V. I.

Lenin

179

TELEGRAM TO L. D. TROTSKY

Secret
Ciphered (Original to be returned to me)
(A copy of the cipher to be sent to me)

Trotsky
Sviyazhsk

I am surprised and worried at the slowing down of operations against Kazan, especially if it is true, as I have been informed, that you have every opportunity of
destroying the enemy by artillery. In my opinion, one must
not spare the city and put things off any longer, for ruthless annihilation is essential once Kazan is said to be in
an iron ring. [1]

Lenin

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Notes:
[1]
Lenin’s telegram was transmitted to Kazan at 6.54 a.m. on
September 10, 1918, and by 2 p.m. units of the Red Army had
liberated Kazan from the whiteguard and White Czech troops.

For Lenin’s greetings to the Red Army men on the capture
of Kazan see present edition, Vol. 28, pp. 93, 100.