200. RGASPI, f. 17, op. 2, d. 628, l. 121–2. The decree rendering Russian obligatory in schools would not be issued until March 13, 1938 (evidently delayed by the terror and bureaucratic complexities). Never published, it stipulated that “in the conditions of a multinational state such as the USSR, knowledge of the Russian language should be a powerful means for communication and contact among the peoples of the USSR, enabling further economic and cultural growth.” RGASPI, f. 17, op. 3, d. 997, l. 103. Local versions of the decree were published. Kul’turnaia zhizn’ v SSSR, 1928–1941, 606n6. In the meantime, on Oct. 30, 1937, Mekhlis complained to Stalin and the other Central Committee secretaries, as well as Yezhov, about the absence of Russian-language newspapers in Ukraine. Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan all had republic-level Russian newspapers, while of the eleven republic and provincial newspapers published in Kiev, all the main ones were in Ukrainian. Of Ukraine’s twelve regions, only the Donbas had even a province-level Russian newspaper. Even Odessa lacked a local Russian-language newspaper. Kiev had German, Polish, Yiddish, and Bulgarian papers, but none in Russian. Maksimenkov, Bol’shaia tsenzura, 481–2 (RGASPI, f. 17, op. 114, d. 829, l. 135–6). Other changes included beginning instruction with seven-year-olds (one year earlier than previously), replacing Latin with Cyrillic for many languages of Soviet peoples, and abolishing all remaining national units in the Red Army. RGASPI, f. 17, op. 3, d. 997, l. 95–6 (March 7, 1938).
201. During the viewing, the film snapped fifteen times. Schlögel, Moscow, 1937, 372–3; Petrone, Life Has Become More Joyous, 163–4; Literaturnaia gazeta, Dec. 12, 1937.
202. Massing, This Deception, 248–9.
203. Banac, Diary of Georgi Dimitrov, 65; van Ree, “Stalin as Marxist,” 175. Stalin had rendered still more severe the draft directives for spouses (including those divorced), children, siblings, brothers and sisters-in-law. And when relatives of the arrested wrote to him begging for help because of their indigence, he often ordered their arrests. Kurliandskii, Stalin, vlast’, religiia, 44–5.
204. Khrushchev, in his ever-ingratiating way, sought to reconcile the moment: “What we have is a felicitous combination—both the great leader and the middle cadres!” Banac, Diary of Georgi Dimitrov, 65–7 (Nov. 7, 1937). Tucker imagined that in the speech in Voroshilov’s apartment, Stalin self-consciously emulated Ivan the Terrible. Tucker, Stalin in Power, 482–6.
205. Such was Dimitrov’s account; a longer version was recorded by Voroshilov’s adjutant: “Trotsky was known, he was not a Bolshevik, he joined the Bolsheviks with his program of permanent revolution. Many said that the Republic was Lenin and Trotsky, he was an orator. Major figures joined together: Trotsky, Bukharin, Rykov, Tomsky, Zinoviev, Pyatakov (God only knows what kind of a figure); add to that Nadezhda Konstantinova [Krupskaya], who always supported these ‘leftist’ Communists. Me, Stalin, I was known, but not like Trotsky. Be brave and don’t invent what was not the case.”
206. Nevezhin, Zastol’nye, 158 (citing RGAPSI, f. 558, op. 11, d. 1122, l. 158–65, 167–74: Khmelnitsky notes).
207. Nevezhin, Zastol’nye, 62–4, RGAPSI, f. 558, op. 11, d. 1122, l. 158–65, 167–74).
208. No figure acquired more place-names than the deceased Kirov. Murray, Politics and Place Names, 51.
209. Wang Ming had requested an audience with Stalin on Oct. 21, 1937. Moscow also sent an envoy to Yan’an, V. A. Adrianov, from the general staff, with $3 million, to build up the forces to fight the Japanese. Titarenko, VKP (b), komintern i kitai, V: 73 (RGASPI, f. 495, op. 74, d. 281, l. 48); Banac, Diary of Georgi Dimitrov, 67–9; III: 124, 197–200, 229–33.
210. Banac, Diary of Georgi Dimitrov, 67–9.
