Letter from I. Stalin to S. Ordzhonikidze, 1927

Part of the original in Georgian. 23/9-27

Hello Sergo! Greetings to Zina!

For an entire week, I have been meaning to write you, but nothing came of it, since I have been so busy with work and have not increased my free is not much better (Rykov and Molotov are in Crimea, Bukharin recently returned, but again ran of to Crimea, and will not return earlier than tomorrow, Rudzutak got sick, due to all of this, the work of others has fallen on me). Not paying any attention to that, today’s letter from you (I got it today) gave me a push and allowed me to loosen up, so I decided to forget about “everything” and answer with a letter.

1) Your rationale was right from beginning to end. We will undoubtedly have to send a group of engineers and workers from here on business trips to America and Germany. To scrimp on that would be sinful and a crime [this phrase was in Russian—N.V.Z.]. If you could bring Alyosha into this at least for literary help [the last six words were in Russian—N.V.Z.], you will have done well. We need literary help [from here until the end it is in Russian—N.V.Z.] before anything, otherwise, you cannot move people; before we do anything, we need to clarify (systematically clarify) in print, the suit, character, form, use of the rationale, so we can count on the support of the workers and through that the masses. Without this nothing will come.

2) The opposition has not only not backed down, but strengthened its fractioning work. No more than two weeks ago they threw together a pamphlet called “Platforms of Bolsheviks-Leninists,” and demanded it be printed (this was September 3rd) and that a discussion be started immediately. This is essentially a new platform for a new party. We did not allow it and forbade its distribution until they had permission from the next Plenary Session. They sent the “platform” and the answer to it to all of the members of the Pol. Bureau and Presidium of the TsKK. However, the opposition distributes it illegally . . .

On September 12 the GPU, while looking for military conspirators, came across one Scherbakov (a partyless son of a manufacturer), who happened to have an illegal typography from the opposition (Mrachkovsky and opponents are directly involved). One of the smaller (known to few or no one) opponents, and some partyless (intellectuals) were arrested. Two days later, we received a rude letter from Preobrazhensky, Scherbakov and Sharov, where they admit to being the “organizers of the typographies” and “demand we release those arrested (who where not affiliated with any party).” It turned out something like the “Shlyapnikov Group” or “workers truth.” We issued in the name of P.B. and the Presidium of the TsKK “a notice of forbidden, illegal Trotskyist typography” and decided to expel from the Party “all oppositionary trifles,” related to typography, to put aside the matter of Preobrazhensky and the other two . . . So that is what is going on with us. It has not been printed in the newspapers yet. So, what do you think about all of this?

3) When are you coming? It would be good for you to free yourself of your appendix.

4) I am sending a minimum amount of materials about the struggles within the Party.

Get well soon. Greetings to Alyosha.

Yours, Koba. 23-IX/27

[Reserve 558, list 1, case 3345, sheet 1, 2. Signed by Stalin.]

Rykov, Alexei (1881–1938)—member of the RSDRP from 1899 and of the TsK from 1904. After the February Revolution, spoke out against the RSDRP to prepare a new socialist revolution. After October 1917, was narkom of internal affairs and chairman of the VSNKh. In November 1917, supported the idea of a multi- party government, and as a sign of protest temporarily left the TsK and SNK. He then became a deputy to the chairman of the SNK and STO, and later was head of the Council of People’s Commissars of the RSFSR and USSR. Was also a member of the Politburo. In 1937, was expelled from the party and executed .

Molotov, Vyacheslav (Skryabin) (1890–1986)—a member of the party from 1906. In February 1917, was a member of the Russian bureau of the TsK. From 1920, was the secretary of TsK of the Communist Party of the Ukraine; 1921–1930, secretary of the TsK of the CPSU; 1926–1952, was a member of the Politburo; 1930–1941, was chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars; from May of 1939, minister of foreign affairs; 1941–1945, head chairman of the Government Defense Committee; 1941–1957, was the first deputy chairman of the Council of Ministries of the USSR; 1957–1960, USSR ambassador to Mongolia. 

Bukharin, Nikolai (1888–1937)—member of the RSDRP from 1906. From 1911 was in exile and often did not see eye to eye with the Bolsheviks. After the October Revolution, was the editor of Pravda, a member of the Politburo of the TsK of the RSDRP, member of the Ispolkom of the Comintern. In 1918, led an opposition movement called leviye kommunisty, often took independent positions in matters of party politics, and was later accused of supporting L. Trotsky. In 1927, was expelled from the Politburo, and in 1937, from the party. Executed. 

Mrachkovsky, Sergei—member of the Communist Party from 1905 and military chief during the Civil War. Prosecuted  in 1936.

Preobrazhensky, Gregory (1886–1937)—member of the RSDRP from 1903. After the February Revolution headed the Ufa Committee of the RSDRP, spoke out against the socialist revolution. From 1920, was a secretary of the TsK of the party, and the head of the Main Directorate of Professional Education. Active supporter of L. Trotsky. In 1927, was expelled from the party, allowed back in 1929, and again expelled then executed . 

Scherbakov, Pyotr (1893–?)—activist in the October Revolution in Saratov, military chief during Civil War, fought against Mamontov’s troops. Later, served as party officer. 

Shlyapnikov, Alexander (1885–1937)—member of the RSDRP from 1901. After the February Revolution, was a member of the Petersburg Committee of the RSDRP and the city soviet and chairman of the Petrograd Council of Metal- workers. After the October Revolution, was a member of the People’s Commis- sariat of Labor and the Presidium of the VSNKh. From 1920–1922, was the organizer and leader of the “workers’ opposition.” In 1933, was expelled from the party and executed. Rabochaya Pravda—under- ground group in the Communist Party based on the platform “The Real Workers’ Party,” from 1921 to the end of 1923. The group was disbanded after its leaders were arrested.

Zina—Zinaida Ordzhonikidze, wife of Sergo Ordzhonikidze.