208
LENIN COLLECTION

b)

To assign on commission in accordance with this resolution only communists.

Chairman of the Council of Defense
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from protocol
No. 65 of the meeting of the
Council of Defense, August
15, 1919.

ON MEASURES FOR COMBATING MAMONTOV*
4412

TELEGRAM TO THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR COUNCIL OF THE SOUTHERN FRONT
August 28, 1919

Extremely concerned about Mamontov's successes. Through destruction of roads and supply depots he can cause us tremendous damage. Are all measures being taken? Are they being pursued with sufficient energy and speed? Inform more frequently.

Lenin

8341

MEMORANDUM TO THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR COUNCIL OF THE REPUBLIC
August 30, 1919

Markov told me today that now 7 echelons will arrive daily of the 21st Division**, that it will arrive completely within 4 days (the delay in news about it was caused by a storm that disrupted telegraph service for 2 days), and then for another week we will need to send one more for each division. He is doing everything to accelerate this.

Should we not use all of the 21st or a large part of it in order to inevitably destroy to a man all of Lashevich's "godsons"*?

Think this through carefully. The capture of Sokolnikov's "godson"** and the complete destruction of Lashevich's godsons are of great, enormous significance.

Lenin

8342

MEMORANDUM REGARDING MATERIALS ON COMBATING MAMONTOV
End of August 1919

S e c r e t. Remove 2 copies and send one to Sklyansky with this memorandum:

It is evident from this that they are shifting the blame from the sick head to the healthy one. There is apparently not a single combat-capable unit against Mamontov: this is a direct disgrace and complete negligence by the Revolutionary War Council or a complete dereliction of duty.

More energetic measures must be taken!

A d d e n d u m: The railway men say that our units against Mamontov are afraid to get out of the railway cars.

By sending such units, the Revolutionary War Council of the Republic is bringing shame upon itself.

Lenin

* This concerns the White Guard troops of Mamontov. Lashevich, who commanded the Red Army forces assigned to eliminate Mamontov's troops and was a Trotsky appointee, did not carry out Lenin's instructions for the swift and merciless defeat of the Mamontovites.

** This refers to Commander of the Don Cossack Corps Mironov, who betrayed Soviet power and raised a mutiny in the rear of the Ninth Army. Sokolnikov, a Trotsky appointee who was at that time a member of the Revolutionary War Council of the Southern Front, sabotaged Lenin's instructions and took no proper measures to suppress the mutiny. Mironov's mutiny was suppressed by the cavalry of S. M. Budyonny.

14 Lenin Collection X X X I V