Joseph Stalin 1879-1953 Soviet Premier and dictator who reorganized the government and army through ruthless, bloody purges of his military and political enemies, allied with the Nazis who then turned on him and invaded the Soviet Union, costing that country over twenty million lives. Exceedingly rare war-date signed document with five additional words in Stalin's hand, 3pp. large 4to., marked "Top Secret", [Moscow], Sep. 28, 1944, in Russian. As the tide of the war turns in favor of the Allies, Stalin approves the report of one of his generals concerning the anti-aircraft defenses of the key cities of Riga, Talinn and Warsaw. The report is prepared by General M. Voronoff Stalin's Chief chief of anti-aircraft measures, and proposes the various types of weaponry to be provided in each city. The report reads in part: "For The Anti-Aircraft Defenses Of Talinn - 72 85mm. weapons, 96 MZ4 weapons, 33 anti-aircraft machine guns, 46 searchlights, 3 batteries Son...." and includes additional Soviet Navy supplied weapons for the defense of the naval base in the city, including forty airplanes, "Pegmatif' stations, and so on. The same type of recommendations are made for Riga and Warsaw, crucial communication and supply centers for the Soviet war effort. In the upper-left quarter of the first page, Stalin returns the report to Voronoff with his comments and signs "I. Stalin" in large, blue pencil marker. At this point in the war, Russia still remained hard-pressed for aircraft entire air force being destroyed on the ground in the opening weeks of the war; air defense of any type was crucial! Also signed by Vorono and docketed by another officer' A few spindle holes with no paper loss in left margin, light marginal soiling, overall very good. Stalin is very rare in any form, and "top secret" war-date documents are unheard-of. With Charles Hamilton letter of authenticity