Leon Talmi

Journalist and translator. From 1912, he lived in the United States. In 1917, he moved to the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. He worked as a journalist in Kyiv and as a translator in Moscow. In 1925, he accompanied Vladimir Mayakovsky on his trip to the United States, translating his poetry into English and Yiddish. From 1942, he was a member of the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee (JAC), established in 1942 to raise support for the Soviet Union from ‘Jewish brothers throughout the world’. The JAC’s activities helped facilitate the opening of the Second Front.

He was arrested in July 1949 and accused of Jewish nationalism, creating an anti-Soviet underground organisation, maintaining ties with American intelligence, and committing high treason. The evidence against him was fabricated, and he was subjected to beatings and torture. The trial was held behind closed doors–without public access and without either the prosecution or the defence participating. In July 1952, he was sentenced to death by firing squad with confiscation of his property. He was executed on 12 August 1952. His ashes were buried in Common Grave No. 3 for unclaimed ashes at the New Donskoye Cemetery in Moscow. He was rehabilitated in 1955.

1950s

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The Final Statement

‘I hope that the sentence will be such that I will be able to join in the vigorous work of the Soviet people and devote all my strength to making my contribution to the cause of building communism.’

I stated at the very beginning of the trial that I did not plead guilty, and now I believe that this has been proven. When I examine my thoughts and feelings, I find no bitterness in them. There is only the pain I feel for the fate of my son, whom I failed to protect, and the pain I feel for my wife, who has been left bearing the stigma of being the mother of a convicted man and the wife of a prisoner.

I do not consider the time I have spent in prison to have been wasted. During this period, I have become more aware and more experienced. I have written several works, which I submitted to the court and which possess a certain literary and political merit. They reflect my thoughts and feelings. For a Soviet person, the measure of one’s worth is one’s usefulness to society. Throughout the 30 years of my working life before my arrest, I never had cause to be ashamed.

I must also say that, although I was not an enemy and committed no crime against my Motherland, the Party, or the Soviet government, I did make certain mistakes for which I must bear responsibility.

I ask that the time I have spent in pre-trial detention be regarded as sufficient punishment. I hope that the sentence will be such that I will be able to join in the vigorous work of the Soviet people and devote all my strength to making my contribution to the cause of building communism.

11 July 1952
Military Collegium of the Supreme Court, Moscow, Soviet Union.
Source: Unjust Trial. The Last Stalinist Execution.
For more information: Wikipedia.
Photo: Jewlife.