Konstantin Fyodorovich Chelpan | |
---|---|
File:Konstantin Chelpan 1899-1938.jpg | |
Personal details | |
Born |
Cherdakly, Yekaterinoslav Governorate, Russian Empire | 27 May 1899
Died |
10 March 1938 Kharkiv, Ukraine SSR, Soviet Union | (aged 38)
Nationality | Soviet |
Parents | Fyodor Myhailovich Chelpan, Elizaveta Khalangot |
Children | Lenimir Konstantinovich Chelpan |
Education | Kharkiv Technological Institute |
Konstantin Fyodorovich Chelpan (Russian: Челпан, Константин Фёдорович) (27 May 1899 – 10 March 1938) was a prominent Soviet engineer of Greek background. Head of the Engineering Design Bureau of the Kharkiv Locomotive Factory, chief designer of the T-34 tank engine. Awarded the Order of Lenin. Politically repressed and executed under a mass persecution ordered by Joseph Stalin. Politically rehabilitated after death.
Early life and education[]
Born on 27 May 1899 in Cherdakly, Yekaterinoslav Governorate, Russian Empire (now Kremenivka, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine),[1] to Fyodor Myhailovich Chelpan and Elizaveta Khalangot.[2] Both parents were Greeks.[1]
After graduating from Mariupol Realschule in 1919, took part in the Russian Civil War.[2] In 1924 graduated with honors from Kharkiv Technological Institute with a Major in Internal Combustion Engines.[2][3]
Career[]
From 1924 to 1937 he worked at the Kharkiv Locomotive Factory[3] as a Designer, Head of the Diesel Department, Lead Designer, and Head of the Engineering Design Bureau.[4][5] In 1928–1929 had practical training in Germany, Switzerland, and the UK.[2]
Konstantin Chelpan was the head designer of the famous T-34 tank diesel engine V-2,[6] for which he was awarded the Order of Lenin.[7] The engine consisted of lightweight aluminum alloy,.[8][9][10][11]
From 1927 was a senior lecturer at Kharkiv Technological Institute.[12]
Arrest and Death[]
Konstantin Chelpan Arrest Warrant
Konstantin Chelpan was arrested on 15 December 1937 during the first days of the Greek Operation of NKVD.[1][2][11] He was charged with leading a Greek nationalist counter-revolutionary organization, as well as consipring to sabotage the Kharkiv Locomotive Factory.[1][11] After being interrogated and tortured he confessed to being a spy.[2] On 4 February 1938 he was sentenced to execution by shooting.[2][3][11] The sentence was carried out in Kharkiv prison on 10 March 1938[2] and covered up.[1] In a few years his wife received a death certificate, indicating that Konstantin Chelpan died on 16 May 1942 from congestive heart failure.[1]
On 6 August 1956 Konstantin Chelpan was rehabilitated by the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court of the USSR.[2][3] However only in 1988 his true cause of death was revealed.[1][11]
Commemoration[]
- In 1994 one of the streets in the village of Cherdakly was named after Konstantin Chelpan.[2]
- In 2000 a book entitled Life story of famous Ukrainian Greeks. The case of Konstantin Chelpan by G. Zakharova was published.[2]
- In 2001 a commemorative plaque was placed on the house, where Konstantin Chelpan had spent his last years.[2]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Лавриненко, Евгений (January 2011). "Челпан Константин Федорович" (in Russian). аллея звезд. http://donbass.name/2586-glavnyj-konstruktor-v-2.html. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 Захарова, Г.М. (2001) (in Russian). Жизнеописания знаменитых греков Украины. Дело Константина Челпана. Мариуполь : ЗАО «Газета "Приазовский рабочий. pp. 54–85.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Джуха, И.Г.. "Челпан К.Ф." (in Russian). ГРЕЧЕСКИЙ МАРТИРОЛОГ. http://www.greek-martirolog.ru/dbm_person/persona.php?id=5322965_199aa. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
- ↑ Ибрагимов, Даниял (1989) (in Russian). Противоборство: Документальная повесть. ДОСААФ СССР. p. 59. ISBN 5-7030-0200-1. https://books.google.com.ua/books?ei=QuhAT5_SMMjBtAay_rHGBA&hl=uk&id=zk19AAAAIAAJ&dq. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
- ↑ Джуха, Иван; Ассоциация греческих общественных объединений России (2006) (in Russian). Греческая операция: история репрессий против греков в СССР. Алетейя. p. 50. ISBN 5-89329-854-3. https://books.google.com.ua/books?id=OH8iAQAAIAAJ&q. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
- ↑ Костюченко, Станислав (2004) (in Russian). Как создавалась танковая мощь Советского Союза, Книга 1. АСТ. ISBN 5-17-024396-0. https://books.google.com.ua/books?id=Y3_fAAAAMAAJ&q. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
- ↑ БУГАЙ, НИКОЛАЙ; КОЦОНИС, АНАТОЛИЙ (1999) (in Russian). Обязать НКВД СССР ... выселить греков. ИНСАН. pp. 159, 164. https://books.google.com.ua/books?id=He9LAAAAMAAJ&q. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
- ↑ Suzuki, Takashi (1997). The romance of engines. SAE. p. 206. ISBN 1-56091-911-6. https://books.google.com.ua/books/about/The_romance_of_engines.html?id=F7alJT8YtaQC&redir_esc=y. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
- ↑ Комитет по делам архивов. Министерство печати и информации (2001) (in Russian). Отечественные архивы, Выпуск 1. Отечественные архивы. p. 63. https://books.google.com.ua/books?id=Vv0ZAAAAYAAJ&q. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
- ↑ Ziemke, Earl (2002). Stalingrad to Berlin: The German Defeat in the East (Paper). Government Printing Office. p. 27. ISBN 0-16-001962-1. https://books.google.com.ua/books/about/Stalingrad_to_Berlin_The_German_Defeat_i.html?id=Pr6HhrecbZ8C&redir_esc=y. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 "Сталинский "греческий заговор"" (in Russian). ГРЕКИ В РОССИИ. ГРЕЧЕСКАЯ ГАЗЕТА. http://www.greekgazeta.ru/archives/nomer03/articles/28.shtml. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
- ↑ Павлова, Г. В.. "Челпан Константин Федорович" (in Russian). История Харьковского технологического института в лицах 1885-1930. http://library.kpi.kharkov.ua/PREPODAVATELY/PR_%D7.html. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
The original article can be found at Konstantin Chelpan and the edit history here.