Political officers files are found where?

[jefflgarrison]

Hey guys, while continuing to research this issue of Klishin, I asked Marco to take another stab at trying to find his service record.

Again, no luck. However, his researchers told him Klishin was a Zampolit (замполит); a Politruk Otdel'no (политруки отдельно).

They also stated that his records were not in the normal place. If this is so, where else might they be kept?

Can some of you with knowledge explain these two titles?

[desantnik]

Originally Posted by jefflgarrison

Hey guys, while continuing to research this issue of Klishin, I asked Marco to take another stab at trying to find his service record.

Again, no luck. However, his researchers told him Klishin was a Zampolit (замполит); a Politruk Otdel'no (политруки отдельно).

They also stated that his records were not in the normal place. If this is so, where else might they be kept?

Can some of you with knowledge explain these two titles?

A zampolit was a deputy commander political officer - zam is short for assistant in Russian.

I have no idea what you mean by the second term, you'd have to present the original text. Your first word is in the plural or a different case and your second word is an adverb for "separately" - no sense whatsoever.

[jefflgarrison]

What was the exact role of a deputy commander political officer within a unit?

[desantnik]

Main job was to ensure Party loyalty and compliance and keep an eye on the commander - like the guy on Hunt for Red October. They also did political indoctrination, health and welfare, etc.

[marcotk]

Hello Guys,

Actually reading now this topic I think I understand what my guys were trying to say. They have found that he was a deputy commander political officer, and therefore they can't retrive the UPK which was stored separately for politruks!

[Eryk]

I received the following a long while ago, as part of a complete documentation package on what I've always assumed to be a politruk, a political worker. (Leaving aside the debate about the meaning of the word and how it relates to "Lieutenant" )

1. Last name, name, and patrionymic: Avramenko, Ivan ******ich

2. Born: 7 February 1904, V. Dneprovsk, Dnepropetrovsk Oblast

3. Nationality: Ukrainian

4. Knowledge of foreign languages: n/a

5. Social position: office worker

6. Party membership: non-party member, expelled from party in 9.1947

7. Education: 1 Course, Teacher Seminary in 1921 in V. Dneprovsk, Deputy Political Leaders Courses at the Lenin Political Academy in Shadrinsk 2.43-7.43

8. Combat experience: SW Front JUL-DEC 1941, Voronezh Front DEC 41-FEB 43, 4 Ukrainian Front NOV 43-MAY 45

9. Wounds and shell-shock: shell-shocked twice in August and October 1942

10. Decorations: OPW I in 1945, OPW II in 6.44, and VoG Medal in 1945

11. POW or encircled information: n/a

12. Prip:

13. On record: V. Dneprovsk Regional Military Comissariat, Dnepropetrovsk Oblast

14. Promotions: Captain, Major by 1 Ukrainian Front on 22.3.44

15. Specialty: Quartermaster, 3d Category

16. Branch: #247

17. Health: reduced profile II class

18. Continued diagnosis:

19. Present employment: Chief of Textbook Process, city of V. Dneprovsk

20. Family status: married – wife – Evdokiya Aleseevna Perevyazko, b. 1902, son Oleg, b. 1929, son Vladislav b. 1933, son Yurii b. 1937, daughter Olga b. 1941 – V. Dneprovsk, Bazaar Alley #4

21. Special Remarks: Military ID Ya 00209

22. Military Service

Deputy Platoon Leader, 1 Zaporozhe Cavalry Division, 1 Red Cossack Corps, 11.1926-11.1928

Released on long-term leave 23.11.1928

Assistant Regimental Commissar, 59 Reserve Rifle Regiment, 113 Rifle Brigade, 7.41-12.41

Regimental Party Bureau Inspector, 661 Artillery Regiment, 206 Rifle Division, 12.1941-2.1943

Student, Lenin Academy, 7.1943

Political Cadre Reserve, 7.1943-9.1943

Corps Political Section Inspector, 107 Rifle Corps, 4 Ukrainian Front, 9.43-10.45

Secretary of the Party Commission, 501 Artillery Brigade, 318 Guards Rifle Division (city of Mukachevo), 10.45-1.46

23. Released into the Reserves, 3 Category

The research returned the award card and citations as well, and shows his rise in the ranks as a political soldier - including that stint at the academy.

A different kind of politruk, not a politruk? Or an exception to the rule of records being inaccessible?

[jefflgarrison]

Originally Posted by marcotk

they can't retrive the UPK which was stored separately for politruks!

If I were to make a request to my local Russian consulate (there is one here in Wrzeszcz), would they be willing to dig up the file? Or is it simple a wild goose chase with no happy ending?

Are they totally off limits?

[marcotk]

I think that is definitely not an option. But this is my opinion!

[medals73]

Honestly, I think the lowest profile we adopt with regard to ODM will be the most healthy long-term approach for all of us. Getting the government into it, focusing their attention on our possession of these (illegal?) items will not, I think, work out well. Moreover, diplomats really do have more important things to do. And pissing them off with whining requests is often a bad tactic.

Back on topic: I have several researched groups and single items to politruks.

[Kirchgoens]

Contacting a consulate or embassy will get you no where unless you are a member of that family. It'll be as Ed says: at best it will be an annoying distractor for the local staff; at worst, it will eventually tighten down the whole thing to less than the trickle it is today.