Vasily Ivanovich Chapayev

Vasily Ivanovich Chapayev – a participant in the First World War and the Civil War, a division commander in the Red Army. Vasily Ivanovich Chapayev was born on 28 January (9 February) 1887 in the village of Budayka (now Cheboksary) into a peasant family. After moving to the village of Balakovo he studied for a time at a parish school, but did not complete his education. In his childhood he worked for merchants and craftsmen, and later helped his father and brothers with carpentry work on the Volga. He married, despite his parents' disapproval, the daughter of a priest; the marriage produced three children.

 

At the outbreak of the First World War Chapayev was conscripted into the army and trained at a non-commissioned officers' school. He rose to the rank of feldfebel, received three St. George's Crosses and the St. George's Medal. After being wounded he served in a reserve regiment. In the summer of 1917 he joined the Bolshevik Party and was elected commander of his regiment at the congress of soldiers' deputies in Kazan.

 

After the October Revolution Chapayev actively took part in forming Red Guard detachments: he commanded a regiment, a brigade and a division of the Red Army (RKKA), and fought against the Ural Cossacks and the Czechoslovak Legion. Chapayev was sent to the General Staff Academy but left it due to difficulties with his studies. He then took command of the 25th Rifle Division and distinguished himself in the capture of Ufa, receiving the Order of the Red Banner. On 5 September 1919 he was killed during an attack by Ural Cossacks on the division's headquarters in the town of Lbishchensk.