Russian Communist leader who with Lenin organized Bolshevik seizure of power in the October Revolution of 1917. After Lenin’s death, Stalin, having defeated Trotsky for control of the Communist party, banished him from Russia in 1929. Trotsky found asylum in Mexico, where he was killed by a pickaxe-armed assassin in 1940, probably at Stalin’s instigation. TLS in German, signed “Your L. Trotsky,” one page, 8.25 x 11, December 11, 1933. Trotsky writes to a fellow comrade regarding the fate of another party member. In part, “You’re probably familiar with the name Maria Reese from the press. A former leftist Social Democrat, later Communist, she has come to see things our way in the course of the last year, has burned all bridges to the comintern and is therefore harassed and persecuted with the wildest hate by the comintern directly or by organizations indirectly controlled by them…Where could she settle? Maybe the USA? We know very well here that the USA has long since definitely ceased to be the promised land…The situation of German emigres in general is very difficult since their emigration coincides with the economic crisis…for bourgeois relief agencies are usually only interested in Jewish journalists, pacifist writers, etc. The Stalinist relief agencies not only don’t help our comrades but also cut them off from any and every access to sources of help. They do this with the dirty, calculated means characteristic of them.” Trotsky also signs a short typed postscript, “L. T.” Light stain over initialled signature, expected folds and a few creases, otherwise fine condition. COA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
