V. I. Lenin

The workers of Petrograd deserve the first message of greeting on the occasion of the second anniversary of the
Soviet Republic. The Petrograd workers, as the vanguard of the
revolutionary workers and soldiers, as the vanguard of the working
people of Russia and the whole world, were the first to overthrow
the rule of the bourgeoisie and raise the banner of the
proletarian revolution against capitalism and imperialism.

For two years the workers and labouring peasants of the Soviet
Republic have triumphantly held high that banner despite all
difficulties and all the torments of hunger, cold, chaos and
economic ruin. Two years of socialist development have given us
extensive experience, have enabled us to consolidate Soviet power
despite the malicious fury and resistance of the bourgeoisie and
the military attack by world imperialism.

On our side we have the sympathy of the world’s workers. The proletarian revolution is maturing slowly and with
difficulty, but persistently in all countries, and the brutal
violence of the bourgeoisie only exacerbates the struggle, only
hastens the victory of the proletariat.

Very recently the British reactionaries, the imperialists, made
their last stake on the capture of Petrograd. The bourgeoisie of
the entire world, especially the Russian bourgeoisie, already had
a foretaste of victory. But instead of victory they met with
defeat at Petrograd.

Yudenich’s forces have been beaten and are retreating.

Comrades, workers and Red Army soldiers! Bend all your efforts!
Keep on the heels of the retreating troops at all costs, crush
them, do not allow them to rest for an hour, or a single
minute. At this moment we can and must strike harder than ever in
order to finish off the enemy.

Long live the Red Army that is defeating the tsarist generals,
whiteguards and capitalists! Long live the international Soviet
Republic!

N. Lenin

November 5, 1919