V. I. Lenin

Letter To The Army Congress

On The Demobilisation Of The Army

Dear comrades, Comrade Podvoisky has told me of your proposal and I ask you not
to take amiss the fact that I am forced to confine myself to
writing a letter to you. I whole-heartedly welcome your
confidence that you will succeed in the great task of building a socialist army —in view of all the present
difficulties and in spite of them. We may be in one of the
critical periods of the revolution, when Soviet power is
threatened both by an external foe—the German and other
imperialists—and an internal one—the counter-revolutionaries hiding behind the slogan of “All
Power to the Constituent Assembly”.

We shall overcome this crisis as well. There is not the least
doubt about it. The Soviets will retain the power they have
won. The socialist revolution has begun. It will go on to
victory in Russia and the whole world.

With best wishes of success and courage in your work.

Yours, Lenin (The reading of the letter was met with loud, prolonged applause.)