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. STALIN, VOROSHILOV AND KAGANOVICH APPROVE THE WORK OF A MURDEROUS 'TROIKA' Rare, important content document signed by Stalin, 1p. 4to., [Moscow], Apr. 14, 1938, boldly printed 'TOP SECRET' at top with instructions that the document is to be returned within 48 hours. It reads in full: 'The Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) to Comrade Stalin / The defeat of counter-revolutionary formations is basically complete. However, the region is still littered with kulak, White Guard, and rebel elements. In the interests of a quick and decisive reprisal against the remaining enemies, I ask that the work of the special troika be extended until June 1 and that the limit be set at 3,000. [Signed] Murugov' This encryption, dated Apr 13, 1938, was sent from the member of the 'special troika' of the Chita region of Russia, specifically Ivan Murugov, to the People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the USSR, Nikolay Ezhov. 'Special troikas' were regional repressive government agencies headed by three administrators: the head of the regional NKVD, the secretary of the regional committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks), and a leading prosecutor. The author of this document Murugov was the secretary of Chita region committee of the Communist Party. Mugurov's report is acknowledged with the signatures of four of the top Soviet leaders: Stalin signs in blue at left, approving; beside his signature is that of KLIMENT VOROSHILOV (1881-1969), prominent Soviet military officer and People's Commissar for Defense of the Soviet Union; followed by LAZAR KAGANOVICH (1893–1991), Soviet politician and one of Joseph Stalin's closest associateS, then Deputy Premier of the Soviet Union. The fourth signature is unknown. Beneath there appears a list written in red ink of the other Soviet leaders who who had voted for continued support of the murderous troika, but had not signed the document: Kalinin, Kosior, Chubar, Mikoyan, and Andreev. The document bears file holes at the left margin but is otherwise very good. The secret troikas during the Great Purge of 1936–38 issued swift and severe verdicts without the right to appeal. They acted as judges, juries, and executioners, and their verdicts were often death or exile. Death sentences were carried out immediately, usually at night in prisons or secluded NKVD areas. One of the best Stalin documents we've ever seen.

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December 6, 2024 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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