Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar

GARF 7523c.149a.2.10–11. Stalin’s questions: Svetlana, Twenty Letters, p. 120.

Kaganovich, p. 73.

Natalya A. Andreyeva. GARF 7523c.149a.2.10–11. Svetlana, Twenty Letters, p. 119.

The funeral: Artyom Sergeev, Kira Alliluyeva, Natalya Andreyeva, Vladimir Alliluyev. Based on the photographs in RGASPI 667.1.42.23–4. MR, pp. 173–5. Larina, pp. 141–2. Svetlana, Twenty Letters , pp. 119–20. Kaganovich, p. 73. The speech: GARF 7523c.149.2.8–10. “Oh Nadya, Nadya”: Mgeladze, pp. 117–8.

Stalin changed: Kaganovich, p. 154. RGASPI 74.1.429.65–66, diary E. D. Voroshilova, 21 June 1954. Spitting on the wall: Zhenya Alliluyeva’s account to Kira Alliluyeva.

RGASPI 74.2.38.80, Stalin to Voroshilov 17 Dec. 1932. Resignation: Svetlana, Twenty Letters, p. 120. Rosliakov, quoted in Kirov, p. 158. RGASPI 558.11. 787.10, Postyshev to Stalin and reply 28 Dec. 1932. Svanidze diaries, 28 Dec. 1934, 21 Dec. 1935 and 9 May 1935. Interview with Nina Budyonny, 5 Dec. 2001. The suicide changed history: Leonid Redens. Letters to Stalin on Nadya: RGASPI 558.11.1551.38–42, workmates of Alliluyeva to Stalin 17 Nov. 1932. RGASPI 558.11.1551.31–5, poem translated by Vano Byrkhimova sent to Stalin. RGASPI 558.11.1551.44–5, V. M. Kazanovsky to Poskrebyshev and Stalin to Poskrebyshev 27 Mar. 1948. Svetlana, Twenty Letters, p. 120: Stalin could not live without Nadya. Svanidze diary, 8 Dec. 1934. Visits to Stalin’s office: November 1932: IA.

Kirov, pp. 1–76: this sketch of Kirov is based on Amy Knight’s excellent account, Who Killed Kirov?—along with the author’s research in RGASPI and interviews with survivors. RGASPI 558.11.746.53, Kirov to Stalin in Kislovodsk 5 July 1925. Stalin wants Kirov all the time: Svanidze diary, 13 Dec. 1934.

Artyom Sergeev—memories of Stalin and Kirov.

Kirov, pp. 130–1.

RGASPI 558.11.746.82, Stalin to Kirov 6 June 1928.

Kirov, p. 139.

RGASPI 558.11.746.131, Stalin to Kirov 21 July 1932.

Kirov: staying the night at Stalin’s—Artyom Sergeev. Svetlana performs for Kirov: Svanidze diary, 14 Nov. 1934. Tensions with Sergo Ordzhonikidze: see Kaganovich Perepiska, pp. 276–7 in 1932 and Molotov Letters in 1933, p. 234.

Moving divans and Nicholas I: Charkviani, p. 35. Moving around in the south: Stalin to G. Dmitrov 25 Oct. 1934, in Alexander Dallin and F. I. Firson (eds.), Dmitrov and Stalin, 1934– 1943 (henceforth Dmitrov/Stalin), p. 22.

9: THE OMNIPOTENT WIDOWER AND HIS LOVING FAMILY

Stalin’s spartan decor: Svetlana OOY, pp. 345–70. Little Corner: Stalin’s office, see Shtemenko in Bialer (ed.), p. 353. Security: RGASPI 17.162.9.54, quoted in Khlevniuk, Circle, p. 51. On Lenin: Service, pp. 400–1. Visits to Bedny, see Sudoplatov, p. 52. Beggar: MR, pp. 14, 213. Moving to Bukharin’s flat: Svetlana, Twenty Letters , p. 130. Artyom Sergeev in interview and quoted, with Molotov, in MR, pp. 10–11. RGASPI 558.11.801.42–43, Redens to Stalin 14 Nov. 1930.

Pavel and Zhenya Alliluyev return from Berlin: Kira Alliluyeva. Svetlana RR. Redens “tough, airs”: Svetlana, Twenty Letters , p. 64. Redens replaced in Ukraine by Balitsky; Kaganovich Perepiska, pp. 276–7. Redens ruined: Sergo B, pp. 21, 47. Leonid and Vladmir Redens. Chatterbox Anna: RGASPI 74.2.38.89, Stalin to Voroshilov, n.d.

Mikoyan, p. 357. Svanidzes: see Maria’s diary on family, 5 Mar. 1937; Maria’s poem to Stalin, RGASPI 44.1.1.361–6. “Better looking than 70% of wives/anyone who meets me remembers me forever”: RGASPI 44.1.1.340–4, Maria Svanidze to Alyosha Svanidze. RGASPI 44.1.1.403, Alyosha to Maria on Mikoyan, Sergo and Yenukidze 9 Nov. 1930. RGASPI 44.1.1.417, Nadya Alliluyeva to Maria Svanidze on “babas,” 11 Jan. 1926. Svanidzes: Svetlana, Twenty Letters, pp. 81–7.

RGASPI 558.3.4, Stalin to Yakov. Resembled father: Vlasik, p. 27.

Svetlana RR. Svanidze diary, 15 Apr. 1935. This account of the family circle and living arrangements after Nadya’s death is based on the following sources: author’s interviews with Artyom Sergeev, Kira Alliluyeva, Vladimir Alliluyev (Redens), Leonid Redens. Stepan Mikoyan. Svetlana RR. Svetlana, Twenty Letters, p. 130. Svanidze diaries, Sept. 1933 and 4 Oct. 1934. Stalin’s distrust of Anna the chatterer: see RGASPI 74.2.38.89, n.d., Stalin to Voroshilov, and also see Stalin’s letter to Commandant Efimov about Vasily. On Svanidze and Stalin, Mikoyan, pp. 357–8: brothers.

Vlasik, pp. 25–7. Interview with Nadezhda Vlasik. Letters of V. Stalin, J. Stalin, Commandant S. Efimov, K. Pauker, 1933–8, quoted in A. Sukhomlinov, Vasily: Syn Vozhdya (henceforth Vasily), pp. 28–30, 51. On Vasily’s sexual tales to Svetlana: Svetlana RR. The pistol: Artyom Sergeev.

Mgeladze, p. 117.

Tucker, Power, pp. 200–203. Kirov, pp. 148–9. Anne Applebaum, GULAG, pp. 78–83.

RGASPI 85.1.144.

Kirov, pp. 167–8.

Kuibyshev’s womanizing and drinking: Oleg Troyanovsky. See also Stalin to Molotov: Molotov Letters, p. 233. Stalin to Molotov 1 Sept. 1933 and 12 Sept. 1933.

RGASPI 74.2.38.89, Stalin to Voroshilov, n.d.

Nadezhda Vlasik. Beria, pp. 47–53. S. Lakoba, Ocherki po politicheskoy istorii Abkhazii, pp. 117–8. Stalin’s album, RGASPI 558.11.1668. Moving around: Stalin to Dmitrov 25 Oct. 1934 in Dmitrov/Stalin p. 22. Kaganovich Perepiska, pp. 308–20.

RGASPI 558.11.765.72. Mikoyan to Stalin 12 Sept. 1931. Khlevniuk, Circle, pp. 83–97.

Khlevniuk, Circle, pp. 94–7. Molotov Letters, pp. 233, 234. Kaganovich Perepiska, pp. 315–23.

Molotov Letters, p. 233. Stalin to Molotov, 1 and 12 Sept. 1933. Also see RGASPI 79.1.798, Molotov to Kuibyshev 12 Sept. 1933.

Stalin and Sergo: “Congratulate you or not?” RGASPI 558.11.778.48, Stalin to Sergo 15 Jan. 1931. “Are you prepared?” RGASPI 558.11.778.45, Sergo to Stalin. “Finish with Right,” RGASPI 558.11.778.40, Sergo to Stalin 26 Sept. 1930. RGASPI 81.3.99.27/8, Stalin to Sergo 9 September 1931. The archives are full of evidence of Sergo’s temper and complaints about it: for example, RGASPI 558.11.737.65. A. Ikramov (Uzbekistan) to Stalin 12 June 1935: “No questions were solved because of Comrade Ordzhonikidze… he scolded me and accused me of all possible things. Some things I can’t even repeat… I think such behaviour incorrect and I ask you to receive me…” Stalin approves Sergo: “Really slapped them,” RGASPI 74.2.38.25, Stalin to Voroshilov 10 Feb. 1928. Khlevniuk, Ordzhonikidze, pp. 7–16, 21–4, 158, quoting E. M. Bogdateva on his strength. On the fight: MR, p. 113. His frenzies: S. R. Gershberg in Khlevniuk, p. 149. Eteri Ordzhonikidze. Killing those he hated: Mikoyan, p. 332. Orlov, p. 185. Chivalrous: KR, p. 107. Easter, pp. 59–62.; Kaganovich: Sergo “I’m kissing you,” pp. 63, 162. Perfect Bolshevik: Svanidze diary, 5, 1937. Stalin on Beria and Sergo (vanity): Kaganovich Perepiska, pp. 92, 276. On holiday to Kislovodsk: Kaganovich Perepiska, p. 326, and letters to and from Stalin, pp. 340, 342. Stalin on Sergo’s nobility: Charkviani, p. 23. “Prince”: Sergo B, p. 15.

10: SPOILED VICTORY