Grand Marshal Stalin

Author: (Russian) Vladimir Karpov
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-09-01
Features: This book is not a novel; it is a mosaic created from Stalin's deeds collected by me and other famous or lesser-known authors. I am concerned with creating a comprehensive picture of the life of this extremely famous contemporary of ours. As a contemporary of Stalin, I have experienced these historical events, and therefore I am fully justified in judging the actions of those involved. In this enigmatic mosaic composed of a vast amount of literature, facts, figures, and their behaviors spanning nearly a century, I believe I should serve as a guide and a conversationalist. – Vladimir Karpov
After long deliberation and hesitation, I began writing this book. The events in Stalin's life were earth-shattering, and as a person, he was highly complex, contradictory, and multifaceted. Therefore, I first ask the reader to pay attention to two points. One is that during the decades of Stalin's life, people often overestimated many things, exaggerating and embellishing his achievements. The other is that after Stalin's death, this historical figure and everything related to him began to be "infamous" and "discredited," a process that continues to this day, characterized by painting everything in black and white, as if there were no redeeming qualities. So, what is the truth? For this, I had to sift through piles of books, articles, and research works with opposing evaluations, most of which were biased and unfair. In some works, Stalin is portrayed as a great leader, the father of all peoples, and a wise statesman, while in others, he is depicted as a bloodthirsty monster or a criminal with delusions of grandeur. Regarding these "biographies," the point to be made is that all those who either praise or denigrate Stalin do so from the perspective of their ideological party stance or factional beliefs. Some people are simply trying to profit by discussing "hot topics," and as long as someone pays them, they can portray Stalin from any angle. Yesterday, they were writing doctoral dissertations on the "superiority of developed socialism," and today, they are rushing to extol the benefits of "free economic activity." The directives of the leader were always the guiding principle for them, but now they claim that he had no theory or philosophy and that he did nothing but suppress others. All of this needs to be analyzed.
I do not intend to analyze, evaluate, or describe the entire life and activities of Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin. I only attempt to elaborate on his political and military activities. While writing the book The Commander and especially the trilogy on Marshal Zhukov, I felt as though I were preparing to write a book about Stalin. The role of Stalin as the supreme commander was paramount in matters of the war's progress and in making decisions for major campaigns. Whether his decisions were right or wrong is another issue, but it is undeniable that his opinions and orders were decisive. I included certain chapters from my three-volume work on Marshal Zhukov that dealt with enemy actions in this book, and in most cases, I made no changes, merely supplementing them with Stalin's reactions to the same actions. I see no need to rewrite these chapters entirely. During the process of writing those books, I accumulated materials and thoughts about Stalin's military activities; additionally, many important generals and hundreds of readers have continuously urged me to consider writing a book about Stalin. Many believe that my previous work, my military education, and my familiarity with archives have prepared me for writing this book. What gives me the strength is not only the materials I have mastered but also my experience working at the General Staff from 1947 to 1953, when Stalin died. I did not personally meet him, but I saw him many times and heard him speak. I want to tell those who do not know my life: In 1941, when I was still a student at the Tashkent Military Academy, I was arrested and sentenced by the military court of the Central Asian Military District for allegedly engaging in anti-Soviet agitation and propaganda (Article 58, Paragraph 10 of the Soviet Criminal Code). The investigators asked me the main question: "Who gave you the task of slandering the leader of all peoples, Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin?" I committed this "crime" because I had said, "Many people have forgotten about Lenin and always talk about Stalin, Stalin, but he was the second most important figure after Lenin during the revolution and the Civil War." The investigator said, "You are spreading doubts among soldiers with such talk, undermining the prestige of the leader of all peoples." In the pre-war era, this was a shocking criminal offense, and many people were executed for such remarks. Fortunately, the military court showed "mercy" and let me live. Later, I went to the Tavda labor camp, where I worked in the forests, and then to the Far North, where I nearly lost my life. Later (in October 1942), after writing to Kalinin requesting to be sent to the front, I joined a penal unit. As everyone knows, in a penal unit, one must atone with blood. I survived several close-quarters battles, when only a few people in the penal unit remained alive. Then came the decision of the Kalinin Front Military Committee: "In recognition of the outstanding performance of Red Army soldier Vladimir Vasilyevich Karpov in the fight against the German aggressor, the sentence imposed by the Central Asian Military District Military Court is rescinded. February 20, 1943."
In short, I am fully justified in feeling wronged by Stalin. However, my previous books were all truthful, and in this book about the Grand Marshal, I do not intend to change that. My purpose is not to defend or condemn Stalin. I will remain as always, presenting everything objectively.
A brief word about the style and structure of this book. Everything here is based on strict documentation. Some may think that the references and citations are too numerous, but I do so because I believe that most readers cannot personally read many of the existing, so-called "primary sources" that are difficult for ordinary people to understand. As for my conversations with Stalin's close associates (friends and enemies), these records (including audio materials) are unique because my interlocutors have already passed away. I preemptively agree with any opinions that might arise about the excessive number of citations and materials quoted from various works. I want to explain that I intend to write a relatively comprehensive book about Stalin, so I have included details from his life and activities that older readers may know but younger readers may not. What is the characteristic of this genre? I do not seek an epic portrayal, because this book is not a novel or a novella; it is a mosaic created from Stalin's deeds collected by me and other famous or lesser-known authors. I am concerned with creating as comprehensive a picture as possible of the life of this extremely famous contemporary of ours. Many participants in the war knew that I was writing a book about the Grand Marshal, and they sent me their wishes and suggestions, telling me some details about Stalin's life. I am deeply grateful for all of this.
Like other genres, a mosaic has the right to exist. What supports me in this is Belinsky's view: "When a writer is bound by historical materials and facts and must only strive to reproduce these facts as faithfully as possible, it seems that art (in its artistic sense) has little room to maneuver. But the problem is that mere erudition cannot faithfully reproduce facts; here, imagination is also required. Historical facts contained in historical materials are nothing more than bricks and stones; only an artist can use these materials to build a beautiful structure."
As a contemporary of Stalin, I personally experienced these historical events, and therefore I am fully justified in judging the actions of those involved. In this enigmatic mosaic composed of a vast amount of literature, facts, figures, and their behaviors spanning nearly a century, I believe I should be a guide and a conversationalist. In some places, I describe in detail the process of searching for documents, the accounts of witnesses, the stages of event development, or my own comments—all of which are necessary to the atmosphere of the mosaic, filling the entire event like air, leaving no room for ambiguity, incompleteness, or vagueness. I spent five years revising the manuscript, and I could and should have refined the language, cut some parts, and added others. But based on the suggestions and praise from friends who read the manuscript, I finally decided to publish it.
Many of my younger comrades and writers have passed away, and I have already lived through 80 difficult years. A sad accident may meet me unexpectedly. I very much hope (and I do not hide this) to hold this book (one of the most significant works in my creative life) in a quiet study and revisit it with the readers, taking them through not only the decades when Stalin lived and worked but also the harsh, difficult, and joyful years of the 20th century that our older generation also lived through. That is our life.
And one last point. When we fought in the trenches on the front, what motivated us to charge toward the bullets and death, amidst the carnage, was not only the slogans of "For the Motherland! For Stalin!" but also the eternal Russian word: "Should!" I told myself the heavy word "Should," and while writing the book The Grand Marshal, I fully understood how complex and burdensome the responsibility I bore toward the readers and history.