Description:

KLIMENT VOROSHILOV IS FACED WITH THE EXECUTION OF A GENERAL
KLIMENT Y. VOROSHILOV (1881 - 1969) Soviet military officer and politician who served as Stalin''s defense minister, reorganized the general staff, mechanized the army, and developed the air force. Fascinating pair of items directly related to the intended execution of Lt. Gen. Andrei Snesaryev. Snesaryev, born in 1865, served as Chief of the General Staff from 1919-21. He first fought with Stalin over military tactics employed near Tsaritsyn (later Stalingrad), and was arrested. He was reprieved and put in command of the Western Army, but was arrested a second time in 1930 and condemned to death. This lot includes the text of a telegram sent by Snesaryev''s wife to Voroshilov, 1p. 8vo., Sochi [n.d.]. In full: "My husband, Professor Snesaryev, has been sentenced to capital punishment. I request your intervention. Mrs. Snesaryev". Also present is the text of Voroshilov''s message to "Lubya", possibly his code name for Stalin, 1p. 8vo.,. undated, in part: "...I am also sending you a telegram which i have just received from General Snesaryev''s wife. I do not know how to proceed, and I ask you advice, immediately, if possible. Your Klimenti". In a handwritten note (sold separately decades ago, copy present), Stalin responded: "I think it is O.K. to commute the death penalty of Snesaryev to a ten year sentence. J. Stalin". Fine, in the slipcase which housed the original Stalin letter. Imprisoned on the island of Solovki, Snesaryev was the only officer not executed. He became paralyzed in 1933 and died in 1937.

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December 20, 2017 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

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