Why did we defeat Yudenich, Kolchak and Denikin, although the capitalists of the whole world were helping them?

Why are we confident that we shall now defeat ruin, restore industry and agriculture?

We defeated the landowners and capitalists because the Red Army soldiers, workers and peasants knew that they were fighting for their own vital cause.

We defeated them because the best people of the entire working class, of the entire peasantry, displayed unprecedented heroism in this war against the exploiters, performed miracles of bravery, endured unheard-of hardships, sacrificed themselves, ruthlessly drove out the profiteers and cowards.

Now we are confident that we shall defeat ruin because the best people of the entire working class and of the entire peasantry are rising to the struggle with the same conscientiousness, with the same firmness, with the same heroism.

And when millions of toilers unite, as one man, following the best people of their class — then victory is assured.

We have driven the profiteers out of the army. We shall all say now:

"Down with profiteers, down with those who think of their own advantage, speculation, shirking from work, who fear the sacrifices necessary for victory!"

Long live labour discipline, zeal in work, devotion to the workers' and peasants' cause!

Eternal glory to those who fell in the front ranks of the Red Army!

Eternal glory to those who now lead millions of toilers, advancing with the greatest zeal in the front ranks of the army of labour!

Delivered at the end of March 1920

First published on 21 January 1928 in the newspaper *Pravda* No. 18

Printed from a recording made from a gramophone record