Description:

JOSEF STALIN
(1879 - 1953) Soviet Premier and dictator who reorganized the government and army through bloody purges of his political enemies, allied with the Nazis who then turned on him and invaded the Soviet Union, costing 20 million lives. Rare, important content war-date typed D.S. with holograph addition, 1p. 4to., [Moscow], Dec. 27, [1939], the text of an order sent encrypted and by wire to 'The Military Council of the 8th Army'. In full: 'The Headquarters of the High Command sends the Commander of the 2nd Rank Com. KOVALEV, with a group of command personnel of 22 people, to the 8th Army top studt the experience of combat operations of troops in winter conditions, the experience [added by Stalin] of breaking through fortified areas and providing onsite assistance to military units, if caused by the situation. Provide assistance in the work of Com. KOVALEV's group...' Signed at bottom in red indelible pencil by Stalin, also signed by KLIMENT VOROSHILOV (1881-1969) who served as Stalin's defense minister, reorganized the general staff, mechanized the army, and developed the air force, and by BORIS SHAPOSHNIKOV (1882-1945), Chief of the General Staff of the Soviet Armed Forces from 1928 to 1931 and at the start of the Second World War. Shaposhnikov was one of the foremost military theorists during the Stalin-era. On 17 September, the Red Army entered eastern Poland, officially to restore order amid the collapse of the Polish state. On 28 September, Germany and the Soviet Union exchanged some of their newly conquered territories; Germany gained areas of Lublin Province and part of Warsaw Province while the Soviets gained Lithuania. A German–Soviet Frontier Treaty was signed shortly after. The Soviets further demanded parts of eastern Finland, but the Finnish government refused. The Soviets invaded Finland in November 1939, just before this letter was written, yet despite numerical inferiority, the Finns kept the 8th Army, and indeed the Red Army at bay. The 'Kovalev' referred to was undoubtedly Mikhail Prokofevich Kovalev (1896-1967) who would command all Red Army forces in the Transbaikal, defending against Japanese attack.

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November 29, 2023 10:00 AM EST
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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$100 $499 $20
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$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
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$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
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