From letters of Stalin to L.M. Kaganovich in connection with the development and implementation of the law of August 7, 1932

A source: The tragedy of the Soviet village. Collectivization and dispossession. Documents and materials Volume 3. End of 1930 - 1933. Moscow ROSSPEN 2000. Pp. 418-420

Archive: RGASPI. F. 81. Op. 3.D. 99.L. 106-113, 117, 121-123, 144-145, 151; D. 100.L. 1-7.

No. 151

Kaganovich, Molotov

July 20

... Recently , theft of goods by rail has become more frequent, firstly 1 * (plundered by tens of millions of rubles); secondly, the theft of cooperative and collective farm property. Thefts are organized mainly by the kulaks (dispossessed) and other anti-Soviet elements who seek to undermine our new system. According to the law, these gentlemen are considered ordinary thieves, receive two to three years in prison (formal), but in fact, after 6 to 8 months they are amnestied. Such a regime for these gentlemen, which cannot be called socialist, only encourages them, in fact, a real counter-revolutionary"Work". To endure such a situation is unthinkable. I propose to issue a law (to remove or abolish existing laws), which would:

a) equated in its importance railway cargo, collective farm property and cooperative property to state property 

b) punish for embezzlement (theft) of property of these categories at least ten years in prison, and, as a rule, with the death penalty;

c) abolish the application of amnesty to criminals of such "professions".

Without these (and similar) draconian socialist measures, it is impossible to establish a new social discipline, and without such discipline it is impossible to defend and strengthen our new system. I think that we should not hesitate to pass such a law .

The "decree on collective farm trade" will undoubtedly revive to a certain extent the kulak elements and speculators-resellers, he wrote. The former will try to embarrass the collective farmer and incite him to leave the collective farm. The latter will get into the crowd and try to transfer trade on their own tracks. It is clear that we must eradicate this scum. I propose to instruct the OGPU and its local bodies:

a) take under strict supervision the village and all active preachers against the new collective farm system, active preachers of the idea of ​​leaving the collective farm - to seize and send to concentration camps ;

c) take under strict surveillance bazaars, markets and all speculators and resellers .., seize, confiscate and send to concentration camps. Without these (and similar) measures, it is impossible to strengthen the new system and the new, Soviet trade.

The OGPU and its organs must immediately set about preparing their forces for the study of the enemy. You can start operations in a month, not earlier ... Hello!

I. Stalin

July 26, 1932

Hello, Comrade Kaganovich!

... I think that it would be more expedient to combine in one law the issue of protecting collective farm and cooperative property , as well as railway cargo, with the issue of protecting the collective farms themselves, that is, the fight against those elements that use violence and threats or preach the use of violence and threats against collective farmers in order to force the latter to leave the collective farm in order to violently destroy the collective farm.

The law can be divided into three sections, of which the first section will deal with the goods of railroad and water transport, with the designation of the appropriate punishment, the second - on the collective farm and cooperative property (property) and the corresponding punishment, the third - on the protection of the collective farms themselves from violence and threats from parties of kulak and other antisocial elements, indicating that crimes in such cases will be punished in prison for 5 to 10 years, followed by imprisonment in concentration camps for 3 years and without the right to apply an amnesty.

Hello

I. Stalin

4 August 1932

Hello, Comrade Kaganovich!

I am returning the draft decree. As you can see, I've expanded it a bit. Publish it soon ...

Outrages are happening on the railways ... The OGPU TO bodies are asleep ... Give the OGPU TO directive to have armed people on the line and shoot hooligans on the spot.

Hello!

I. Stalin

11 August 1932

Hello, Comrade Kaganovich!

... Decree on the protection of public property, of course, is good, and he will soon take on a momentum its action. The decree against speculators is also good and timely (it should be issued soon). But all this is not enough. We also need a decree from the Central Committee to the party and judicial-punitive organs on the meaning of these two decrees and the methods of their implementation. This is absolutely essential. Tell who should be prepared to draft such a letter. I'll be in Moscow soon and see ...

Hello!

I. Stalin

17 August 1932

Hello, Comrade Kaganovich!

... Pravda is behaving stupidly and bureaucratic-blindly, not launching a broad campaign on the question of enforcing the law on the protection of public property. The campaign must be started immediately. It is necessary:

a) explain the meaning of the law point by point;

b) criticize and expose those regional, city and district organizations (as well as rural ones) that are trying to shelter the law, without giving it a course in practice;

c) to pin down those judges and prosecutors who show liberalism in relation to plunderers of goods, collective farm crops, collective farm stocks, cooperative property, etc., to a pillory;

d) publish sentences in such cases in a prominent place;

e) mobilize their correspondents accordingly, instructing them and print their correspondence;

f) praise and encourage those organizations that try to implement the law in good faith, etc. etc. This campaign should be systematic and long-term.

We must systematically hammer at one point in order to force our workers to turn "face to the law" on the protection of public property.

Hello!

I. Stalin

1 * Here and below, the words underlined by the author of letters are italicized.