David Dragunsky
David Abramovich Dragunsky | |
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Native name | Давид Абрамович Драгунский |
Born | 15 February [O.S. 2 February] 1910 Svyatsk, Chernigov Governorate, Russian Empire |
Died | 12 October 1992 Moscow, Russian Federation | (aged 82)
Allegiance | ![]() |
Years of service | 1931 – 1974 |
Rank | Colonel General |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Hero of the Soviet Union (twice) |
David Abramovich Dragunsky (Russian: Давид Абрамович Драгунский; 15 February [O.S. 2 February] 1910 – 12 October 1992) was a tank officer in World War II who was twice awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.
Early life[]
Dragunsky was born on 15 February [O.S. 2 February] 1910 to a large Jewish family in Svyatsk; his parents were tailors. After completing school in Novozybkov he became a construction worker. As a member of the Komsomol he was made head of a district council and later sent to rural areas to participate in collectivization. He became a member of the Communist Party in 1931 and was drafted into the military in 1933.[1][2]
Military career[]
In 1938, he commanded an infantry company during combat operations near Khasan Lake and was awarded an Order of the Red Banner. During World War II, he was in command of a Tank battalion and, in 1943, he became the commander of the of the 3rd Guards Tank Army. Between 1960 and 1965, he commanded the 7th Guards Army.[3]
Politics[]
He became an ordinary member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1931, a member of the Regimental Party Committee in 1935, and Secretary of the Brigade Committee in 1942. He became a Candidate Member of the Central Committee of the CPSU in 1974 and a full member in 1979. In 1983, he was designated chairman of the newly-formed Anti-Zionist Committee of the Soviet Public by the Ideological Department of the CPSU Central Committee and the KGB.[4]
References[]
- ^ Ufarkin, Nikolai. "Драгунский Давид Абрамович". www.warheroes.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^ Zhilin 2008, p. 10-11.
- ^ Sverdlov 2002, p. 228.
- ^ Lyustiger 2004, p. 311.
Bibliography[]
- Korey, William (1995). Russian Antisemitism, Pamyat and Demonology of Zionism. Psychology Press. ISBN 3718657422. OCLC 864551087.
- Zhilin, Vitaly (2008). Танкисты-герои 1943-1945 гг (in Russian). Yauza. ISBN 9785457246713. OCLC 682142310.
- Lyustiger, Arno (2004). Сталин и евреи: трагическая история Еврейского антифашистского комитета и советских евреев. Moscow: ROSSPEN. ISBN 9785824308556. OCLC 1088457854.
- Sverdlov, Fyodor (2002). Энциклопедия еврейского героизма. Moscow: Dograf. ISBN 5858681131. OCLC 163103018.
- 1910 births
- 1992 deaths
- People from Novozybkovsky District
- People from Chernigov Governorate
- Russian Jews
- Heroes of the Soviet Union
- Recipients of the Order of the Red Banner
- Jewish socialists
- Soviet Jews in the military
- Soviet colonel generals
- Soviet military personnel of World War II
- Tank commanders
- Recipients of the Order of Suvorov, 2nd class
- Recipients of the Order of Friendship of Peoples
- Commanders with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta
- Officers of the Order of Polonia Restituta
- Recipients of the Czechoslovak War Cross
- Recipients of the Patriotic Order of Merit
- Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union alumni
- Jewish anti-Zionism in Russia