Stalin to Lenin

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

Stalin Correspondences

J. V. Stalin - V. I. Lenin

August 31, 1918

31 days of August [mouth] 1918

Dear Vlad[imir] Ilyich!

We know for certain that the position of Voronezh militarily and politically is precarious, if not hopeless. Meanwhile, Voronezh and the Voronezh Front are of decisive importance for the entire southern front. In view of this, I, Minin and Voroshilov decided to send a group of loyal people to Voronezh to work in the sense of clearing Voronezh and the front from counter-revolutionary elements. I ask you to provide them with a letter signed by you, which could give the comrades we are sending to Voronezh direct access to the most important posts. Fulfill this request of ours, please 1 .

I firmly shake my hand. Your Stalin 2 .

RTSKHIDNI. F. 558. On. 1. D. 5411. L. 4. Autograph.

Notes:

oneOn August 30, 1918, after a rally at the Michelson plant in the Zamoskvoretsky district of Moscow, an attempt was made on Lenin. Stalin sent this letter without knowing about Lenin's injury. Apparently, until September 5, 1918, Sverdlov received correspondence addressed to Lenin. He also responded to the recipients. Sverdlov gave the order on September 5, 1918, at the request set out in Stalin's letter. Enclosing this letter from Comrade Stalin, I ask you to provide Comrade Krusser and four others, whom he indicates, with appropriate mandates ”(RTSKHIDNI. F. 558. On. 1. D. 5411. L. 3). Reports to Lenin on the state of affairs, as well as his acquaintance with correspondence, begin on September 6, 1918. It is on this day that Lenin reads correspondence from Stalin dated August 31, 1918 (V. I. Lenin. Biographical Chronicle. Vol. 6.

2 The letter was found in the archives of the Cheka and sent to Stalin on August 8, 1935 by Yagoda (RTSKHIDNI. F. 558. On. 1. D. 5411. L. 5). On the letterhead: “Russian Federative Soviet Republic. Military Council of the North Caucasian Military District. Tsaritsynn.