Speech to Ivanovo-Voznesensk Communist Workers Leaving for the Front

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The speech was made at Trade Union House in Moscow to communist workers of Ivanovo-Voznesensk who were on their way to the front. On October 3 a town Party meeting had been held in lvanovo-Voznesensk at which every Party member was called upon to spare no effort to defeat Denikin’s army, and the Party organisations were called upon to start mobilising Communists for the front. On October 9 the Bureau of the Ivanovo-Voznesensk Gubernia Committee passed a decision to announce a general Party mobilisation, In a short period about 350 men were mobilised. The first group was seen off on October 22 and arrived in Moscow on October 24. In a letter to the Revolutionary Military Council of the Southern Front Lenin wrote: “I heartily recommend the bearer, Comrade Stepan Nazarov, a Bolshevik whom I have known personally for a long time.

“Together with other Ivanovo-Voznesensk comrades they formed a well-planned organised group (of from 300 to 500 men) for giving all-round service to and raising the morale of a whole army.

“I heartily recommend the comrades and request you earnestly to take all steps not to lose sight of them, but make proper and careful use of them” (Collected Works, Vol. 51, Fifth Russian Edition, Document 121).

Reporter’s Notes

In his speech Comrade Lenin described the general situation at our fronts and pointed out that it was the duty of every intelligent worker to render the greatest possible assistance to our fronts in the matter of proper supply of munitions, food, clothing, etc.

He expressed his conviction that the communist workers of Ivanovo-Voznesensk would be able to exercise a beneficial influence on the peasants in the front-line area and be a great help in conducting political work among the Cossacks.