3. TELEGRAM TO THE REVOLUTIONARY MILITARY COUNCIL OF THE SOUTHERN FRONT

Written on November 12, 1920 · First published in 1942 in Lenin Miscellany XXXIV. Printed from a text written in E. M. Sklyansky’s hand and signed by Lenin. · page 48

Code
Direct line

R.M.C. Southern Front
Copy to Trotsky

I have just learned about your surrender offer to = Wrangel.^[1] Extremely surprised at the excessively accommodating terms. If the enemy accepts them, make sure of taking over the fleet and not letting out a single ship; if the enemy rejects these terms, I think they must not be repeated, and the enemy dealt with ruthlessly.

Lenin

Notes

[1] In an effort to avoid farther bloodshed, M. V. Frunze, commander of the troops on the Southern Front, radioed an offer to Wrangel on November 11, 1920, to cease resistance, promising an amnesty for those who laid down their arms. Wrangel did not reply to Frunze’s proposal and concealed it from his troops.