V. I. Lenin

Speech To Men Of The Red Army

Leaving For The Polish Front

May 5, 1920 [1]

Newspaper Report

Comrades: You know that, instigated by the Entente, the Polish landowners and capitalists have forced a new war on
us. Remember, comrades, that we have no quarrel with the Polish
peasants and workers; we have recognised Poland – s independence and the Polish People’s Republic, and shall
continue to do so. We have proposed peace to Poland on the basis
of the integrity of her frontiers, although these frontiers extend
far beyond the purely Polish population. We have agreed to make
all concessions, which is something each of you should remember at
the front. Let your attitude to the Poles there prove that you are
soldiers of a workers’ and peasants’ republic, that you are coming to them, not as aggressors but as liberators. Now
that, despite our efforts, the Polish magnates have concluded an
alliance with Petlyura, launched an offensive, are approaching
Kiev, and are spreading rumours in the foreign press that they
have already captured Kiev – which is the sheerest fabrication
since only yesterday I was talking on the direct line with F. Kon,
who is in Kiev – we say: Comrades, we have been able to repel
a more terrible enemy; we have been able to defeat our own
landowners and capitalists, and we shall defeat the Polish
landowners and capitalists too! All of us here today should pledge
ourselves, give a solemn promise, that we shall stand as one man
so as not to allow a victory of the Polish magnates and
capitalists. Long live the peasants and workers of a free
independent Polish Republic! Down with the Polish magnates,
landowners and capitalists! Long live our Red Workers’ and
Peasants’ Army! (The mighty strains of the "Internationale" and cries of "Hurrah" drown Comrade Lenin’s final words.)

Endnotes

[1]
This speech was made by V. I. Lenin on May 5, 1920, in Teatralnaya
Square (now Sverdlov Square), where a parade of the Moscow
garrison troops took place. Petrograd Communists leaving for the
Polish front were also present at the parade. – Editor.