to Stalin from Pyatakov

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

Telegram from G. L. Pyatakov of the Central Committee of the RCP(b), V. I. Lenin, Ya. M. Sverdlov, L. D. Trotsky, I. V. Stalin

[January 20] 1919

Moscow, Kremlin, Central Committee of the RCP.

Copy: Lenin, Sverdlov, Trotsky, Stalin.

Over the past few days, I have repeatedly tried to talk to you by wire, but failed, I sent telegrams by couriers in various ways to bring to your attention about the disgrace that is happening here. I use the call me comrade. Chicherin, in order to once again convey the facts, which you yourself must judge. First, the intrigue of Artem's group 1came to a direct fight with the army in the field; secondly, the struggle with the command reached the point that I was required to publish a decree on the appointment of Rukhimovich as Commander-in-Chief, Voroshilov, Mezhlauk as members of the Revolutionary Military Council, despite the written order of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic, this was strictly forbidden, I refused, considering the government had no right to cancel the orders of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic. Finding fault with this, the majority decided to remove me without even asking for the approval of the Central Committee of the RCP. It was decided by a majority - three against one with three abstentions, of those who abstained, Averin filed a protest against illegal actions to appoint Artem as Chairman 2. Then the newspapers published a government decree on the appointment of Rukhimovich as Commander-in-Chief, not even just a commander, Voroshilov, Mezhlauk as members of the Revolutionary Military Council, signed by Chairman of the Government Pyatakov, although I did not sign such a decree and I do not consider it possible to sign as illegal, because separatism in military affairs is a crime , my refutation that I did not sign [s] in the resolution was not published, moreover, order No. 1 was sent signed by Voroshilov, Rukhimovich, Mezhlauk on taking up duties, to which the Government's decree on their appointment to the Revolutionary Military Council was sent with the appointment of Rukhimovich Commander-in-Chief mention*, the original was signed by Chairman of the Government Pyatakov. I immediately sent out a circular telegram for signatures: mine, Zatonsky and the Commander of the Kharkov group3 with a refutation of the fact that I signed the decree and the message [that] the command remains the same. Such independent and disorganizing action of the Artemtsev brought the greatest confusion to the army, since their order No. 1 penetrated the army, and we were forced to refute it just as widely. You understand, the army cannot but be disorganized by such separate and unauthorized actions against the center of the current majority of the Government, two members of the majority of Mezhlauk and Magidov have not yet been approved by the Central Committee of the RCP. - I consider it necessary to inform, I attract those responsible for the abuse of my signature to the court of the Revolutionary Tribunal. The nature of the motivation: The Central Committee of the RCP does not exist, and we must act independently 4 .

Pyatakov.

RTSKHIDNI. F. 17. Op. 109. D. 12. L. 74. Certified typewritten copy.

Notes:

oneWith the support of Stalin, members of the Provisional Government Voroshilov, Artyom (Sergeev), as well as V.I. Mezhlauk and Rukhimovich began a struggle with Trotsky and the chairman of the government, who supported him, Pyatakov, for appointments to military posts. Reporting on January 10, 1919, in a telegram to Sverdlov about Okulov’s departure to Moscow with a report on Voroshilov’s work, Trotsky wrote: “I didn’t find Ukrainians in Kursk. Therefore, there were no negotiations. I declare categorically that the Tsaritsyn line, which led to the complete disintegration of the Tsaritsyn Army, cannot be tolerated in Ukraine. The only way out was to appoint Podvoisky as military commissar, Antonov as commander, and Glagolev as Chief of Staff. The last two appointments were made by us (the order to appoint Antonov-Ovseenko commander of the Ukrainian Front was announced on January 13, 1919 - Comp.). But it is necessary to maintain the authority of the Central Committee, because among the Ukrainians the collapse, the struggle of cliques for the lack of responsible and authoritative leaders [...] The line of Stalin, Voroshilov and Rukhimovich means the death of the whole cause [...] ”(RTSKHIDNI. F. 17. Op 109, D. 12, L. 72; The Trotsky papers, Vol. 1, P. 247-248). In a telegram dated January 11, 1918 to Lenin, Trotsky, agreeing with the need for a compromise, once again insisted: “[...] I consider Stalin’s patronage of the Tsaritsyno current a most dangerous ulcer, worse than any betrayal and betrayal of military specialists [...] Rukhimovich is pseudonym Voroshilov [...] Rukhimovich is not alone, they tenaciously cling to each other, raising ignorance into a principle [...] Let them appoint Artyom, but not Voroshilov and not Rukhimovich [...] ”(RTSKHIDNI. F. 17. 109, file 12, sheet 73; The Trotsky papers, vol 1, pp. 248-250).

On January 16, 1919, the issue of Ukraine was considered at a meeting of the Central Committee of the RCP (b). The Central Committee decided to appoint Rakovsky as chairman of the Ukrainian government and instructed him to "implement the complete removal of Voroshilov and Rukhimovich from military work [...] not to insist on leaving Antonov if the Ukrainians demand his removal, but to agree with them on another candidate [... ]” (News of the Central Committee of the CPSU. 1989. No. 6. P. 173). As a result of the compromise, Antonov-Ovseenko became the commander of the Ukrainian Front, and Podvoisky became the People's Commissar for Military Affairs of the Ukrainian government. Voroshilov took the post of People's Commissar of Internal Affairs, Artem (Sergeev) - People's Commissar of Soviet Propaganda, Zatonsky - People's Commissar of Education, Magidov - People's Commissar of Labor. V. I. Mezhlauk became Deputy People's Commissar for Military Affairs. Pyatakov, replaced by Rakovsky, did not enter the government.

2 Probably, this is a decree of the government of Ukraine "On the organization of military affairs", adopted on January 15, 1919 and published signed by Pyatakov. The decree was about the creation of a military department under the government of Ukraine with the subordination of all military commissariats operating on the territory of Ukraine to it. Artem (Sergeev) was appointed head of the department (Civil War in Ukraine. T. 1. Book 1. P. 554).

3 Aussem.

4 Apparently, this refers to the Artyom-Voroshilov group's references to the need to make independent decisions in connection with the isolation from the Central Committee of the Russian Communist Party in the conditions of hostilities.