Hero-Red Army Fabricius Jan Fritsevich. The Truth About the Life of a Soviet Officer

Fabricius Jan Fritsevich - one of the most famous Red Army officers of the early XX century. Many Russian streets are named after him, and stamps with his image have long adorned Soviet envelopes. Such fame was justified, given the number of awards he had received during his time in the Red Army.

However, historians today do not always agree with the way Fabriceus Jan Fritsevich appears before us. The biography of this man has many controversial points, capable of changing the opinion about him. And therefore let's try to understand who really was Fabricius: a fearless hero or an obedient punisher?

Youth years

Fabricius Jan Fritsevich was born on June 14, 1877 in the town of Zlekas, Kurland province. His parents were hired peasants and because of this constantly felt the need for money. From a young age, Ian sought to help his family, because he realized that otherwise they would not be able to escape from this hole.

Thanks to joint efforts, the mother and father were able to save enough money to send their son to the local gymnasium. This step played an important role in the life of the boy, since it was during his studies that he first heard about revolutionary ideas. At that moment Jan Fabricius found the meaning of life - the goal for which he was ready to fight to the very end.

Revolution in the masses

After graduation, in 1903, Fabricius arranged to work for an engineering plant in Riga. Here he conducts active agitation among the workers, urging them to take revolutionary action. In the same year, the young man joins the Russian Social-Democratic Labor Party.

Alas, Jan Fabricius did not take into account the fact that such high-profile speeches will certainly provoke interest among local authorities. Indeed, in 1904 he was convicted of antisocial behavior and sent to hard labor in Yakutia. However, this turn of fate does not frighten the hot young man, but only temperes his character.

As a result, Fabricius Jan Fritsevich continues his revolutionary activities even after serving his sentence. As a consequence, in 1913 he was again sent into exile, but this time to Sakhalin. Here he meets new friends, who advise him to join the ranks of the army, thereby casting off his term.

Underground in the army

In the summer of 1915, private Fabritsius Jan Fritsevich was enlisted in the 1st Latvian battalion. It is clear that the former convict is given the rank of private and sends him to serve in the hottest points. However, this attitude is only in the hands of the revolutionary, because in such places it was always possible to find those who did not agree with the ideas of the ruling elite.

Over time, he became head of the local underground, engaged in the active recruitment of new candidates. Naturally, among the higher-ranking officers there were those who doubted the devotion of Jan Fabricius. But he always dispelled their suspicions with their fearless behavior on the battlefield.

Finally, among his

After the October Revolution Jan Fabricius became chairman of the regimental committee. In 1918 he was appointed commander of the Gdov detachment, due to which he manifests himself as an excellent strategist and fearless leader. In general, the chronicles draw Jan Fritsevich as a brave man, ready to go into the fire and into the water.

Similar features allowed him to quickly move up the career ladder. So, in 1921 he was already the head of the United Courts of the RKKA. Moreover, he became the first Soviet officer to receive the Order of the Red Star, the highest award of that time.

Yang Fritsevich died on August 24, 1929. According to the official version, he drowned, trying to save the passengers of the sinking plane.

Criticism and Controversial Facts

In Soviet times, historians were not worthy to dig in those archives that could spoil the party's reputation. However, in our time there is no such problem, so in recent years, scientists have found some inaccuracies in the biography of the Red Army hero.

So, experts have found some mention that in 1918 the regiment of Fabricius fired on his compatriots who fled from the German troops. Also in these archives there is information that Ian Fritsevich has tracked all those who disagree with the Soviet authorities in the city of Gdov, and then they were shot.

Also, historians have doubts about the "heroic" death of Fabricius. There is an opinion that he accidentally fell into the water during the crash of the aircraft. At the same time, the accident itself was allegedly caused by his own order, which was given to the pilot for spectacular maneuvers in front of the public.