The Stalin-Kaganovich Correspondence, 1931-36 (Annals of Communism Series)

From 1931 to 1936, Stalin vacationed at his Black Sea residence for two to three months each year. While away from Moscow, he relied on correspondence with his subordinates to receive information, watch over the work of the Politburo and the government, give orders, and express his opinions. This volume publishes translations of 180 handwritten letters and coded telegrams exchanged during this period between Stalin and his most highly trusted deputy, Lazar Kaganovich. The collection of letters - all previously classified top secret - provides an account of the mainsprings of Soviet policy while Stalin was consolidating his position as personal dictator. The correspondence records his positions on major internal and foreign affairs decisions and reveals his opinions about fellow members of the Politburo and other senior figures. Written during the years of agricultural collectivization, forced industrialization, famine, repression, and Soviet rearmament in the face of threats from Germany and Japan, these letters should be a useful historical resource for all students of the Stalin regime and Soviet history. "From 1931 to 1936, Stalin vacationed at his Black Sea residence for two to three months each year. While away from Moscow, he relied on correspondence with his subordinates to receive information, watch over the work of the Politburo and the government, give orders, and express his opinions. This book publishes for the first time translations of 177 handwritten letters and coded telegrams exchanged during this period between Stalin and his most highly trusted deputy, Lazar Kaganovich." This unique and revealing collection of letters - all previously classified top secret - provides a dramatic account of the mainsprings of Soviet policy while Stalin was consolidating his position as personal dictator. The correspondence records his positions on major internal and foreign-affairs decisions and reveals his opinions about fellow members of the Politburo and other senior figures. Written during the years of agricultural collectivization, forced industrialization, famine, repression, and Soviet rearmament in the face of threats from Germany and Japan, these letters constitute and unsurpassed historical resource for all students of the Stalin regime and Soviet history. From 1931 to 1936, Stalin vacationed at his Black Sea residence for two to three months each year. While away from Moscow, he relied on correspondence with his subordinates to receive information, watch over the work of the Politburo and the government, give orders, and express his opinions. This book publishes for the first time translations of 177 handwritten letters and coded telegrams exchanged during this period between Stalin and his most highly trusted deputy, Lazar Kaganovich. The unique and revealing collection of letters--all previously classified top secret--provides a dramatic account of the mainsprings of Soviet policy while Stalin was consolidating his position as personal dictator. The correspondence records his positions on major internal and foreign affairs decisions and reveals his opinions about fellow members of the Politburo and other senior figures. Written during the years of agricultural collectivization, forced industrialization, famine, repression, and Soviet rearmament in the face of threats from Germany and Japan, these letters constitute an unsurpassed historical resource for all students of the Stalin regime and Soviet history. Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 17 A Note on Soviet Administrative Structure......Page 18 Introduction......Page 22 Lazar Kaganovich: The Career of a Stalinist Commissar......Page 42 Introduction......Page 58 Documents 1–23......Page 70 Introduction......Page 125 Documents 24–59......Page 135 Introduction......Page 207 Documents 60–85......Page 216 Introduction......Page 257 Documents 86–111......Page 288 Introduction......Page 332 Documents 112–125......Page 339 Introduction......Page 358 Documents 126–177......Page 365 Appendix......Page 416 Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations......Page 430 Brief Biographies......Page 434 Index......Page 460 Illustrations follow page 244......Page 266 Contents 8 Preface 10 Acknowledgments 17 A Note on Soviet Administrative Structure 18 Introduction 22 Lazar Kaganovich: The Career of a Stalinist Commissar 42 1931 58 Introduction 58 Documents 1–23 70 1932 125 Introduction 125 Documents 24–59 135 1933 207 Introduction 207 Documents 60–85 216 1934 257 Introduction 257 Documents 86–111 288 1935 332 Introduction 332 Documents 112–125 339 1936 358 Introduction 358 Documents 126–177 365 Appendix 416 Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations 430 Brief Biographies 434 Index 460 Illustrations follow page 244 266