from Stalin to CC

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 I. V. Stalin, S. K. Minin, K. E. Voroshilov to Ya. M. Sverdlov, Central Committee of the RCP(b)

October 5, 1918

5.X. 1918

MOSCOW, KREMLIN, CIK SVERDLOV.

Copy of the Central Committee of Party 1

The conversation with Trotsky2 was very short, deliberately offensive, logically incomprehensible, the conversation was interrupted by Trotsky, after which Sytin and Mekhonoshin began to transmit a secret order without a cipher and only after a protest did they transmit the rest in cipher. Unconditionally recognizing the necessity of centralization and subordination, we now, after what Trotsky said and after all the confusion in orders, are completely perplexed, because, even if we wish, any kind of subordination becomes impossible and impracticable on our part, and therefore all questions have to be postponed until Stalin's arrival in Moscow. Meanwhile, the delay in supplies is having a disastrous effect on the front. Telegram 657 received, report regularly sent once a day. Now it will be twice. Today Stalin leaves 3 .

Stalin, Minin, Voroshilov.

RTSKHIDNI. F. 558. On. 1. D. 5414. L. 2-4. Handwritten text on a telegraph form.

Notes:

1 The telegram was sent from Tsaritsyn to Moscow.

2On October 4, 1918, Trotsky from Tambov telegraphed Lenin to Moscow: “[...] I categorically insist on the recall of Stalin. On the Tsaritsyn front, things are not going well, despite the excess of forces. Voroshilov can command a regiment, but not an army of fifty thousand soldiers, nevertheless I will leave him in command of the tenth Tsaritsyn army on the condition of submission to the commander of the South Sytin. To this day, the Tsaritsyntsy do not even send operational reports to Kozlov, I ordered them to submit operational and intelligence reports twice a day, if tomorrow this is not done, I will put Voroshilov and Minin on trial and announce this in the order for the army. Since Stalin and Minin remain in Tsaritsyn, they, according to the constitution of the Revolutionary Military Council, enjoy only the rights of members of the Revolutionary Military Council of the 10th Army. We cannot recognize their collegial command, and responsibility for all operational actions is assigned directly to Voroshilov personally. There is a short time left for the offensive until the autumn thaw, when there is no road for either a pedestrian or a rider. Without coordination with Tsaritsyn, serious action is not possible, there is no time for diplomatic negotiations, Tsaritsyn must either submit or leave. We have successes [in] all the armies, except for the South, especially the Tsaritsyn, where we have a colossal superiority of forces, but complete anarchy at the top. This can be dealt with in 24 hours, subject to your firm and determined support; in any case, this is the only way that I see for myself [...]” (RTSKHIDNI. F. 5. On. 1. D. 2433. L. 33; The Trotsky papers. London-Paris, 1964. Vol. 1. P. 134-136). On October 5, 1918, Trotsky sent a telegram to Sverdlov, which he received from Kozlov from Vatsetis: “Stalin’s combat order number one hundred and eighteen must be suspended by execution. I have given all instructions to the Commander of the Southern Front, Sytin. Stalin's actions destroy all my plans [...]” (Ibid. R. 140). Obviously, after this telegram, Trotsky had a direct wire conversation with Stalin, Minin and Voroshilov, which is discussed in this telegram.

3 By decision of the Central Committee of the RCP(b), on October 5, 1918, Stalin left for Moscow.