Lenin's fixation on using violence as a tool for political control is vividly illustrated in a letter he wrote on August 11, 1918, to Bolshevik leaders in Penza. He called for the merciless suppression of the kulaks, urging that they be made an example of to instill fear in the populace. Lenin insisted on public executions, specifying the hanging of at least 100 kulaks, whose names should be made public to amplify the terror surrounding their punishment. This approach aimed to demonstrate the regime's resolve and dissuade opposition through fear.

In the letter, Lenin not only sought to punish the kulaks but also to convey a message to the entire community about the consequences of dissent. He emphasized the importance of the public's awareness of these actions, believing that the visibility of such brutality would deter further insurgences. Lenin’s demand for “tougher people” to carry out these directives highlights his ruthless commitment to the Bolshevik cause and the lengths he was willing to go to maintain control during a tumultuous period in Russian history.