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Mikhail Devyatayev

en.wikipedia.org

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Re: Mikhail Devyatayev

#11

Post by sillysaurusx »

gumby wrote: post #8

> After a short time in hospital, in late March 1945 seven of the escapees were sent to serve in the rifle unit, five of them died in action over the following weeks. Out of the frying pan, into the fire!

I came here to post that exact paragraph. Talk about a Soviet Russia outcome.

Re: Mikhail Devyatayev

#12

Post by dralley »

chromatin wrote: post #2

What is fascinating and tragic is how how Soviets treated their own repatriated POWs. The hero of this story remained classified a criminal until 1957 when the head of the Soviet space agency personally pled his case.

Why was he considered a criminal?

Re: Mikhail Devyatayev

#13

Post by throwaway803453 »

Missing from this article is why Devyatayev was considered a criminal:

"The NKVD did not believe Devyataev's story, arguing that it was impossible for the prisoners to take over an airplane without cooperation from the Germans. Thus, Devyataev was suspected of being a German spy and sent to a penal military unit along with the other nine men. Of the escapees, five died in action over the following months. Devyataev himself spent the remainder of the war in prison."[1]

[1] https://military.wikia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Devyatayev

Re: Mikhail Devyatayev

#14

Post by joaomacp »

dralley wrote: post #12
chromatin wrote: post #2

What is fascinating and tragic is how how Soviets treated their own repatriated POWs. The hero of this story remained classified a criminal until 1957 when the head of the Soviet space agency personally pled his case.

Why was he considered a criminal?

It was dishonorable to be caught by the enemy in combat, and considered a shame.

Re: Mikhail Devyatayev

#15

Post by roussanoff »

dralley wrote: post #12
chromatin wrote: post #2

What is fascinating and tragic is how how Soviets treated their own repatriated POWs. The hero of this story remained classified a criminal until 1957 when the head of the Soviet space agency personally pled his case.

Why was he considered a criminal?

POWs and civilians who lived in the occupied lands were often charged with treason and sent to labor camps. Many (but not all) were released in 1953 when Stalin finally died.

Re: Mikhail Devyatayev

#17

Post by mopsi »

dralley wrote: post #12
chromatin wrote: post #2

What is fascinating and tragic is how how Soviets treated their own repatriated POWs. The hero of this story remained classified a criminal until 1957 when the head of the Soviet space agency personally pled his case.

Why was he considered a criminal?

Treating all POWs as traitors and spies was easier than weeding out the actual traitors and spies. Human life had no value in the USSR.

Re: Mikhail Devyatayev

#18

Post by rdtsc »

A similar thing happened with Russian pilots who were held captive in Afghanistan in the 90s. They all escaped with their plane after being held captive for a year: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airstan_incident

——-

On each trip the crew would be guarded by six Taliban guards but on 16 August 1996, half of the guards left the crew for afternoon prayers. Seizing the opportunity, the Russians overpowered the remaining guards and the pilot was able to start one engine from the auxiliary power unit (itself started with a battery)

——-

Re: Mikhail Devyatayev

#19

Post by rangibaby »

throwaway803453 wrote: post #13

Missing from this article is why Devyatayev was considered a criminal: "The NKVD did not believe Devyataev's story, arguing that it was impossible for the prisoners to take over an airplane without cooperation from the Germans. Thus, Devyataev was suspected of being a German spy and sent to a penal military unit along with the other nine men. Of the escapees, five died in action over the following months. Devyataev h…

We’re there any returning POWs who weren’t considered to be criminals?
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