Leon Trotsky: Letter to Margarete Ruthe

November 29, 1938

[Writing of Leon Trotsky, Vol. 14, New York 1979, p 816]

Dear Mrs. Ruthe:

I have just received your letter of November 16. Unfortunately, I cannot send you anything to relieve or reassure you. What my friends in Paris write me leaves no room for any hope. Rudolf was my collaborator for a certain time (in Turkey and in France). After that I was in friendly correspondence with him. Rudolf was always faithful to his cause, and that is why his enemies killed him. In the last two years my wife and I have lost our two sons in a similar way. We share Rudolfs mother's sorrow all the more.

No, dear Mrs. Ruthe, Rudolf is unfortunately not at my home. I would consider myself lucky if I could lodge him with us. Unfortunately, I do not have the slightest hope as to his fate. I have no doubt that the criminals killed him.

Rudolf was very talented. From a scientific point of view he had developed a lot during the last eight years. He wrote excellent articles and knew nearly all the languages of the civilized world. He was unselfish and courageous. I was sure that he would play an important role in the future. The terrible blow struck me and all his friends all the more heavily. That is unfortunately all that I can tell you for the moment, dear Mrs. Ruthe.

If you want any additional information, I am of course completely at your service.

With my sincere condolences for Rudolfs mother and for you, I am

Yours respectfully,

Leon Trotsky