V. I.

Lenin

449

To:   L. D. TROTSKY

22/X. 1919

Comrade Trotsky, I was somewhat taken aback by Zinoviev’s demand
yesterday for more regiments. Is it true about the
Estonians?

Nevertheless, I passed it on to Sklyansky, and an order
has been given to have them sent from Tula (again from
Tula!).

It is not safe, however, to take any more from the reserves of the Southern Front. Would it not be better to
search elsewhere?

It is devilishly important for us to finish with Yudenich
(precisely to finish—to deal a final blow). If the offensive
has begun, is it not possible to mobilise another 20,000
Petrograd workers and exert really mass pressure on
Yudenich?

If there are 5–10 thousand good attacking troops (and you do have them), then surely a city like Petrograd can
give about 30 thousand to follow up , as an aid to them.
Rykov says that a great deal of property has been “found”
in Petrograd; there is bread, and meat is on the way.

It is necessary to finish with Yudenich soon ; then we shall turn everything against Denikin.

In my opinion it is dangerous to take units from the

Southern Front now: they have started an offensive there,
and it must be extended.

Greetings, Lenin

P.S. I have just learned from Sklyansky that 2 regiments
intended for
Petrograd have reached Kotlas. We shall expedite their movement. [1]

New information: this is not true.