In world history, Lenin's influence is on a par with Marx and Engels.
Ma and En were the creators of communist theory, but the first real practical leader was Lenin.
After Lenin led the October Revolution in Russia, he set off a revolutionary upsurge all over the world. For Russia, as well as for other socialist countries, Lenin was a demigod in the minds of the proletariat of the world. For such a figure, it is obvious that his presence and departure have a very significant impact.
In particular, there are many mysteries about Lenin's death, the most prominent of which is Lenin's "political testament". Generally speaking, historians believe that Lenin left three very important "political wills" before his death, although these "wills" were not issued in the name of the will, but in the form of oral documents or letters, but these three important materials are regarded by historians as Lenin's "political will".
Of these three "wills", one of them was very important, and later historians believed that if the "will" had played a role, it would have rewritten the course of Russian history. However, history does not allow assumptions, so what is the fate of these three "political testaments"? Why didn't it make a difference? It's complicated to put it down.
Lenin's account of the "aftermath" came after a serious deterioration in his health, that is, after December 16, 1922, when Lenin's right arm and leg were incapacitated (paralyzed) and his body could only be fixed within a certain range, such as a chair or bed, and Lenin could no longer write.
This was a great pain for Lenin, who relied on the pen as a weapon. However, God closed a door for him and opened a window for him - his ability to speak was slightly restored under the doctor's treatment, and although he could not speak very clearly, the secretary could fully understand and record what he said. As a result, those "important testamentary materials" were produced.
Normally, when people are seriously ill or feel bad, at this moment when the fire of life is getting weaker and weaker, their spirit will be highly concentrated, their insight will be extraordinarily keen, and they will make more correct or accurate judgments and explanations for major events in life.
Lenin was no exception, as an experienced politician, as the leader of Russia at that time, he was naturally most concerned about the fate of Russian politics and the country. Thus, starting on December 23, 1922, at the request of Lenin, a letter was dictated under the name "Letter to the Congress" (Letter to the 12th Congress of the Russian Communist Party), which, although nominally a letter, was in fact an extremely important political document.
This letter is defined by historians as Lenin's first "political testament" (Letter to the Congress).
The letter was written by Volodicheva, who he hand-picked, at the time of Lenin's dictation.
This letter, or this political document (political testament), was dictated for about three days, from the 23rd to the 26th, and was completely completed.
During the dictation of this document, as well as other documents that followed, Lenin gave a special account to Volodicheva, saying that everything he dictated should be kept as a top-secret document in a special place with a special person in charge, and that it should not be freely disclosed to any outsider.
So what exactly is written in the "Letter to the Congress", and why is it regarded by historians and Lenin as an extremely important document?
Because of the declassification of historical materials, we have the privilege of seeing the contents of that letter today, in which one thing is actually stated, that is, in order to prevent a split in the party and ensure political stability, the reform of the Russian Central Committee is required.
On the question of splits in the party, Lenin pointed out two points:
The first point was the split between the two classes, the working class and the peasant class, but Lenin did not think this could happen in the near future, and he was more worried about the second problem.
The second point is based on the split between the personal characteristics of the party leaders, and two people are pointed out, saying that the split in the party can occur with people like Stalin and Trotsky.
Regarding the situation of these two men, Lenin was also "sharp-eyed" and pointed out their respective problems.
He said: "Stalin has unlimited power, and I am not sure whether he will always use it with great care." ”
And again - "Comrade Trotsky has outstanding talents, but is overly self-confident and overzealous in the purely administrative side of things. ”
These two people almost represent the two factions in the party, and if something happens to these two people, then there will be a problem in the party. Lenin therefore believed that the only best way to prevent this was to carry out reforms, increasing the number of members of the Central Committee from 50 to 100 and demanding that there should be dozens of ordinary workers among them.
What is the purpose of this? This brings us to another letter, or document, dictated by Lenin on January 4, 1923, the "Supplement to the Letter of December 24, 1922".
In order to avoid division and ensure a stable political situation, Lenin put forward two proposals:
The first proposal was to increase the number of members to 100, which, he argued, "has the great advantage of reducing the personal, contingent element of the Central Committee's decision-making, making more preparation for decision-making, and examining in greater detail all the decisions made at these meetings······ It can also prevent the division that may arise when this body does not have enough contact with the masses. ”
If the first proposal is macro and untargeted, the second is very, particularly sensitive, because Lenin's second proposal is to adjust the candidate for general secretary.
The general secretary at that time was Stalin (in fact, Stalin was also a member of the Politburo and the Organization Bureau, holding three positions and having the most power), and this proposal of Lenin was like a bomb for Stalin.
Why, then, is the General Secretary Stalin adjusted? Lenin said in a supplementary letter dictated:
"Stalin was too rude, and this shortcoming was perfectly tolerated in the dealings of our communists with each other, but in the post of general secretary it became intolerable."
Lenin's judgment of Stalin was relatively accurate, in 1922, Lenin had not yet left, Stalin had already begun his career as an authoritarian dictator, and he was in a-for-tat confrontation with Lenin on several issues, such as the Georgian incident.
At that time, Lenin wanted to solve the Georgian incident, and on January 24, 1923, he asked the duty secretary Fotieva for materials on the Georgian question, which he was ready to use at the congress and set about solving the problem. However, when refused, the secretary Fodieva said that the material was with Stalin, but Stalin said that it could not be provided without the consent of the Politburo.
In fact, after Lenin's serious illness, Stalin began to move in secret, especially in order to ensure his power, on December 18, 1922, through a meeting, a medical team led by Stalin was set up, to put it bluntly, under house arrest measures for Lenin. During this period, the main thing was to prevent Lenin from reading the newspapers and learning about the outside political situation in order to block the news.
No matter how Stalin continued to move, Lenin's influence and prestige at that time were still unsurpassed. Therefore, if the "Letter to the Congress," which he prepared for the Twelfth Congress of the Russian Communist Party in April 1923, had been made public at the meeting, Stalin's political fate would have been in jeopardy, and the history of Russia would most likely have changed.
However, it is very regrettable that Lenin, despite the long preparation efforts, and even repeatedly asked the doctor if he could speak at the congress when it was convened, he did not give up the struggle, actively cooperated with the treatment, and constantly dictated the articles and documents, but in the end, due to physical reasons, Lenin was not able to attend the meeting at all. In addition, Stalin's precautions were even tighter, and Stalin knew the contents of the letter before the meeting, so he took measures not to allow the letter to be read at the meeting.
What is even more dramatic is that Lenin's "political testament" was originally intended to resolve contradictions and resolve the problem of separatism, but after Lenin's death, the "political testament" he left behind became a tool for Stalin and Trotsky to take things out of context and attack each other. Especially between 1926 and 1927, the contradictions within the party reached a very acute level, and both sides tried to use Lenin's prestige to bring the other down.
Stalin accused Trotsky of deliberately concealing Lenin's "political testament" and of attacking Trotsky out of context and distorting his understanding, saying that Trotsky was unreliable. If yes, etc. Trotsky pointed out that on his deathbed, Lenin had demanded "the dismissal of Stalin because he would bring division and destruction to the party".
Lenin originally hoped that the six members of the Central Committee of the Russian Communist Party at that time would be able to check and balance each other and stabilize the situation, but after his death, the situation of balance and stability did not appear, but one was expelled and assassinated, four were suppressed, and there was only one winner, that is, Stalin.
This is not what Lenin wanted to see, but it is the end of history that has played out again and again. Looking at history, there are countless similar historical episodes.
Lenin's second "political testament" was "On the Granting of Legislative Functions to the State Planning Commission";
The third "political testament" was "On the Question of Nationality or "Autonomy", which was also more critical of Stalin.
According to Vorodicheva's recollections, Lenin's three letters were originally intended to be submitted to the 12th Congress of the Russian Communist Party as a whole, but later the fate of these three letters was dramatically reversed, and not only was it not presented as a whole at the congress, but it was divided and disassembled, and it was used in disguise by Stalin and Trotsky.
In fact, before Lenin's death, these dictated "political testaments" of his had already begun to be exploited by Stalin in the first place, to attack Trotsky, etc. After Lenin stopped breathing on the evening of January 21, 1924, at 6:50 p.m., Stalin dismantled and misused Lenin's "political testament" to a new level, and used all kinds of means to bring down his opponents, and finally became the dictator of Russia.
After that, Lenin's "political testament", which was once related to the fortunes of the Russian state, was listed as contraband for a long time, and even became evidence of crimes (whoever had Lenin's "political testament" document would be sentenced to prison and exile, etc.). ）
Some historians say that Lenin's "political testament" is like a Pandora's box······ Once opened, no one can control the political energy that will be released······
It was not until the 20th Congress of the Russian Communist Party that Lenin's "political testament" was rediscovered under the promulgation of Khrushchev and really came to the forefront. In 1956, The Communists not only published Lenin's "Letter to the Congress" and other articles in their entirety, but also included them in Lenin's collected works. At this point, the truth is fully revealed to the world.
However, at this time, the train of history has been rumbling for twenty or thirty years······ Things have long been people······
Resources:
1: "Lenin's Biography" 77th edition;
2: "The Conscience of the Revolution - The Opposition in the Soviet Party";
3: Lenin's Writings – Letter to the Congress, etc.