to Stalin from Voroshilov

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 K. E. Voroshilov to I. V. Stalin and L. D. Trotsky

October 7, 1918

ARZAMAS, MILITARY REVIEW COUNCIL OF THE REPUBLIC.

MOSCOW, KREMLIN, CEC TO STALIN.

KOZLOV, PRE-WAR ADVISORY TO TROTSKY1

On September 17, the Military Revolutionary Council of the Republic appointed me a member of the Military Revolutionary Council of the Southern Front and Assistant Commander of the Southern Front. So far, I have not received a cancellation of my appointment from the Military Revolutionary Council of the Republic. At the same time, telegrams signed by the Pre-War Revolutionary Council of the Republic of Trotsky, received in recent days, indicate the creation of the Military Revolutionary Council of the Southern Front in a new composition and in which I am called the commander of the tenth army. Considering only the resolutions of the Military Revolutionary Council of the Republic to be lawful for myself, I ask for clarification whether I, along with comrades Stalin and Minin, have been removed from the post of members of the Military Revolutionary Council of the Southern Front. Before receiving instructions from the Military Revolutionary Council of the Republic, I do not consider myself entitled to carry out the sole orders of Trotsky. I consider it my duty to declare that the endless confusion of orders canceling one another, in recent days have had a detrimental effect on the situation at the front, which is already yielding deplorable results. If such phenomena are not urgently eliminated and the equipment does not work out, I relieve myself of responsibility for the consequences.2 .

VOROSHILOV

October 7th 1918.

RTSKHIDNI. F. 5. On. 5. D. 56. L. 1. Certified typewritten copy.

Notes:

1 The telegram was sent from Tsaritsyn to three addresses: 1) to Arzamas, where the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic was located (to Deputy Trotsky - Sklyansky); 2) to Moscow - to Stalin; 3) to the headquarters of the Southern Front in Kozlov, where Trotsky arrived.

2On October 6, 1918, Stalin telegraphed Voroshilov from Moscow: “The Congress of Soviets opens in five minutes. I am going there, by the way, in order to discuss your note with the Central Committee. Receive an answer as soon as possible, then the opportunity is today. Stalin "(K. E. Voroshilov on the Tsaritsyn Front. G. 83). It is quite probable that between Stalin and Voroshilov there was an agreement that the latter would send an official telegram addressed to Stalin and Trotsky. Stalin knew the contents of the telegram in advance. Most likely, it was a copy of the note referred to in Stalin's telegram dated October 6, 1918. The Central Committee did not support Stalin's position, decided to replenish the RVS of the Southern Front with Mekhonoshin, Legrand and Okulov and transferred its base from Tsaritsyn to Kozlov. Sverdlov went to Kozlov to settle the conflict. Apparently, Voroshilov on October 7, 1918 did not yet know about Trotsky's telegram to Lenin dated October 4, 1918 (See note 2 to document No. 23) and was not familiar with the decision of the Central Committee. Subsequently, Voroshilov had to obey. (Litvin A. L., Polikarpov V. D., Spirin L. M. Civil war. Breaking old dogmas and stereotypes // Historians argue. M., 1989. P. 63). An important role in understanding the further development of the conflict, as well as Sverdlov’s position and role in its settlement, is played by the set of correspondence for the second half of December 1918 between Sverdlov, Lenin and Trotsky (The Trotsky papers. Vol. 1. P. 158-164) . 63). An important role in understanding the further development of the conflict, as well as Sverdlov’s position and role in its settlement, is played by the set of correspondence for the second half of December 1918 between Sverdlov, Lenin and Trotsky (The Trotsky papers. Vol. 1. P. 158-164) . 63). An important role in understanding the further development of the conflict, as well as the position and role in the settlement of Sverdlov, is played by the complex of correspondence for the second half of December 1918 between Sverdlov, Lenin and Trotsky (The Trotsky papers. Vol. 1. P. 158-164) .