V. I. Lenin

Source: ru:LS/v21;es:MT
Translated: machine translation (DeepSeek) from the Russian; AI-translated.

LETTER TO Y. M. SVERDLOV AND L. D. TROTSKY

To Comrades Sverdlov and Trotsky

October 1, 1918

Things have become so “accelerated” in Germany that we must not lag behind either. And today we are already lagging behind.

We must convene a joint meeting tomorrow of:
the Central Executive Committee,
the Moscow Soviet, the District Soviets, the Trade Unions, and so on and so forth.

Deliver a number of reports on the beginning of the revolution in Germany (the victory of our tactics in the struggle against German imperialism, etc.).

Adopt a resolution:
The international revolution has come so close in the course of a week that it must be reckoned with as an event of the next few days.

No alliances either with the government of Wilhelm II or with the government of Wilhelm II—Ebert and the other scoundrels.

But to the German working masses, the German working millions, when they have begun with their spirit of revolt (so far only with the spirit), we are beginning to prepare a fraternal alliance, bread, and military assistance.

We shall all die to help the German workers in advancing the revolution that has begun in Germany.

Conclusion: 1) ten times more effort to obtain grain (clean out all stocks both for ourselves and for the German workers).
2) ten times more enrolment in the army.

We must have an army of three million by the spring to help the international working-class revolution.

This resolution must be telegraphed to the whole world on Wednesday night.

Fix the meeting for Wednesday at 2 p.m. We shall begin at 1 p.m.; give me the floor for 7–4 hours for an introductory speech; I shall come and go back. Send a car for me tomorrow morning (and say over the telephone only: agreed).

Greetings! Lenin.