David Dragunsky

David Abramovich Dragunsky
Native name	Давид Абрамович Драгунский
Born	15 February [O.S. 2 February] 1910 Svyatsk, Chernigov Governorate, Russian Empire
Died	12 October 1992(1992-10-12) (aged 82) Moscow, Russian Federation
Allegiance	Soviet Union
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[]

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.