Boris Shteifon

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General Lieutenant Boris Aleksandrovich Shteifon (Борис Александрович Штейфон) was an officer of the Russian Tsarist army, the Russian anti-communist White army, and the leader of the Russian Corps in Serbia during World War II.

Boris Shteifon was born on December 6, 1881 in the city of Kharkov (currently Ukraine). His father was a Jewish merchant (converted to Orthodox Christianity), his mother was the daughter of a Russian Orthodox deacon.

Shteifon completed his education in Kharkov and went to serve as a volunteer in the rank of private in the 122nd Voronezh regiment of the Imperial Russian Army. In 1901 he advances to the rank of lieutenant. Shteifon saw action in the Russo-Japanese war and received a concussion. He was also awarded for bravery and excellence five times, receiving the medal of St. Vladimir amidst others.

In 1911, Shteifon completes the Imperial Nikolaevsky Military Academy with the rank of captain. During World War I he serves on the Caucases front, and is awarded the order of St. Anne, order of St. George, and a British medal for conducting intelligence operations. In January of 1917 he is placed in charge of the headquarters of the 161 infantry division and then in August of that year the 3rd Finnish division. He was raised to the rank of colonel.

In the wake of the October Revolution and the collapse at the Russian front, Shteifon returns to his native Kharkov where he heads an underground organization to recruit and relay officers who want to join the Volunteer Army. In the fall of 1918 he arrives at Volunteer Army headquarters in Ekaterinodar and commands several units.

In January of 1920 Shteifon is promoted to the rank of general. He is forced to evacuate into Poland with his men, then arrives in Crimea to continue active duty under General Pyotr Wrangel. He evacuates with the Russian Army of Wrangel to Constantinople and arrives to the Gallipoli camp for white Russian refugees. He arrives as a private, but is quickly promoted to be the commendant of the camp.

On the 25th of April, 1921 he is put in charge of the 1st Army Corps. He moves to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes.

During the 1920's and 1930's, Shteifon publishes a series of military tactical and historical works, and becomes a professor of military sciences.

In 1941, he becomes the commander of the staff of the Russian Corps in Serbia, and three days later is promoted to the commander of the Corps, a position he held until his death on May 30th, 1945 in Zagreb, Croatia. He was buried in Ljubljana, Slovenia at a German military cemetery (block VIII, row 6, grave 16).