Yan Gamarnik
Yan Gamarnik (birth name Jakov Tzudikovich Gamarnik (Russian: Я́ков Цу́дикович Гама́рник)), sometimes known as Yakov Gamarnik (Russian: Я́ков Гама́рник; 14 June [O.S. 2 June] 1894 – 31 May 1937), was the Chief of the Political Department of the Red Army from 1930 to 1937, Deputy Commissar of Defense 1930—1934 and First Secretary of the Communist Party of Byelorussia 1928–1930.
Yan Gamarnik
Post established
31 May 1937 (aged 42)
Moscow, Soviet Union
Russian Communist Party (1917–1937)
Viktoria Kochneva
Order of the Red Banner (1928)
Order of Lenin (1933)
Army
1919–1937
58th Rifle Division
Army Political Administration (1929–37)
Family[edit]
Gamarnik's sister, Klaudia (born 1905) left school at 14, joined Komsomol in Kyiv in 1921, joined the communist party in 1927, and was working in the prosecutor's office in Moscow when she was expelled from the party on 13 June 1937, arrested on 13 August, and sentenced to eight years in labour camps.[2] Her husband, Andrei Bogomolov, (1902–38), a secretary of the Moscow party committee, was arrested on 17 August 1937, sentenced to death on 25 April 1938, and shot the same day.[3] They had two children, who were aged eight and two in 1937. In 1953, she appealed to have her criminal record removed, but the appeal was turned down on the grounds that she had consorted with 'enemies of the people', including her husband.[2]