V. I. Lenin

Wireless Message

To All Regimental, Divisional, Corps, Army, and Other
Committees, to all Soldiers of the Revolutionary, Army and
Sailors of the Revolutionary Navy [1]

On the night of November 7 the Council of People’s
Commissars sent a wireless message to Commander-in-Chief
Dukhonin ordering him immediately and formally to propose an
armistice to all the belligerent countries, both Allied and
those hostile to us.

This message was received at Field Headquarters on November 8 at
5.05 am. Dukhonin was ordered to keep the Council of
People’s Commissars constantly informed of the progress of
the negotiations and to sign the armistice agreement only after
it had been approved by the Council of People’s
Commissars. Simultaneously, a similar proposal to conclude an
armistice was formally submitted to all the plenipotentiary
representatives of the Allied countries in Petrograd.

Not having received a reply from Dukhonin by the evening of
November 8, the Council of People’s Commissars empowered
Lenin, Stalin and Krylenko to ascertain the causes of the delay
from Dukhonin over the direct line.

The conversation lasted from 2 a.m. to 4.30 a.m. on November
9. Dukhonin made numerous attempts to evade, giving an
explanation of his conduct and a precise reply to the orders of
the government, but when Dukhonin was given a categorical order
to enter immediately into formal negotiations for an armistice,
he refused to obey. Thereupon, in the name of the Government of
the Russian Repub]ic, on behalf of the Council of People’s
Commissars, Dukhonin was informed that he was dismissed from his
post for refusing to obey government orders and for conduct that
entailed untold hardships for the working people of all
countries and especially for the armies. At the same time, Dukhonin was
ordered to continue his duties pending the arrival of a new
Commander-in-Chief or a person empowered by the latter to take
over from Dukhonin. Ensign Krylenk has been appointed the new
Commander-in-Chief.

Soldiers, the cause of peace is in your hands! Do not allow
the counter-revolutionary generals to frustrate the great cause
of peace, place them under guard in order to avert acts of
summary justice unworthy of a revolutionary army and to prevent
these generals from escaping the trial that awaits them. Maintain the strictest revolutionary and military order.

Let the regiments at the front immediately elect representatives
to start formal negotiations for an armistice with the enemy.

The Council of People’s Commissars authorises you to do
this.

Do everything possible to keep us informed of every step in the
negotiations. The Council of People’s Commissars 15 alone
authorised to sign the final armistice agreement.

Soldiers, the cause of peace is in your hands! Maintain
vigilance, restraint and energy, and the cause of peace will
triumph!

In the name of the Government of the Russian Republic

V.	Ulyanov (Lenin),
Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars

N.	Krylenko,
People’s Commissar for War and
Commander-in-Chief

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Notes:
[1]
The Soviet Government's call on the soldiers to take the initiative in
the armistice negotiations met with broad response in the
army. On various sectors divisions, corps and armies, and even
entire fronts (e.g., the Western Front) sent envoys across the
line and concluded cease-fire agreements, which provided for a
stop to military operations, reinforcements, construction of
military installations, etc. These so-called soldiers' peace
treaties" remained in force until the conclusion of a general
armistice.