Telegram to Joseph Stalin, February 20, 1920

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First Published: First published on January 21, 1935 in Pravda No. 21; Published according to the telegram

Source: Lenin Collected Works, 4th English Edition, Progress Publishers, Moscow, 1965, Volume 30, page 370

To Comrade Stalin,

Member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the South-Western Front

By direct line

Moscow, February 20

The situation on the Caucasian Front is assuming a more serious character. In the situation obtaining today we may possibly lose Rostov and Novocherkassk and the enemy may attempt to develop his successes further to the north and threaten the Donets area. Adopt exceptional measures to hasten the transfer of the 42nd and the Latvian divisions and strengthen their fighting potential. I expect that you will appreciate the general situation and bend all your efforts to achieve important results.

Lenin


Published: Printed from the original.

Source: Lenin Collected Works, Progress Publishers, 1975, Moscow, Volume 44, page 343b.

Transmitted in code by direct line.—Ed.

Stepping up the movement of reinforcements from the South-Western Front to the Caucasian Front is your concern. It is necessary in general to help in every way and not wrangle about departmental competences.[1]

Lenin

  1. ↑ Written in reply to Stalin’s telegram to Lenin saying: “I am not clear why the Caucasian Front is primarily my concern.... Reinforcement of the Caucasian Front is wholly the concern of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic, the members of which, according to my information, are in good health, and not the concern of Stalin, who is overworked as it is.” = (Collected Works, Fifth Ed., Vol. 51, p. 409.)