[23]
See Appendix D P. 142.
[24]
Georgii seems to have been mischievously sewing a literary seed here. The writer did go onto write the one classic novel of the period, Dr Zhivago, but it also proved to be his undoing. One thing that is known about Pasternak and his novel is the fact that the novel took many years to write, back in an era when novels were written specifically for the 'Top Drawer.'
[25]
It is possible to conclude that, from the separate stories, the writer already had, the seeds of the story in place, but the narrative was subtly placed by Georgii Radzetsky into Pasternak's mind during late July/ August of 1919. The book may have taken a further 38 years before it hit the shelves, but this writer is given to understand that some of the best books ever written have taken years, or even decades, to write! The writer wishes to make it clear that Radzetzky may have suggested ideas to Pasternak but it was he, Pasternak, who was the writer, I am not suggesting that Comrade Radzetsky deserves any more credit than he is due for the writing of this 'Classic'. Afterall he had his own stories to tell!
[26]
Lithuanian Guards were used during the height of the 'Civil War' to guard the Kremlin inner sanctum. One can only deduce that the 'Bolshevik' powers that be did not place much trust in the locals! One of the characteristics of the Russian Civil War had been that belligerents seemed to change sides with alarming regularity.
[27]
French Military Intelligence agency; lasted for the duration of the 3
rd
Republic.
[28]
Not that anyone knew it at the time, but Adolf Heidler (1889 – 1945) too was destined to write himself into the history books. But not as an artist!
[29]
Constantinou here is referring to the infamous Czech Legion. The Legion had been told that if they could get to Vladivostok they would be repatriated to the West. Somewhere along the line they were persuaded to fight for 'The Whites', so for a while they went up and down the Trans Siberian railway wreaking havoc. Some fought for 'The Reds', some fought for 'The Whites'. Eventually most of them made their way back home, but not by way of Vladivostok.
[30]
Lenin made the decision to send Stalin to 'The Caucasus'. For a start Stalin knew the people and the terrain; also Ordzhonikidze was bungling around to such an extent that he was seriously endangering 'Bolshevik' plans to get Georgia into the RSFSR. Lenin needed someone down there to sort out the rapidly deteriorating situation. The last thing he wanted to do was fight a war on two fronts.
[31]
The Tambov rebellion (1920 – 21) is one the most famous rebellions against 'Bolshevik' rule. It took two years, and many lives, to suppress it. By the end it achieved virtually nothing. Peasants saw their political masters for what they were and 'The Reds' saw the peasants as a threat that had to be firmly dealt with.
[32]
See Endnote 16.
[33]
The 'Red Terror' of 1918 – 19, was the excuse to purge 'Soviet' Russia of it enemies. It came hard on the heels of Fanya Kaplan's failed assassination attempt. But as Julia Kilduff rightly observed, all revolutions have their terrors. Periods where law and order completely breaks down and 'The Mob', take over. Stalin, as several learned commentators have said, probably based his 'Purges' on Lenin's 'Red Terror.'