Ernst Schacht

Ernst Schacht
Born April 14, 1904
Basel, Switzerland
Died February 23, 1942(1942-02-23) (aged 37)
Allegiance Soviet Union
Battles/wars Spanish Civil War

Ernst Schacht (Russian: Эрнст Ге́нрихович Шахт) (b. Basel 14 April 1904 – d. 23 February 1942), a Swiss of German origin, emigrated to the Soviet Russia in 1922 when he was 18 years old. Enlisting in the Soviet air force, he headed the Soviet bomber squadron which, on 7 November 1936, bombed Nationalist forces during the siege of Madrid.[1]

Eventually becoming a general, he was awarded the rank of Hero of the Soviet Union for his performance in the Spanish Civil War.[2][3]

He was shot on the orders of Lavrenty Beria.[4]

Schacht was awarded the following decorations:

  • Hero of the Soviet Union (1936)
  • Order of Lenin (twice, both 1936)
  • Order of the Red Banner (1929)

References

  1. ↑ Erich Schmid, In Spanien gekämpft, in Russland gescheitert: Männy Alt (1910-2000)--ein Jahrhundertleben, 2011, ISBN 3280061229
  2. ↑ Daniel Kunzi , C'était mon rêve, 2008
  3. ↑ Jesús Salas Larrazábal, La guerra de España desde el aire: dos ejércitos y sus cazas frente a frente, 1969
  4. ↑ Associated Press, Flying Ace was Short (sic) on Orders from Beria, Florence Times, 22 November 1964
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