Radek found out that Stalin had been doing everything possible to falsify the chronicles of the revolution, to falsify his biography in order to present himself as the hero and leader of the October Revolution, the strategist and victorious general of the civil war. Radek understood that, like all forgers, Stalin was full of fear in his heart. No matter how cleverly he falsified historical sources, no matter how ruthlessly he destroyed historical documents and exterminated living witnesses and veterans of the October Revolution, there was no guarantee that in the future there would not be impartial historians who were good at distinguishing lies from historical facts. So Radek decided to create a history textbook of the future, so that Stalin could see his own image in the mirror of history during his lifetime. It should be admitted that the task Radek volunteered for was accomplished quite beautifully. In the book “The Architect of Socialist Society”, like a brilliant magician, he used the magic of concealment to pull up a mysterious screen in front of Stalin’s eyes, so that Stalin was satisfied to see his own glorious image, which made all the great men of the world pale in comparison.
At this time Stalin was tired of hearing the same old hymns and praises that filled the Soviet literature and newspapers and magazines. Therefore, when he saw Radek’s original pamphlet. He was overwhelmed with joy. He ordered that it be published in large numbers, that it be made compulsory reading for all party branches throughout the country, and that the Central Propaganda Department be instructed to supervise it.
The star of Radek’s destiny shone again. He was appointed editor-in-chief of Kommersant and senior advisor to the Politburo in charge of foreign policy. The Central Committee was also instructed to publicize Radek’s person widely throughout the party and to organize a series of lectures to hear him talk about international relations. These lectures were also later compiled and officially published in a volume with a print run of several million copies. Yagoda, who had arrested Radek himself in 1927, now treated his former “prisoner” with respect, as “Karl Bernhardovich”. Once an old Bolshevik said to me mockingly: “Look at that Radek! If he hadn’t been in the opposition, he would not be so successful today!”
However, in 1936, when Radek had done all this for Stalin, Stalin ordered his arrest, and not only that, but also brought him to court as a lackey of Trotsky. This is something I did not expect at all. Some people say that Stalin did it because he remembered his past. But this explanation is biased. I think that Stalin kicked out Radek mainly because he wanted to follow his general line of eliminating all those who had belonged to the “Old Guard” to the end.
Rachuk could not help but feel indignant about his arrest: “This is so unfair! I have done so much for him!” Radek begged hard to be allowed to talk to Stalin, but was refused. He wrote another long letter to Stalin, but still no reply.
Realizing that it would be futile to awaken Stalin’s conscience, Radek tried to achieve another goal: to discourage the investigating authorities from prosecuting him. Radek’s reasoning was very logical: how could he suddenly become a fellow-traveler and a lapdog of Trotsky, after his vicious verbal attacks on him? Isn’t that a travesty? In fact, he did not need to say that Radek, the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs does not think so? However, the “master” wanted to see Radek as a defendant in court, and they could only satisfy this odd idea.
Radek was not strong, but this humiliation made him extremely stubborn. In order to “process” Radek, the Ministry of the Interior invested a large group of interrogators, including Berman and Ködling Jr. who were known for their cruelty, and even started a “wheel war” against him. But Radek survived, which amazed the interrogators. Moreover, no matter how the interrogators insulted Radek’s character, he was able to bear it in silence. Only once, when one of the interrogators announced to him in a dignified and slow manner that they had identified Radek as Trotsky’s secret representative in the Soviet Union, Radek became furious and refused to speak to the interrogator again.
In February 1937, I heard from the head of the Foreign Affairs Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs about an extremely rare farce that had taken place between Radek and Morchanov, the head of the Secret Political and Public Works Department.
One night, during Radek’s arraignment, Molchanov pressed forward, and the furious Radek, unable to stand it any longer, pounded his fist on the table and declared categorically.
“All right! I will sign, I will sign whatever I am asked to sign! I confess to having tried to kill all the Politburo members and to having tried to put Hitler on the throne of the Kremlin. But I must add one small detail to my confession, namely, that in addition to the accomplices you imposed on me, I had an accomplice, a man whose last name was …… Molchanov …… Yes, not a bad point, it was Molchanov! ” Radek shouted hysterically and furiously. “Listen, since you think that someone must be for the good of the party will sacrifice, then let us both go together and die!”
Morchanov’s face suddenly turned into a white sheet. His wretched appearance gave Radek great satisfaction.
“Do you know what I was thinking?” Radek continued. “I was thinking that if I really made this offer to Yerev, he would be happy to accept it. You know, for Yezhov, the life of a Molchanov is nothing when the question is about the interests of the party! In order to get a man like me, Radek, to agree to appear in court, he would add, without a word, instructions to fix Molchanov by the way!”
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