Fyodor Truhin
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National Alliance of Russian Solidarists (1942–1945)
Fyodor Truhin | |
|---|---|
 Truhin (far left) and Andrei Vlasov at Dabendorf | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 February 1896 |
| Died | 1 August 1946 (aged 50) |
| Party | Russian People's Labour Party (1941–1943) National Alliance of Russian Solidarists (1942–1945) |
| Awards | Order of the Red Banner |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Russian Empire / Republic (1916–1917) RSFSR (1918–1922) Soviet Union (1922–1941) Nazi Germany (1941–1944) KONR (1944–1945) |
| Rank | Major General |
| Battles/wars | |
Fyodor Ivanovich Truhin (Russian: Фёдор Иванович Трухин, also Romanized Fedor, Trukhin; 26 December 1896 – 1 August 1946) was a Soviet major general during World War II. Following his capture during the Baltic Operation he defected to Nazi Germany becoming a leading member of the Committee for the Liberation of the Peoples of Russia and the National Alliance of Russian Solidarists. In the aftermath of the German defeat he was captured by pro-Soviet Czech partisans, who in turn transferred him to the Soviet Union where he was executed for treason.
Fyodor Truhin was born on 29 February 1896, in Kostroma. Truhin's father Ivan was the leader of the Kostroma Governorate's nobility, and served as a state councillor after retiring from his service in the 1st Grenadier Artillery Brigade in the rank of captain. His mother Nadezhda descended from the Tregubov noble family. Truhin graduated from primary school in 1906, enrolling into the 2nd Kostroma Gymnasium from which he graduated in 1914. During the course of his studies at the gymnasium Truhin became a member of a secret revolutionary organization. He then went on to study law at the Moscow State University, dropping out after finishing his second semester. In 1916, Truhin graduated from the 2nd Moscow Praporshchik School. In 1917, he became a soldier-elected battalion commander in the 46th Division of the Southwestern Front which fought in the First World War. During the course of the Russian Civil War, Truhin joined the Red Army, fighting on the Southwestern Front against the Ukrainian People's Republic, Poland and various insurgent bands. In November 1918, he was appointed commander of the Kostroma Reserve Cavalry Regiment, a year later he was transferred to the 363rd Rifle Regiment where he led a company. In July 1920, he became a battalion commander, taking over the 362nd Rifle Regiment in October. In January 1921, Truhin went on sick leave. In the meantime his father and older brother were executed for organizing an anti-Bolshevik uprising in the Kostroma Governorate.[1]
In September 1922, Truhin enrolled into the M. V. Frunze Military Academy. In 1924, he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. Following his graduation in August 1925, Truhin was appointed commander of the 133rd Rifle Regiment of the 45th Rifle Division. In September 1926, he was appointed staff commander of the 7th Rifle Division. In 1931, he was appointed staff commander of the 12th Rifle Corps. In February 1932, he began teaching at the Frunze Military Academy. In 1935, he was promoted to colonel. On 5 June 1940, Truhin was promoted to major general. On 28 January 1941, Truhin was promoted to deputy staff commander of the Baltic Military District. Six days after the Soviet Union entered World War II, Truhin became deputy staff commander of the Northwestern Front. A day earlier he was tasked with overseeing the withdrawal of Soviet troops in the area of Panevėžys during the course of the Baltic Operation. Truhin's car was attacked by several German armored vehicles 8 kilometres (5.0 miles) south of Jakobstadt. His adjutant was killed while he was wounded and captured. On 30 June 1941, Truhin was taken to the Schtalulelen prisoner of war camp and later transferred to Oflag XIII-D in Hammelburg. On 6 October, he was declared missing in action.[2]