Aleksandr Nikolaev

Nikolaev, Aleksandr Panfomirovich 

Born Aug. 19 (31), 1860, in Nizhny Novgorod Province; died May 28, 1919, in Iamburg, now Kingisepp. Russian and Soviet military figure.

Nikolaev graduated from the Moscow Infantry Junker School in 1882. He took part in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–05 and was awarded a gold weapon for bravery. During World War I (1914–18) he commanded a regiment, a brigade, and a division, reaching the rank of major general in 1916. After the October Revolution of 1917 he went over to the side of Soviet power. In Petrograd he held the positions of director of the Neva regional commissariat for military affairs and commander of a detachment to guard the Neva lines of communication. In 1919 he became commander of a brigade of the 19th Rifle Division, which was occupying the sector of the front from Gdov to Iamburg. During the first offensive by the forces of White Guard General N. N. Iudenich against Petrograd in May 1919, Nikolaev was taken prisoner near Mount Popkova. He refused to join the Whites and was hanged. In October 1919, Nikolaev was given a second burial with military honors. He was awarded the Order of the Red Banner posthumously.