Stalin to Ordzhonisky

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

I. V. Stalin - G. K. Ordzhonikidze.

July 17 [1918]

Received a letter, Sergo, as well as greetings from Kalnin. I don't have much time, so I'll get straight to the point .

1. First question. Interruption of railway communication and complete isolation, on the one hand, of Russia from the only grain region, which makes famine inevitable (keep in mind that the paths to Kizlyar, as well as to Petrovsk, are also interrupted) and, on the other hand, the Rostov Front from supply centers which will inevitably lead to the collapse of this front. Without the immediate restoration of the line, food riots in the North and the loss of the North Caucasus become inevitable. We do not have sufficient forces here to restore the line immediately. I believe that you most likely can find free forces to strike from the south (the line is interrupted to Zimovniki). In any case, a simultaneous strike from the south and from the north is absolutely necessary . Hurry before it's too late.

2. You have a radio station of great power, you could regularly inform Tsaritsyn where there is a receiving radio station. Why don't you use this path? The air route is undoubtedly convenient, but the pilots are capricious and inefficient, and besides, they cannot always be trusted.

3. About the adventures of the Left SRs in Moscow 3 and Muravyov near Samara 4 You must be aware that in Moscow the Left SRs, wishing to draw Russia into the war, killed Mirbakh. Assassins shot 5 . In this regard, the Germans demand the introduction of one battalion to Moscow to guard the embassy. The Council of People's Commissars and the Central Executive Committee resolutely rejected the demand of the Germans, declaring that Russia was ready to support its refusal by all means, up to and including war. Lenin believes that the Germans will yield. Nevertheless, all members of the Council of People's Commissars recommend to Kalnin extreme vigilance and full combat readiness just in case. Ants, wishing to support the adventure of the Left Socialist-Revolutionaries, made an attempt to open the front to the Czechoslovaks and move troops to Moscow and St. Petersburg. The attempt failed, Muraviev shot himself 6 .

4. Collect information about the quantity of grain shipments, firstly, on wheels, and secondly, at procurement points, and report immediately 7 .

5. How are your negotiations with the Germans going? What is the political situation in the Kuban and Terek regions?

6. I am sending you a code.

Commissar Stalin.

PS There are rumors that Kalinin is retiring. We all urge him not to leave his post at this grave moment.

RTSKHIDNI. F. 85. On. 6. D. 83. L. 1-2. Certified typewritten copy.

Notes:

1 The letter was sent from Tsaritsyn to the Terek region, where Ordzhonikidze, being the Extraordinary Commissar of the South of Russia, was suppressing the uprising of the Terek Cossacks led by Bicherakhov.

2 In July 1918, the Don Army of Krasnov launched the first offensive against Tsaritsyn. After the capture of the Torgovaya and Velikoknyazheskaya stations (July 25 and 28), Tsaritsyn's connection with the North Caucasus was interrupted. On the other hand, in July 1918, the White Cossacks captured Mozdok and, having created the Provisional People's Government of the Terek Territory, laid siege to Grozny and Kizlyar.

On July 6, 1918, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, the German ambassador, Count Mirbach, was killed by the Left Socialist-Revolutionaries in Moscow. Lenin informed Stalin of this by telegram on July 7, 1918. “[...] The Left SRs, not wanting to hand over the killer, arrested Dzerzhinsky and Latsis and started an uprising against us. We will liquidate this very night mercilessly and tell the people the whole truth: we are within a hair's breadth of war. We have hundreds of Left Socialist-Revolutionaries hostage [...] ”(Lenin V.I. PSS. T. 50. P. 114).

4 On June 13, 1918, the Left Socialist-Revolutionary Muravyov was appointed commander of the Eastern Front. After the Left SR rebellion in Moscow, he announced his withdrawal from the Left SR party. However, on July 10, Muravyov arrested the Iggab of the 1st Army in Simbirsk and, declaring himself the commander-in-chief of the army acting against Germany, ordered the troops of the front to move to the Volga and further to the West. By decree of the Council of People's Commissars of July 11, 1918, he was declared a traitor (Decrees of Soviet Power. T. 3. S. 9-10). The troops of the front did not support Muravyov.

5 In reality, Mirbach's killers were not shot.

6 When arrested on July 11, 1918, Muravyov offered armed resistance and was killed rather than shot himself, as Stalin says in a letter.

7 By the Decree of the Council of People's Commissars of March 18, 1918, signed by Lenin and Tsyurupa, Ordzhonikidze was authorized to take emergency measures to evacuate grain and other food cargoes deep into the Russian Republic, as well as other essentials from the south of Russia.