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50 years since the Moscow Purge Trials Nuremberg exposes Moscow trials frame-up Reprints from the archives THE Militant International Review is reprinting below a number of articles which were originally published in the Marxist paper Socialist Appeal in the first months of 1946. These articles outline the campaign conducted by Socialist Appeal to obtain support for the idea of checking, at the 1945 - 46 Nuremberg trial of Nazi war criminals, the grotesque allegations made in the 1936 - 37 Moscow purge trials that Trotsky, and the other old Bolsheviks murdered by Stalin in the 1930s, had been lifelong agents of imperialism, and the Nazis in particular.
Of course the Nuremberg trials were carefully tailored by the 'Allies' to, as Socialist Appeal explained, hatred for imperialist wars away from themselves and onto the shoulders of the defeated Nazis. " Documents casting the Allies in an unfavourable light, especially those showing the substantial support rendered to the Nazis before and after they came to power by the 'democratic' capitalists of Britain, were not brought into the trial. The Nazis were refused permission to subpoena prominent British politicians as witnesses because of the "great international harm"' that might be done if "Allied nationals of Cabinet rank were questioned concerning diplomatic secrets" ed that, in the words of Socialist Appeal, both "prosecuters and accused shared joint responsibility for the horrors of Nazism and the war". Nonetheless, the Nuremberg trials did provide a forum for the Marxists to devastatingly expose the central lie in the Moscow purge trials, namely that Trotsky was working with the Nazis against the Soviet Union.
Today the "Communists" of the pro-Moscow Morning Star are reduced to sly innuendo and insinuation in their attempts to smear the ideas of genuine Marxism. Recently, for example, they outrageously perverted the disturbing fact that a number of Militant supporters in Liverpool had received letters to their home addresses from the fascist National Front-an obvious threat to their safety-to imply instead an affinity between the ideas of Militant and the fascists (Morning Star, 17 May 1986). But, partly due to the deter- THE NUREMBERG trial has served one useful purpose unforeseen by its sponsors. It has exposed once and for all the frame-up of the Moscow trials organised by Stalin against the old Bolsheviks. The entire old guard of the Russian revolution were wiped out on the basis of the socalled evidence produced by Vyshinsky in the Moscow trials that they, together with Leon Trotsky were directly working with the Nazis and the Gestapo against the Soviet Union. Why then has this evidence not been produced at the Nuremberg trial by the Russian prosecuting counsel? We have challenged them to produce their evidence that Trotsky was linked with the Nazis and the Gestapo during the proceedings.
Nuremberg acknowledgement has been received. The trial is supposed to reveal all the evidence of the systematic preparations for war by the Nazis. Tens and even hundreds of thousands of documents have "divert the , ie. if it were revealchives of the Marxist press.
Mid January 1946-Socialist Appeal supplement been examined minutely for evidence. The archives of the German state and the Nazi Party have been ransacked Thousands of people have been questioned and even the most trivial conversations have been recorded. In the case presented by the US prosecutor, the history of the Nazi Party was developed in detail right from its inception. The agreements and diplomatic manoeuvres of the Nazis have uncovered.
The systematically been records of Hitler's discussions and plans of aggression, the conquest of each of the states which were invaded by the Nazis, including the Soviet Union, have been clearly documented. Yet not a single word, not a single hint of the supposed agreement with Trotsky and the revolutionaries executed after the Moscow trials has been mentioned.
It is significant that neither the Russian nor the world Stalinist press has had a single line on the subject. While at the 32 "Workers of All Lands Unite"
SARANST ENTIRE PRESS SILENT ON NUREMBERG Stalinist Frame-Ups Exposed concluded Its rasp at the inerle 1101% kill has STILL NO EVIDENCE AT NUREMBERG mination of the pioneers of Marxism to defend the truth, including the Nuremburg campaign of Socialist Appeal, gone are the days when the British Stalinists could brazenly declare, as the Daily Worker did in 1936, that the Moscow purge trials proved that Trotsky, Zinoviev and Kamenev "were linked with the Nazi secret police... as tools of a world fascist attack'! It is in tribute to those who perished at the hands of Stalin and the usurping bureaucracy, and to those who fought against the Stalinist lie machine to defend Marxism, that, in the year of the 50th anniversary of the Moscow trials, we reprint these extracts from the artime of the Moscow trials, the world was deluged with propaganda by means of wireless, press and meetings to convince the workers of the genuineness of the charges. Now, as though by a signal, the mighty orchestra of the world Stalinist machine is deadly silent. This silence itself reveals that they are conscious of the fact that the charges in the Moscow trials could not stand the test of independent investigation.
In the Indictment of the trial of Radek, sokolnikov, Pyatakov, Serebriakov, Muralov, and others, it states.
"The investigation has established that LD Trotsky entered into negotiations with one of the leaders of the German National Socialist Party with a view to waging a joint struggle against the Soviet Union. "As testified by the accused Pyatakov.
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LD Trotsky, in his conversation with the accused in December 1935, informed him that as a result of these negotiations he had concluded an agreement with the said leader of the National-Socialist Party in the following terms:
(1) 'To guarantee a generally favourable attitude towards the German government and the necessary collaboration with it in the most important questions of an international character;
(2) 'To agree to territorial concessions;
(3) 'To permit German industrialists, in the form of concessions (or some other forms), to exploit enterprises in the USSR which are essential auxiliaries to German economy (meaning iron ore, manganese, oil, gold, timber, ete);
(4) 'To create in the USSR favourable conditions for the activities of German private enterprises;
(5) 'In time of war to carry on extensive diversionist activities in war industry enterprises and at the front. These diversionist activities are to be carried out under Trotsky's instructions, in agreement with the German General Staff.
'The principles of this agreement, as Trotsky related, were finally elaborated and adopted during Trotsky's meeting with Hitler's deputy, Hess.
'Likewise, said Trotsky, he had well established connections with the...government'." (Vol 1, p 267 - 68). (Quoted from International Press Correspondence, p 128, No 6, February 1937).
The Dewey Commission
These and other charges were investigated by the Commission of Enquiry into the Charges made against Leon Trotsky in the Moscow Trials. This commission was established under the chairmanship of the world famous Dr John Dewey and supported by sections of the labour movement and radical opinion throughout the world. An examination of the evidence, and the questioning of Trotsky and other witnesses, revealed that the charges at the Moscow trials could not be substantiated by evidence.
Using them as a cover, tens of thousands of Old Bolsheviks, those who carried through and organised the revolution were imprisoned or murdered, and in their place former White Guards and Mensheviks, such as Vyshinsky, Maisky, Koltzov, Troyanovsky and thousands of others of a similar calibre took their places.
Trotsky in dealing with the reasons for the trials and the change of personnel in the leading positions explained (in his speech I Stake My Life, p 12):
«These sweeping alterations in personnel, especially striking in the provinces, have profound social causes. What are they? It is time, my listeners, it is high time, to recognise, finally, that a new aristocracy has been formed in the Soviet Union. The October Revolution proceed-
ed under the banner of equality. The
bureaucracy is the embodiment of
monstrous inequality. The revolution
destroyed the nobility. The bureaucracy
creates a new gentry. The revolution
destroyed titles and decorations. The new
aristocracy produces marshals and
generals. The new aristocracy absorbs an enormous part of the national income. Its
position before the people is deceitful and
false. Its leaders are forced to hide the reality, to deceive the masses, to cloak themselves, calling black white. The whole policy of the new aristocracy is a frameup. The new constitution is nothing but a frame-up"
Socialist Appeal has issued a challenge to the Russian prosecuting counsel, the text of which reads as follows:
"Now, at the Nuremberg trial, the Russian representatives have the possibility of establishing the claim of the Stalinist government as to the alleged role of Trotsky as a Nazi agent. The archives of the Nazis are in the hands of the Allies. Before the Court of Nuremberg, with any possible suspicion attached to the Soviet courts removed, and with the press of the entire world represented to report on the evidence produced, it should be possible for you to produce, not only from the Nazi archives, but from the archives of the Russian government, the necessary evidence to establish the verdict that:
«The materials in the possession of the investigating authorities on the present case (Moscow trial) established that the connections between enemy of the people TROTSKY and the German political police and the intelligence services of other countries were established at a much earlier date. The investigation has definitely established that TROTSKY has been connected with the German Intelligence Service since 1921, and with the British Intelligence Service since 1926''
(Indictment, Verbatim Report of Court Proceedings in the case of the Anti-Soviet 'Bloc of Rights and Trotskyists'.)
We challenge you to produce the socalled 'evidence' at the Nuremberg trial, with which the cream of the Old Bolsheviks were shot and done to death. Here is an opportunity to prove to the sceptics of the Moscow trials, the truth of the Russian government's allegations that Trotsky collaborated and acted as an agent of the Nazis and the British against the Soviet Union.
The failure to produce such evidence at the Nuremberg trial will establish that the Stalinist government was guilty of a monstrous frame-up against the Old Bolsheviks and Leon Trotsky".
Every honest worker, every sincere member of the Communist Party rank and file must ask himself why the Stalinist government and the Communist Parties throughout the world are so silent on this question today; and must ask himself why they do not produce their so-called evidence against Leon Trotsky. Here is an opportunity to show the position of Trot-
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skyism, and expose it to the contempt and anger of the world working class. But they dare not raise the question because it would expose not Trotskyism but them.
The Communist Party in Britain is waging a justified campaign demanding the publication of the lists of the names of the Nazi sympathisers in Britain discovered among the archives in Berlin. Thus the connections of the Nazis with sections of British big business, high society and court circles would be uncovered. But they have not even replied to a letter sent to the editor of the Dail Worker, asking that they raise an agitation on this question of the alleged relations between the Nazis, the German General Staff and the Trotskyists.
If the question were raised at Nuremberg it would not necessarily prove the correctness of the charges. But the fact that it has not been raised and there is not even a whisper in the Stalinist press and publicity on the Nuremberg trial, is damning and irrefutable evidence that the Moscow trials were frame-ups.
'Judicial murders
The Moscow trials, according to the Commission of Enquiry " violated Soviet law on criminal procedure on every important point" • And we see that the Stalinist bureaucrats dare not submit their fantastic charges to a tribunal over which they do not have complete control, even one so favourable to them as that at Nuremberg where their Allies sit on the same judges' bench, together with a Russian judge, and conduct the prosecution together with a Russian prosecutor. They have not been able to prime and drill the accused, witnesses, defence lawyers, prosecution and judges and thus the conditions for a frame-up which would be convincing to the world, are not present.
Thus the Nuremberg trial is serving one very valuable and important function for the world labour movement: it is demonstrating that not Trotsky made agreements with Hitler, but only Stalin, in the Stalin-Hitler Pact: that not the Trotskyists but the Stalinists betrayed socialism and the ideals of the labour movement; and that the Moscow trials were monstrous frame-ups.
In the light of the failure to bring out the alleged evidence, it can be understood why the Stalinist regime refused to allow the Second International (of which the British Labour Party was a section) to send independent lawyers to be present at the Moscow trials or to interview the accused. The findings of the Commission of Inquiry are confirmed to the hilt. To every person of integrity, to the labour movement, to all those who aim at establishing the truth, there can no longer be even a shadow of doubt: once and for all the Moscow trials are condemned in their true role as the mos sinister farces. and revolting judicial murders.
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Nuremberg Russian prosecution silent MIR Summer 1986: Moscow Purge Trials Mid February 1946, trial proceeds it AS THE Nuremberg becomes clearer and clearer that there is a conspiracy on the part of Allied perialism to cover up the crimes of Stalinism in the Moscow trials. prosecuter Russian The Rudenko, has outlined the case he intends to prove against the Nazis. Amazing details of conversations, documents, and plans of the Nazi leaders and of the German High Command were presented by Rudenko. Preparations for the attack on 'the Soviet Union, the detailed plan of attack, and the agreement with the Finnish General Staff all came under review. But not a word of the so-called agreement with the Soviet Generals, Lenin's workers and the alleged arch-Traitor At the time of the Moscow trials the entire world press blared forth the so-called "evidence". The Stalinist parties waged a hysterical campaign against Leon Trotsky and his followers. In the name of their alleged agreements with the Nazis and the High Command, tens of German thousands were murdered and the flower of the Soviet General Staff was done to death. After their deaths, it was announced that they had been tried secretly. The reasons given for this unprecedented secrecy, was that the evidence and the documents could not be disclosed for military reasons.
Secrets of General Staff But there can be no excuse now. Yet not a word. Not a whisper. Not a mention.
The evidence relating to Hess was introduced by the British earlier in the trial. Full details of his conversations with the British were recorded. But in the case of Hess too, nothing was introduced to indicate the remotest connection with Trotsky.
Russians brought in some star The witnesses against the accused. Von Paulus who was created a Field Marshal by Hitler at the time of Stalingrad, gave evidence as to the plans of the German High Command. Their most intricate secrets were revealed. Von Paulus was familiarised with all the plans for the attack on the Soviet Union. He knew all the secrets of the now famous 'Green Brief Case" General Buschenhagen was another witness for the Russian prosecution. He detailed the plans for Finland's participation in the invasion of Russia. curiously enough, he too, knew nothing the agreement with apparently of Trotsky.
Appeal No 20 on Trotsky-why?
of Stalinism and its methods than this silence at Nuremberg. Stalinism stands imcondemned as guilty of the most monstrous frame-up and the worst travesty of justice ever recorded in trials on General working class fighters. One would have to go back to the days of the Spanish Inquisition to find a like parallel. Stalinist press capitalist press throughout the world is working class.
too are silent.
fraticides!
"During the Moscow political| triala of 1896 and 1837.
Tererences were made alleged association Leon Trotaky and orner of the socused on the one hand and the Naxi Government and Gestapo o the other.
For example, the Indictment of the As part of its campaign to get the 'evidence' of the Moscow Trials produced at Nuremberg, Socialist Appeal published 40,000 leaflets carrying a statement supporting the camothers, George Orwell, H G Wells (then in his eightieth year) and Arthur Koestler.
There could be no greater indictment But it is significant that not only the The remains silent.
shielding Stalin and the bureaucratic assassins from exposure to the world To add further shame to the labour movement, the Labour government and the Labour Party have become partners in this conspiracy of silence. Despite the fact that they condemned the Moscow trials as a frame-up, for reasons of agreement with the Stalinist bureaucracy they Thus we see all the forces of the old world lined up against the revolutionaries. In this new conspiracy of silence is mirrored the mockery of the phrases about "truth, honour, justice" etc. But history will pass its verdict. Nuremberg is making an unanswerable indictment against the Stalinists: traitors, murderers, energy"
In the words of Trotsky: "In the time of reaction it is more convenient to lean on the bureaucracy than on the truth. But all those for whom the word socialism is not a hollow sound but the content of their moral life-forward. Neither threats NUREMBERG AND THE MOSCOW TRIALS Prosecution Asked:
TO PRODUCE EVIDENCE OF MOSCOW TRIALS TO GIVE REPRESENTATION TO NATALIA TROTSKY The following statement has been sent to the War Crimes Commission at Nuremberg and the British Prosecutor, also to the Prime Minister, the Communist Party, the Revolutionary Communist Party and iet activities in war industry | enterprises and at the front.
many These diversionist activities with foreign between are to be cartied on under Trotsky's instructiona, agreement with the German General Star:
fence of the U.S.S.R.
" Tho nrinciplea this as Trotaky related, i elaborated and represented by powera uring Trotsky's waLd accused of having conspired.
h Hitler's deputy, report of эвсот, 1937.) never e moboow trial.
or Enquiry, ol capitalism in the U.S.S.R American Comthe contrary, Defence of Leon amongst always uncompromisingly op ing the mandate posed the restoration of cap- Isatione in other italiam in the soviet Union and its existence 34 Natalia Sedova, Trotsky's widow. Mid March 1946, Socialist Appeal No 22 Nuremberg and Moscow Trials Message from Natalia 'All that you have undertaken seems to me to be correct and even magnificent. We must really profit from it. It is an exceptional situation to illuminate all these questions definitively. I have been very touched by your action and I thank you greatly for having set this programme of action on foot with such nor persecutions, nor violations can stop us. Be it even over our bleaching bones, the truth will triumph! We will blaze the trial for it. It will conquer." Russian Ambassador, the Labour Party, the the whole of the Press.
or witnessee in the Moecow i Trials to enter into agreements | the and powers the Soviet Union On the contrary, he has always uncompromisingly advocated the de- He has been a most forthright ideo.
logical opponent of the faacism hands foreign which he unity "On the basis of all the simed evidence, we find that Trotsky «ecolDmended, piotted or attempted the restoration invaluable.
therefore suggest hae he following:sento That an accredited repreall Where
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