Yakov Smushkevich

Yakov Vladimirovich Smushkevich
Born 14 April 1902
Rokiškis, Lithuania
Died 28 October 1941(1941-10-28) (aged 39)
Moscow
Allegiance Soviet Union Red Army (1918—1941)
Years of service 1918—1941
Rank General-Lieutenant of Air Forces
Commands held Soviet Air Force
Battles/wars Russian Civil War,
Spanish Civil War,
Battle of Khalkhin Gol
Awards Hero of the Soviet Union (2)
Order of Lenin (2)
Order of the Red Banner

Yakov Vladimirovich Smushkevich (Russian: Яков Владимирович Смушкевич; April 14, 1902 – October 28, 1941[1]) was a Lithuanian Jew and Commander of the Soviet Air Force. Smushkevich was an important member of the Communist Party.[2]

He participated in the Spanish Civil War, where he was known as "General Duglas", for which he received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.[3] He was in charge of aviation for the 1st Army Corps at the Battle of Khalkhin Gol, again receiving the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. He was the commander of the Soviet Air Force from 1939 to 1940, and Deputy Chief of the General Staff from 1940 to 1941. He was arrested on June 8, 1941[4] and executed without trial on personal order of Lavrentiy Beria on October 28, 1941. He was rehabilitated in 1954.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Andrew Nagorski, The greatest battle
  2. ↑ http://www.warheroes.ru/hero/hero.asp?Hero_id=1079
  3. ↑ Antony Beevor, The Battle for Spain
  4. ↑ David E. Murphy, What Stalin Knew
  5. ↑ http://samlib.ru/s/shushakow_o_a/045geroismushkevich.shtml
Military offices
Preceded by
Aleksandr Loktionov		 Soviet Air Force (VVS) Commander
1939–1940 		Succeeded by
Pavel Vasilevich Rychagov
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