Quick Facts
Biography
Yakov Vladimirovich Smushkevich (Russian: Яков Владимирович Смушкевич; April 14, 1902 – October 28, 1941) was a Lithuanian Jew and Commander of the Soviet Air Force. Smushkevich was an important member of the Communist Party.
He participated in the Spanish Civil War, where he was known as "General Duglas", for which he received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. He was in charge of aviation for the 1st Army Corps at the Battle of Khalkhin Gol, again receiving the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. He was the commander of the Soviet Air Force from 1939 to 1940, and Deputy Chief of the General Staff from 1940 to 1941. He was arrested on June 8, 1941 and executed without trial on personal order of Lavrentiy Beria on October 28, 1941. He was rehabilitated in 1954.