The Socialist Fatherland is in Danger!

a combined decree and appeal adopted by the Council of People’s Commissars on Feb. 21, 1918, and made public on February 22. The decree was written by V. I. Lenin when Germany, taking advantage of the interruption of peace negotiations at Brest-Litovsk, launched an offensive against Soviet Russia. The decree stated that “(1) The country’s entire manpower and resources are placed entirely at the service of revolutionary defense. (2) All Soviets and revolutionary organizations are ordered to defend every position to the last drop of blood” (Poln. sobr. soch.. 5th ed., vol. 35. p. 357).

The decree called for the mobilization of the country’s manpower and resources to drive back the imperialists and contained specific instructions on defensive measures. It also commanded that anything that might fall into the enemy’s hands be destroyed. In accordance with Lenin’s decree. Supreme Commander in Chief N. V. Krylenko signed an order for revolutionary mobilization on Feb. 21, 1918. Rallies under the slogan “Defense of the Socialist Fatherland” were held on February 23 in Petrograd, Moscow, and other cities. This day marked the beginning of the mass mobilization of revolutionary forces throughout the country and is regarded as the date of the formation of the Red Army and Navy.