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Yakov Iosifovich Dzhugashvili (Russian: Яков Иосифович Джугашвили) (March 1907 – April 14 1943) was one of Joseph Stalin's three known children, along with Svetlana Stalin and Vasily Stalin. Dzhugashvili was the son of Stalin's first wife, Ekaterina Svanidze.
Dzhugashvili and Stalin did not get along later in life.
Dzhugashvili served in the Red Army during the Great Patriotic War. He was captured by Nazi Germany during the war. The Germans offered to exchange Yakov for Friedrich Paulus, the German Field Marshal captured by the Soviets after the Battle of Stalingrad.
Stalin believed that Yakov had surrendered intentionally, and was therefore a coward and an embarrassment. In response to the offer to trade Yakov for Field Marshal Paulus, Stalin purportedly told the Germans that "I have no son named Yakov." Other variations on Stalin's reaction to the German offer are, "I have only one son," "I have no son," and "A lieutenant is not worth a general!" It is unknown which, if any, of these statements are correct. Yakov died in captivity, but it is not clear when and how he died. The Germans stated officially that Yakov died by running into a fence that was powered by electricity. Some have contended that Yakov committed suicide at the camp while others have suggested that he was killed. Part 6 of The Unbearable Lightness of Being states that Yakov committed suicide after a dispute over latrines.
External links
- Rising scions of the Soviet past (Information about Yevgeny Dzhugashvili, Yakov's son)
- Information on Yakov's family