Collected Works of V. I. Lenin - Vol. 26 - From Marx to Mao

448V. I. LENINobjective balance of class forces on this issue would be afatal error.17. Consequently, the situation at present with regardto a revolutionary war is as follows:If the German revolution were to break out and triumphin the coming three or four months, the tactics of an immediaterevolutionary war might perhaps not ruin our socialistrevolution.If, however, the German revolution does not occur inthe next few months, the course of events, if the war is continued,will inevitably be such that grave defeats willcompel Russia to conclude an even more disadvantageousseparate peace, a peace, moreover, which would be concluded,not by a socialist government, but by some other (forexample, a bloc of the bourgeois Rada and Chernov’s followers,or something similar). For the peasant army, which isexhausted to the limit by the war, will after the very firstdefeats—and very likely within a matter of weeks, and notof months—overthrow the socialist workers’ government.18. This being the state of affairs, it would be absolutelyimpermissible tactics to stake the fate of the socialist revolution,which has already begun in Russia, merely on thechance that the German revolution may begin in the immediatefuture, within a matter of weeks. Such tactics wouldbe a reckless gamble. We have no right to take suchrisks.19. The German revolution will by no means be mademore difficult of accomplishment as far as its objectivepremises are concerned, if we conclude a separate peace.Probably chauvinist intoxication will weaken it for a time,but Germany’s position will remain extremely grave, thewar with Britain and America will be a protracted one, andaggressive imperialism will be fully and completely exposedon both sides. A socialist Soviet Republic in Russia willstand as a living example to the peoples of all countries,and the propaganda and revolutionising effect of this examplewill be immense. There—the bourgeois system and a fullyexposed predatory war between two groups of marauders.Here—peace and a socialist Soviet Republic.20. In concluding a separate peace we free ourselvesas much as is possible at the present moment from both hostile