Bolshevism: The Enemy of Political and Industrial DemocracySpargo, John
History
Bolshevism: The Enemy of Political and Industrial Democracy
Spargo, John
Communism -- Soviet Union; Soviet Union -- History -- Revolution, 1917-1921
_But remember, comrades--soldiers, this time will never come if
you do not stop the advance of the enemy at the front, if your
ranks are crushed and under the feet of Wilhelm falls the
breathless corpse of the Russian Revolution_.
Remember, comrades, that at the front, in the trenches, you are
now standing in defense of Russia's freedom. You defend the
Revolution, you defend your brothers, the workers and peasants.
Let this defense be worthy of the great cause and the great
sacrifices already made by you. _It is impossible to defend the
front if, as has been decided, the soldiers are not to leave the
trenches under any circumstances_.[19] At times only an attack can
repulse and prevent the advance of the enemy. At times awaiting an
attack means patiently waiting for death. Again, only the change
to an advance may save you or your brothers, on other sections of
the front, from destruction.
Remember this, comrades--soldiers! Having sworn to defend Russian
freedom, do not refuse to start the offensive the military
situation may require. The freedom and happiness of Russia are in
your hands.
In defending this freedom be on the lookout for betrayal and
trickery. The fraternization which is developing on the front can
easily turn into such a trap.
Revolutionary armies may fraternize, but with whom? With an army
also revolutionary, which has decided to die for peace and
freedom. At present, however, not only in the German army, but
even in the Austro-Hungarian army, in spite of the number of
individuals politically conscious and honest, there is no
revolution. In those countries the armies are still blindly
following Wilhelm and Charles, the landowners and capitalists, and
agree to annexation of foreign soil, to robberies and violence.
There the General Staff will make use not only of your credulity,
but also of the blind obedience of their soldiers. You go out to
fraternize with open hearts. And to meet you an officer of the
General Staff leaves the enemies' trenches, disguised as a common
soldier. You speak with the enemy without any trickery. At that
very time he photographs the surrounding territory. You stop the
shooting to fraternize, but behind the enemies' trenches artillery
is being moved, new positions built and troops transferred.
Comrades--soldiers, not by fraternization will you get peace, not
by separate agreements made at the front by single companies,
battalions, or regiments. Not in separate peace or in a separate
truce lies the salvation of the Russian Revolution, the triumph of
peace for the whole world.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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