April 1922

What do you say about Neuchâtel and Valangin? This incident gave me occasion to fill in my very weak knowledge in the field of Prussian history. Indeed and indeed (вот уж поистине) world history has never produced anything more paltry (etwas Lausigeres — literally more lousy). The detailed history of how the French kings, who were kings only in name, became kings in reality, this history too is full of petty battles, betrayals, intrigues. But this is the history of the emergence of a nation. Austrian history, of how a vassal of the German Empire founds the power of his house, is interesting because this vassal puffs himself up as emperor, taking advantage of various complications with the East, Bohemia, Italy, Hungary, etc. Finally, this history becomes interesting also because the power of this house assumes imposing dimensions and Europe begins to fear that this state will become a universal monarchy. In Prussia nothing of the sort. It has not subjugated a single strong Slavic nation. For 500 years it did not even succeed in obtaining Pomerania (Pomorze), until at last this was arranged by way of exchange.

In general, the Margraviate of Brandenburg, ever since it was seized by the Hohenzollerns, never made any conquests — Silesia is the exception. Precisely because this is the only conquest of Prussia, Frederick II is called "the only one". Petty swindles (kleinliche Löffeldiebstähle), bribery, direct purchases (directe Ankäufe), chasing after inheritances, etc. — that is the sort of chicanery to which Prussian history boils down (auf solche Lumperei läuft die preussische Geschichte hinaus). Everything that is interesting in feudal history — the struggle of suzerain with vassals, stories with towns, etc. — all this is here in a caricatured dwarf form, because the towns here are pettily boring, the feudal lords are boorishly insignificant (rüpelhaft unbedeutend), and the supreme lord of the country is himself a pettiness (ein Minimus)...

Moreover, in the list of rulers there occur only three characteristic figures, following one after another like night after day; irregularity occurs exclusively only in the order of succession and a new type never appears — a pietist (Pietist), a non-commissioned officer (Unteroffizier) and a vulgar buffoon (Hanswurst). For all that, Lumperei is not "swindle" but filth? nastiness? worthlessness?

Correct!
And me too.
Lenin

To the letters — notes, in order to make them understandable —

* The translation was made by V. V. Adoratsky.

1922