861.20/385: Telegram

The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Henderson) to the Secretary of State

105. In view of the tense situation in Europe and of the many rumors which undoubtedly are reaching the Department regarding [Page 377] shifts in Red Army personnel, I feel that it might be helpful to the Department to have from the Embassy a brief account of events which seem to involve the Red Army and the Embassy’s interpretation of them.

1.
The demotion of Marshal Tukhachevsky21 and the suicide of Gamarnik21a who, as head of the political work of the army, has held rank almost equivalent to that of a marshal have been reported in the Soviet press.
2.
The Soviet press has also announced the revival of the institution of Military Political Commissars by establishment of military Soviets each composed of three members in the various military districts, in the Far Eastern Army, and in various naval units.22 It appears that the composition of each Soviet will include the ranking military or naval officer and the ranking political officer. It is not as yet clear who the third member will be.
3.
Although not yet announced there seems little doubt that Tukhachevsky has been arrested and that the following persons have been arrested or at least removed in disgrace from their posts: Army Commander Kork, Head of the Frunze Academy (the equivalent of which in the United States is the Army War College); Corps Commander Eideman, Head of Civilian Defense Work and Chief of the organization Osoaviakhim;23 Corps Commander Gorbatchev, Assistant Commander and in active charge of the Moscow Military District; Corps Commander Gekher who until recently was Chief of the Foreign Relations Section of the People’s Commissariat for Defense; Muklevitch, a newly appointed Assistant Commissar for Defense Industry who since the revolution has held various important military positions including the post of Commander of the Soviet Navy and Air Forces.
4.
It appears that many officers more junior in rank including protégés of some of the general commanders mentioned above have also been arrested.
5.
The Embassy agrees with the view of a number of competent foreign observers in Moscow that the arrests and shifting of army personnel and the changes which are being made in the army structure [Page 378] are prompted by a lack of confidence on the part of Stalin and the little Party group around him in the absolute loyalty to themselves of certain sections of the Red Army. Whether the Kremlin will go so far as to charge that there has been a gigantic Red Army plot remains to be seen. If so it is likely that the utterances of charges will be of espionage, treason to the Fatherland and Trotskyism rather than of anti-Stalinism. The press is already commencing to charge Gamarnik with Fascist espionage and treachery the usual synonyms for lack of enthusiasm over Stalin’s leadership.
6.
It seems likely that the system of Military Soviets may adversely affect the efficiency of the army in that it is contrary to the principle of individual command and responsibility and will probably result in a diminishing of the respect of officers and men for their superiors. It is thought that at least one member of each Soviet will be chosen because of his proven loyalty to Stalin and will exercise vigilance in checking any order or movement which might threaten the power or prestige of the dictator. Stalin apparently prefers an army upon which he can personally rely to one which while perhaps more efficient technically is inclined to consider itself something of a professional autonomous organization which can afford to take an attitude of neutrality towards the internal political struggles which are now taking place. It would seem that the test of loyalty in the Red Army of the future will be its attitude toward Stalin and his henchmen rather than that towards the Soviet State, the Communist Party, Communism and so forth.
7.
It is the consensus of opinion of competent observers here that the morale and self-confidence of the armed forces from top to bottom has received a severe shock from which they cannot recover for some time.
Henderson
  1. Mikhail Nikolayevich Tukhachevsky was demoted on May 11, 1937, from Vice Commissar in the People’s Commissariat for Defense to commander of the troops of the Volga Military District.
  2. Yan Borisovich Gamarnik, first Assistant Commissar for Defense, and Chief of the Political Administration of the Red Army, committed suicide on May 31, 1937. The Embassy reported that “the reason for his suicide is not known and probably never will be.” (861.20/398.)
  3. Military commissars and military Soviets were again instituted by resolution of May 11, 1937, and approved by regulations of May 17, 1937. The statutes of the military commissars of the Red Army were approved by the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People’s Commissars of the Soviet Union on August 15, 1937.
  4. Society for Air and Chemical Defense, a huge military society created in 1931, chiefly concerned with strengthening the defense of the Soviet Union.