Letter from the Secretary of the Central Bureau of Jewish Communist Sections under the Central Committee of the RCCP(B)

Secret.              Moscow. November 18, 1920.

To Comrade Lenin

Herewith is transmitted for your information an extract from the report of the Kope commissioner on the new pogroms committed by the First Cavalry Army.

To the secretary of the Central Bureau of the Uprvdel1*.

Extract from the report

Extract from the report of the commissioner "Kope" Tov. Zilist about the city of Zhitomir from 17/X-20.

In the last few days a new task has arisen in Zhitomir. A new pogrom wave swept through the district. It is impossible to establish the exact number of killed, it is impossible to establish details (due to lack of communication), but certain facts can definitely be established. The retreating units of the 1st Cavalry Army (4th and 6th Divisions) destroyed the Jewish population on their way, looting and killing on their way.

Rogachev (more than 30 killed), Baranovka about 14 victims, Romanov (not established]), Chudnov (about 14), new pages in the history of Jewish pogroms in Ukraine. All of the above places are completely looted. The Berdichev area was also ransacked. The 44th Division was not lagging behind either. Goroshki and Chernyakhov were completely looted. In Goroshki after the 44th Division left, a gang broke in and finished the job started by the Tarashchans. There are 2 human casualties and many wounded. Of the wounded one died in Zhitomir.

The gangs have also begun their work: Ivnitsa, Kotelno, Kholodkov have been defeated. Urgent help is needed1.

It is necessary to transfer a large sum of money and foodstuffs.

With true and correct (signature)2*.

V.I. Lenin's note

To the archives

Fond 2, op. 2, d. 454 - Lenin's note - autograph, letter - original, extract - copy from a copy.

1* The signature could not be deciphered

2* The signature could not be deciphered.

1For details about the fight against looting in the units of the 1st Cavalry Army in October-November 1920, see: Voprosy istorii, 1994, No. 12, pp. 73-74.