Romantic

Alexandre Baurov

October 20th, 2007 by Khamoro_chaj

Alexandre Baurov is just one of thousands Gypsies who fighted against Nazis in the World War II.

Baurov was from a famous artistic Russian Gypsy family. His ancestors were renowned for singing in choirs of Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Alexandre was born on March, 23rd, 1906. The boy received his first guitar lessons from such masters as Alexei and Michael Shishkin. When he was eleven, Sasha began performing with a Gypsy choir. He danced and played guitar. But the October Revolution deprived choirs of audience, and the young Rom had to find another work.

Around 1920 he began working as an assistant of a steelmaker in Putilov plant. From 1925 to 1933 Alexandre studied in the College of Electromechanical Communications and after graduating started working as a laboratory assistant in the Academy of Communications. But he didn’t give up music. In evenings he performed with a Gypsy ensemble in State Leningrad Variety Theatre.

In 1941, when the USSR entered the WWII, Alexandre as a volunteer was sent to the combat troops. He took his guitar with him. During short minutes of rest Baurov played songs for his friends.

Due to his good technical education Alexandre was appointed an officer. He started as а commander of communication support of the 44th battalion of armoured troops. He took part in fighting for Pulkovo heights. During the attack near Krasnoye Selo the officer-Rom was shell-shocked and wounded in his arm. Baurov was saved from the crashed tank by medics.

After recovery Alexandre Baurov returned to the front with 189th infantry division. Later he was commander of the 1st aeronautic division. This division provided pictures of enemy lines to the Soviet artillery.

At Karelian Isthmus Baurov was wounded in a hip.

The bravery of the Leningrad Rom was marked with promotions and awards. Alexandre was given the rank of captain in 1944. His chest was decorated with an Order of the Red Star and an Order of the Battle Red Banner. He also received an Order of Alexandre Nevsky (a very rare and honourable one) for the forced crossing of Oder river and a Polish Cross of Valor.

Baurov met the Victory in Leipzig, but he didn’t leave the military service. After the Victory he was left in Germany to learn German rocketry. From 1949 to 1955, being already a lieutenant colonel of Engineering Corps, he took part in creating and launching of the first Soviet rockets.

Alexandre Baurov died on February, 18, 1972. Materials related to Baurov’s military service and his war time pictures are now kept in the State Memorial Museum of Leningrad Defense and Siege. He was one of thousands Gypsy soldiers, officers and partisans who took part in the WWII against Nazism.

Thanks to Nickolay Bessonov for the information, which was edited and translated by me

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