Speech at the Kremlin Breakfast for Participants of the May Day Parade, May 2, 1934

On Tanks

My wishes to the tank crews:

— I would wish that we had more amphibious tanks. We need incomparably more of them than we have.

— I would wish to have more T-28 and T-35 tanks; they have performed rather well.

— Furthermore, I would wish to have more BT tanks, but not of the kind we have now. The BT is a good tank, but it would be desirable for it to have more driving axles and to be self-propelled — wheeled-tracked.

On Artillery

There are artillerists here. Our regimental artillery must increase its range. We need a range on the order of 12–14 kilometers.

On Infantry

Infantry retains its significance, but it is not infantry that decides victory — victory is decided by aviation, while infantry consolidates the territory, consolidates the victory.

On Aviation

Here, it seems, there are mainly pilots. My wishes to you:

— I would wish that our fighters had a speed of 440–450 kilometers per hour.

— Our reconnaissance aircraft must achieve this same speed of 440–450 kilometers per hour. This will, of course, reduce their radius of action. This is not dangerous. A reconnaissance aircraft must be able not only to spot the target of its reconnaissance in a timely manner but also to escape, to get away from an enemy fighter.

I think that the main role in a future war will be played by short-range bombers, but with high speed. The basic type will probably be a twin-engine bomber with a speed of 340–350 kilometers per hour.

This does not mean that we do not need long-range bombers. We need bombers with a radius of action of 2,000 kilometers (I am speaking of the radius of action, not range — meaning 2,000 there and 2,000 back, for a total range of 4,000–5,000 kilometers).

Bombers need a ceiling of 5,000 meters (voices: 6,000, 7,000). We will not scold anyone for 6 kilometers, even 7 kilometers.

And all this we shall have. I would only wish that Comrade Alksnis truly fought for this.

You are brave pilots. This is good. Aviation needs brave people. But we need not simply bravery, but calculated Bolshevik bravery. Bolshevik bravery means a firm knowledge of one's technology and the laws of nature, mastery of these laws. Why do our pilots sometimes perish? They perish because, wishing to save the aircraft, considering it shameful to use a parachute, they risk their lives. Some think that an airplane is more valuable than a pilot. This is wrong. The most precious thing for us is the pilot; the life of one pilot is incomparably more valuable to us than even three hundred airplanes. We can produce as many and whatever kind of airplanes we want in the shortest time, but a good pilot is not so quickly trained.

We need brave, Bolshevik-brave pilots!

On Leaders and the Masses

I do not deny that leaders have their significance; they organize and lead the masses. But leaders without the masses are nothing. Such men as Hannibal, Napoleon perished the moment they lost the masses. The masses decide the success of any cause and the fate of history. Everything depends on whom the masses follow. Among you here sit brave, young people. We may not know most of your names, but you are the strength and might of our country. You can take pride in the fact that the destinies of the country and of history are in your hands. To your health!

RGASPI. F. 74. Op. 1. D. 160. L. 23–25.