Alexandr Markovich Rabtsevich

Background

Alexandr was born on March 2 (14), 1898 in Lozovaya Buda village (now Mogilev region, Belarus) in a peasant family. He worked in the estate of the property owner Kutaev.

Career

In 1916, recruited to the Army. He participated in World War I as a common soldier. He was awarded Cross of Saint George for the valor on the battlefield. In 1918, he joined the guerilla squad and fought against the German invaders on the occupied territories of Bobruisk district. In 1918, he was recruited to the Red Army, later fought on the Petrogradsky front. In 1920, he graduated from Military-academic courses of the higher command, the Red Army

Since 1921, he worked in Joint State Political Directorate.

In 1930, he became the chairman of the kolkhozh. He was a participant in the Civil War in Spain (1937-1938). The Soviet foreign intelligence officer A.M.Rabtsevich was directly involved in the fighting with the pro-Franco rebels, commanded the reconnaissance detachment of the 18th Brigade, the Republican Army. In one of the reconnaissance operations, he was wounded.

For the successful conduct of reconnaissance operations and leadership of the combat group, he was awarded the Order of the Red Star. After he returned from Spain, Rabtsevich worked as the Head of the Kirov District Health Department, Minsk Region of the BSSR, and since 1939 - the Head of the municipal health department of Brest.

In 1939, he became a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

With the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, Rabtsevich was enrolled as the company commander, and then – the commander of the battalion to a specially created Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Special Purpose, People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs (NKVD). Secretly created, it was used to ensure the security of Stalin and members of the Politburo. In 1942, the brigade was instructed to strike at enemy rear areas, organize a guerrilla movement and carry out separate reconnaissance assignments of the Supreme High Command.

The detachment began to conduct a permanent reconnaissance of the military facilities of the German invaders. In August 1942, the detachment's soldiers received detailed data on the construction of defensive lines, the location of warehouses, airfields and the functioning of railway communications along the Vitebsk, Mogilev and Gomel regions. All this information was generalized and transmitted to the headquarters of the Belarusian partisan movement.

In September 1943, four echelons were blown up at the Osipovichi station.

Rabtsevich had his own people everywhere – at the post offices, telegraph offices, military airfields: the burgomasters and the police. According to their data, Soviet Union aviation struck important airfields, inflicting heavy damage on them.

In December 1943, the "Brave" detachment relocated to the Logishchensk district of the Pinsk region.

During 1944, several echelons, stack of air bombs, 2 tanks of the SS brigade, a distribution board of the telephone exchange in the city of Pinsk and other objects were blown up. In total, the "Brave" detachment of Rabtsevich conducted more than 200 sabotage on the railways and highways, blew up 91 trains, 24 tanks, 23 armored cars, armored train, destroyed many important military facilities and enemy workers, and walked hundreds of kilometers along enemy lines.

By the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR’s Decree, November 5, 1944, he was awarded Hero of the Soviet Union title for “exemplary fulfillment of the combat missions during the war against German-fascist invaders and the courage and heroism shown at that time” and received Order of Lenin. In 1945-1952, A.M. Rabtsevich worked in the Ministry of State Security of the Belorussian SSR. Since 1952, Colonel A.M. Rabtsevich - in reserve for health reasons.

He lived in Minsk. He died on April 11, 1961. He was buried on Military Cemetery. Street in Kirovsk village (Mogil’evsky district) was named after him.

Politics

In 1939, he became a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

Personality

“He loved life, but was always ready to give it for freedom and independence of the Motherland”.

Connections

Friend:

Kirill ORLOVSKY