Aleksa Dundić

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Aleksa Dundić (real name Toma, but also known under his pseudonyms Ivan, Alejo, Aleksa, and, in literature, as Oleko or Red Dundich; April 13, 1896 - July 8, 1920) was a communist politician, a prominent participant in Russia's October Revolution. A popular character in Russian literature (celebrated for his riding skills and courage), Dundić was the only person from the former Yugoslavia to be honoured with the Order of the Red Banner.

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[edit] Biography

His ethnic origin is subject to polemic among Yugoslavs. According to Great Soviet Encyclopedia, Dundić declared himself as a Croat, but there are also claims that he was a Serb.

[edit] Soviet Sources (Great Soviet Encyclopedia)

Dundić, Toma (also called himself Ivan, in literature - Oleko), born April 13, 1896 (August 12, 1897 by other data) in the village of Grabovac, Dalmatia, Austrian Empire, now Croatia died on the 8th of July, 1920 by Rovno, Ukraine.
Dundić was a hero of Russian Civil War.
He was born in a peasant family, Croat by nationality.
At the age of 12 he went to South America, where he worked for 4 years as a shepheard in Argentine and Brasil.
In 1914 he was recruited as a private in the Austro-Hungarian Army.
During the First World War of 1914-1918 in May, 1916 Dundic was taken prisoner by Russian troops under Lutzk. He volunteered to join the First Division of Serbian Volunteer Corps in Russia. From the middle of 1917, he was a member of the Red Guard (presumably in Odessa). In March, 1918, he headed a guerilla squad in the region of Bahmut (now Artemovsk) that later joined the Morozov-Donetsk division, which retreated together with the army of K.E. Voroshilov towards Tsaritsin in June 1918. He participated in the defence of Tsaritsin as a member of an International battalion, then with cavalry brigades of Kryuchkovsky and Bulatkin. From 1919, he served in the Special Don Caucasus Division of Semyon Budyonny (later in the cavalry corps and the First Mounted Army). He was deputy regiment commander, special aid to Semyon Budyonny, commander of mounted division at the headquarters of the First Mounted Army. Dundic took part in numerous battles and he was wounded several times.
The legendary courage of "Red Dundic" brought him ardent love and popularity among Budenny's troops. From June 1919 he was the deputy commander of the 36th regiment of the 6th cavalry division.
He was Killed in battle and awarded the Order of the Red Banner.


[edit] Aleksa Dundić Movie

In 1958, movie with the same name was made in Yugoslav-Soviet co-production.


[edit] References

[edit] External links

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