Tikhon Serafimovich Khvesin

Born Sept. 9 (21), 1894, in Orenburg; died Feb. 8, 1938. Soviet military and state figure. Member of the Communist Party from 1911.

The son of a worker, Khvesin served in World War I and became a noncommissioned officer. During the Great October Revolution he helped establish Soviet power in Saratov and served as a provincial military commissar. In 1918 he became chief of staff and then commanded the Fourth Army of the Eastern Front from September to November 1918. From March to May 1919. Khvesin commanded the Eighth Army of the Southern Front. He commanded a group of forces on the Don and served as assistant commanding officer of the Orenburg group of forces and the First Army. In 1920 he became assistant commanding officer of the Special Group of Forces of the Turkestan Front. In the war against Poland. Khvesin commanded the Mozyr’ group of forces. He occupied various responsible military posts from 1921 to 1923.

In 1924, Khvesin began a civilian career, occupying such posts as chairman of the State Planning Committee (Gosplan) of the USSR, deputy chairman of the Moscow Soviet, and first deputy people’s commissar of the municipal economy of the RSFSR.

Khvesin was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.