Telegram to V.I. Lenin, August 12, 1920

Source: Tom 17

To Lenin.

First, I should like to congratulate both you and myself on this victory, but I must confess that I do not believe Lloyd George's statement, as transmitted by Kamenev.

Second, our present blow against Wrangel cannot be crushing, since, owing to the inefficiency of the High Command, the northern divisions were transferred to the Crimean front slowly, with large intervals, and we were compelled to commit them to battle piecemeal, without waiting for the arrival of the remaining forces. For example, the volunteer brigade has still not been fully delivered, since the field staff for some reason set the norm for transport at one echelon per day, and the brigade has twenty-three echelons in all. My impression is that the Commander-in-Chief and company are sabotaging the work of organizing victory over Wrangel; in any case, they do not display one-tenth of the desire to win that they undoubtedly displayed in the struggle against Poland. Moreover, the Commander-in-Chief refuses to provide cavalry. In view of this, our present blow against Wrangel cannot be considered decisive.

Stalin.

Source: Bolshevik Leadership. Correspondence. 1912-1927, p. 155.

RGASPI. F. 558. Op. 1. D. 1940. L. 1-3.

NOTE

This telegram was a reply to Lenin's telegram of August 11, 1920: "We have just received Kamenev's dispatch. England has taken fright at the general strike, and Lloyd George has stated that he advises Poland to accept our armistice conditions, including disarmament, transfer of weapons to the workers, land, and the rest. Our victory is great and will be the most complete if we finish off Wrangel. Here we are taking all measures. Press hard yourselves to take the whole of Crimea with this blow at all costs. Everything now depends on this. The Poles are dragging their feet and have not arrived on time. For us this is extremely advantageous" (Collected Works, Vol. 51, pp. 254-255).