Lenin Speaks to Red Army Soldiers, May 5, 1920

Stories of Iconic Lenin Photos #2

From the Soviet Sputnik Magazine in 1969, the second in a series of looks at the background of several famous, iconic photographs of Lenin.

Text:

An album produced by the Art Publishers and entitled Lenin in Photographs is thought to be the first large collection of pictures taken of the leader of the October Revolution. In it Leonid Volkov-Lannit has brought together many obscure facts. These 130 photographs recall the events in the Smolny headquarters of the revolution in Petrograd (now Leningrad). The book also tells the story of the first Soviet photographers and cameramen who photographed Lenin in those epic days.

Soviet journalist Boris Galin, 1969:

Here is a truly historic picture by another Press photographer, Grigori Goldstein: Lenin is addressing parting words to Red Army men as they leave for the front on May 5, 1920. He is surrounded by people in soldiers' greatcoats, leather jackets or military tunics. They are workers and peasants leaving for the front with the image and fiery words of Lenin in their hearts.

The photographer's records tell something of the history of the picture: "It was a dull cloudy day. In the gardens opposite the Bolshoi Theatre a platform of unpainted boards had been set up. Lenin was obviously in the grip of strong emotion before he spoke. But when he mounted the platform his voice was resounding and his gestures, everything, revealed his certainty of victory over the enemy. I carefully scrutinised all his movements. There he stood, addressing the cadets, his body impetuously thrust forward, cap gripped in his hand. I immediately clicked my camera. It was with apprehension that I developed the negative—what if something went wrong? What if the plate were a poor one? Happily everything went well." I find it difficult to tear myself away from that photograph, which conveys the essence of Lenin's nature, his faith in victory, his ardour and passion.