num_pages: 372
description: Reminiscences of a Kremlin Commandant was written by Pavel Dmitriyevich Malkov, a member of the Communist Party since 1904, who played an active part in the February Revolution and the Great October Socialist Revolution in 1917. He had the collaboration of Professor of History, A. Y. Sverdlov. A few days after the October victory, Pavel Malkov was appointed Commandant of Smolny in Petrograd, and when the Soviet Government was transferred to Moscow in March 1918, he became Commandant of the Moscow Kremlin. He held this post of honor until the summer of 1920, when he undertook important work of an economic and social nature. Pavel Malkov took part in, or was an eyewitness to, many historic events during the October days and the early years of Soviet power. His work as Commandant of the Moscow Kremlin afforded him opportunities of frequent meetings with Lenin and other prominent leaders of the Soviet state. A number of features and details, which at times seemed of no particular importance, helped the author to build up a vivid picture of Lenin both as leader and man. Malkov's duties brought him chiefly into contact with Yakov Sverdlov, Felix Dzerzhinsky, and Varlam Avanesov, for all of whom he carried out assignments. His book has much to say about these ardent Bolsheviks and their tireless work during the formative years of Soviet power. Pavel Malkov's personal reminiscences form the basis of the book; he has made use of archive materials and documents, some of them being from his personal collection, as well as newspapers and periodicals published in 1917-19. P. D. Malkov is now a pensioner and lives in Moscow.
language: English
title: Reminiscences of a Kremlin Commandant
titlecomplete: Reminiscences of a Kremlin Commandant
publisher: Univ Pr of the Pacific