Movlid Visaitov

Movlid Visaitov, a Chechen colonel and a commander of 255th Separate Chechen–Ingush cavalry regiment, first to meet American forces on the Elbe River during World War II.

Movlid Visaitov (Russian: Мавлид Алероевич Висаитов; 13 May 1914–23 May 1986) was a Chechen Red Army colonel and a Hero of the Soviet Union.[1] Visaitov was commander of 255th Separate Chechen–Ingush cavalry regiment in the World War II which Visaitov jokingly referred to "we came from Terek river to Elbe river". He was the first to radio-contact, meet, and shake hands with American forces under the command of general Bolling on the Elbe River. Both Bolling and Visaitov exchanged gifts: Visaitov gave Bolling his horse, and in return Bolling gave Visaitov a Willys MB. Visaitov received the Legion of Merit from US President Harry S. Truman. In 1946 Visaitov refused to participate in the plot to execute the Chechen dissident Abdurakhman Avtorkhanov who lived in Europe. He was deported to a prison settlement in Kazakhstan where all deported Chechens and Ingush were located since 1944.

Early life

Visaitov was born on 13 May 1914 in the village of Lakha-Nevre in the Terek Oblast. He graduated from seven classes in 1931 at the village school. He graduated from the Grozny Co-Operative College in 1932, and worked as a store manager. In October 1932, he was drafted into the Red Army. Visaitov's birth date was changed to 1913, and his patrynomic to Aleroevich instead of Magomedovich. He served in a cavalry regiment in the North Caucasus Military District until February 1933.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 "Movlid Visaitov". Герои страны ("Heroes of the Country") (in Russian).
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