Yakov Dzhugashvili
Encyclopedia
Yakov Iosifovich Dzhugashvili (18 March 1907 – 14 April 1943) was one of Joseph Stalin
's four children (along with Svetlana Alliluyeva
, Vasily Dzhugashvili
and Konstantin Kuzakov). Yakov was the son of Stalin's first wife, Ekaterina Svanidze
. He served in the Red Army
during the Second World War, was captured in the initial stages of the German invasion of the USSR, and was killed in disputed circumstances.
) in Georgia
, then part of Imperial Russia. Until the age of fourteen, Yakov was raised by his aunt in Tbilisi
. In 1921, Yakov’s uncle Alexander Svanidze
urged him to leave for Moscow
to acquire a higher education. Yakov only spoke Georgian and after his arrival in Moscow he commenced with learning the Russian language
, aiming to apply for University studies.
Yakov and his father Stalin never got along. Allegedly once Stalin referred to Yakov as a "mere cobbler." Later according to Yakov's stepmother Nadezhda Alliluyeva she saw a young girl running away from their Moscow dacha
in tears. When she entered she saw a despairing Yakov looking near faint in the room. He ran immediately to his bedroom. It turned out that the girl was Yakov's Jewish fiancée, and when they told Stalin of their engagement he became enraged.
While Stalin and his wife were arguing about this a shot was heard from Yakov's room. Yakov had shot himself. While she tended to his wounds and sent for a doctor all his father said was, "He can't even shoot straight."
, gave many interviews about his grandfather. He also had a daughter, Galina
, who died in 2007.
and was captured on 16 July 1941 in the early stages of the German invasion of USSR at the Battle of Smolensk
. The Germans later offered to exchange Yakov for Friedrich Paulus
, the German Field Marshal captured by the Soviets after the Battle of Stalingrad
, but Stalin turned the offer down, allegedly saying "I will not trade a Marshal for a Lieutenant". According to some sources, there was another proposition as well, that Hitler wanted to exchange Yakov for his nephew Leo Raubal
; this proposition was not accepted either.
It is not clear when and how he died. According to the official German account, Dzhugashvili died by running into an electric fence
in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp
, where he was being held. Some have contended that Yakov committed suicide
at the camp while others have suggested that he was murdered.
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
's four children (along with Svetlana Alliluyeva
Svetlana Alliluyeva
Svetlana Iosifovna Alliluyeva , later known as Lana Peters, was the youngest child and only daughter of Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin and Nadezhda Alliluyeva, Stalin's second wife...
, Vasily Dzhugashvili
Vasily Dzhugashvili
Vasily Iosifovich Dzhugashvili , known also as Vasily Stalin , , was the son of Joseph Stalin and his second wife, Nadezhda Alliluyeva....
and Konstantin Kuzakov). Yakov was the son of Stalin's first wife, Ekaterina Svanidze
Ekaterina Svanidze
Ekaterina "Kato" Svanidze was the Georgian first wife of Joseph Stalin. They were married in 1906.She was a daughter of Semon Svanadze and Sephora...
. He served in the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
during the Second World War, was captured in the initial stages of the German invasion of the USSR, and was killed in disputed circumstances.
Early life
Yakov was born in the village of Borji (near KutaisiKutaisi
Kutaisi is Georgia's second largest city and the capital of the western region of Imereti. It is 221 km to the west of Tbilisi.-Geography:...
) in Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
, then part of Imperial Russia. Until the age of fourteen, Yakov was raised by his aunt in Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
. In 1921, Yakov’s uncle Alexander Svanidze
Alexander Svanidze
Alexander Semyonovich "Alyosha" Svanidze was a Georgian Old Bolshevik and historian. He was a personal friend of Joseph Stalin and a brother of Stalin’s first wife Kato. Nevertheless, Stalin had him arrested during a purge in 1937...
urged him to leave for Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
to acquire a higher education. Yakov only spoke Georgian and after his arrival in Moscow he commenced with learning the Russian language
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
, aiming to apply for University studies.
Yakov and his father Stalin never got along. Allegedly once Stalin referred to Yakov as a "mere cobbler." Later according to Yakov's stepmother Nadezhda Alliluyeva she saw a young girl running away from their Moscow dacha
Dacha
Dacha is a Russian word for seasonal or year-round second homes often located in the exurbs of Soviet and post-Soviet cities. Cottages or shacks serving as family's main or only home are not considered dachas, although many purpose-built dachas are recently being converted for year-round residence...
in tears. When she entered she saw a despairing Yakov looking near faint in the room. He ran immediately to his bedroom. It turned out that the girl was Yakov's Jewish fiancée, and when they told Stalin of their engagement he became enraged.
While Stalin and his wife were arguing about this a shot was heard from Yakov's room. Yakov had shot himself. While she tended to his wounds and sent for a doctor all his father said was, "He can't even shoot straight."
Marriage and family
Dzhugashvili married Yulia Meltzer, a well-known Jewish dancer from Odessa. After meeting Yulia at a reception, Yakov fought with her second husband, Nikolai Bessarab, and arranged her divorce. Bessarab was later arrested by the NKVD and executed. Yakov became her third husband and was survived by two children. His son, YevgeniYevgeny Dzhugashvili
Yevgeny Yakovlevich Dzhugashvili is a retired polkovnik of the Soviet/Russian Air Force and the son of Yakov Dzhugashvili. He has gained note as a defender of his grandfather Joseph Stalin's reputation, and in the 1999 elections of the Russian State Duma, he was one of the faces of the Stalin...
, gave many interviews about his grandfather. He also had a daughter, Galina
Galina Dzhugashvili
Galina Yakovlevna "Galya" Dzhugashvili was a Russian translator of French. She was the granddaughter of Joseph Stalin, the daughter of Stalin's eldest son, Yakov Dzhugashvili. She consistently challenged widely-accepted accounts of her father's internment and death at a Nazi prison...
, who died in 2007.
Second World War
Dzhugashvili served as an artillery officer in the Red ArmyRed Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
and was captured on 16 July 1941 in the early stages of the German invasion of USSR at the Battle of Smolensk
Battle of Smolensk (1941)
The Battle of Smolensk was a largely successful encirclement operation by the German Army Group Centre's 2nd Panzer Group led by Heinz Guderian and the 3rd Panzer Group led by Hermann Hoth against parts of four Soviet Fronts during World War II...
. The Germans later offered to exchange Yakov for Friedrich Paulus
Friedrich Paulus
Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst Paulus was an officer in the German military from 1910 to 1945. He attained the rank of Generalfeldmarschall during World War II, and is best known for having commanded the Sixth Army's assault on Stalingrad during Operation Blue in 1942...
, the German Field Marshal captured by the Soviets after the Battle of Stalingrad
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was a major battle of World War II in which Nazi Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad in southwestern Russia. The battle took place between 23 August 1942 and 2 February 1943...
, but Stalin turned the offer down, allegedly saying "I will not trade a Marshal for a Lieutenant". According to some sources, there was another proposition as well, that Hitler wanted to exchange Yakov for his nephew Leo Raubal
Leo Rudolf Raubal Jr
Leo Rudolf Raubal Jr. was a teacher, soldier and manager. He was a son of Leo Raubal and his wife Angela ....
; this proposition was not accepted either.
It is not clear when and how he died. According to the official German account, Dzhugashvili died by running into an electric fence
Electric fence
An electric fence is a barrier that uses electric shocks to deter animals or people from crossing a boundary. The voltage of the shock may have effects ranging from uncomfortable, to painful or even lethal...
in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp
Sachsenhausen concentration camp
Sachsenhausen or Sachsenhausen-Oranienburg was a Nazi concentration camp in Oranienburg, Germany, used primarily for political prisoners from 1936 to the end of the Third Reich in May, 1945. After World War II, when Oranienburg was in the Soviet Occupation Zone, the structure was used as an NKVD...
, where he was being held. Some have contended that Yakov committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
at the camp while others have suggested that he was murdered.