V. I. Lenin

Speech At The Send-Off
Of The Socialist Army’s First Troop Trains

January 1(14), 1918 [1]

Newspaper Report

Comrades, I greet you as the living embodiment of the Russian
proletariat’s determination to fight for the triumph of the
Russian revolution, for the triumph of its great slogans not
only in this country, but also among the peoples of the whole
world. I greet you as the first heroic volunteers of the
socialist army, who are to build up a mighty revolutionary
army. This army is called upon to safeguard the gains of the
revolution and our people’s power, the Soviets of
Soldiers’, Workers’ and Peasants’ Deputies, the whole of this new and truly democratic system, against the
attacks of all the enemies of the people, who are bending all
efforts to destroy the revolution. These enemies are the world
capitalists who are now organising a crusade against the Russian
revolution, which holds out the prospect of liberation to all
working people. We must show that we are a force capable of
overcoming every obstacle on the way to world revolution. Let
the example of the comrades going into the trenches buoy up the
weak, steady the hesitant and rouse the weary. The peoples hear
our revolution’s clarion call and are awakening; our army’s ranks will soon be swelled by the proletarian forces
of other countries and we shall no longer be alone. (Comrade Lenin’s words were drowned in shouts of greetings and prolonged applause. The volunteers of the socialist army accompanied Comrade Lenin to his car to the strains of the Internationale.)

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Notes:
[1]
The send-off took place in Mikhailovsky Manège on January 1
(14), 1918. As Lenin was returning to the Smolny an attempt was
made on his life: a bullet went through the windscreen and
passed over his head. The Swiss Communist, Fritz Platten, who
was with Lenin, was wounded.