control over the transfer of reinforcements to the Caucasian front (Lenin V. I. PSS. T. 51. P. 335).

2 The order to attack Grozny was issued by the command of the Caucasian Front on March 12, 1920 (Directives of the Command of the Fronts of the Red Army. Vol. 2. P. 499). On March 23, 1920, Ordzhonikidze informed Stalin: “[...] The Kuban has been forced. Prokhladnaya was taken in the Grozny direction, in two days we will present Grozny and Mozdok [...] ”(RTSKHIDNI. F. 558. On. 1. D. 5482. L. 2).

On March 28, 1920, the delay in the capture of Grozny provoked an angry telegram from Lenin to members of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Front Smilga and Ordzhonikidze: “We desperately need oil, consider a manifesto to the population that we will slaughter everyone if they burn and spoil oil and oil fields and, on the contrary, give life everyone, if Maikop and especially Grozny are handed over intact [...]” (Ibid. F. 85. Op. 6/S. D. 15. L. 5; The Trotsky papers. Vol. 2. P. 80) . Grozny was taken by the Red Army in late March - early April 1920.

4 We are talking about the transfer of several units to the Western Front against Poland.

5 At that time, an operation was being prepared to Sovietize Azerbaijan and Georgia by the forces of the Caucasian Front. The first step was to capture the Baku oil fields. On March 17, 1920, Lenin telegraphed Ordzhonikidze: “It is extremely, extremely necessary for us to take Baku. Direct all your efforts towards this, and be sure to be purely diplomatic in your statements and make sure to the maximum that a firm local Soviet government is prepared. The same applies to Georgia, although I advise you to treat it even more carefully. Agree on the transfers with the Commander-in-Chief ”(Lenin V.I. PSS. T. 51. S. 163-164).

No. 69

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

March 20 [1920]

Moscow Pre - Revolutionary Military Council to Trotsky 1 .

Received encryption. The Caucasian Front has at least 25 rifle and 10 cavalry divisions, in my opinion, 6 divisions can be taken from there against the Poles, according to your assumption. The rest of the forces can safely hold the Baku region. Georgians are not dangerous if we promise neutrality.

Stalin.

RTSKHIDNI. F. 558. On. 1. D. 5481. L. 3. Handwritten text, with the words "The rest of the forces", editing, signature - autograph.

Notes:

1 In the upper left corner of the document there is an inscription: “Executed on 21/ПІ”.