Movlid Visaitov, a Chechen colonel and a commander of 255th Separate Chechen–Ingush cavalry regiment, first to meet American forces on the Elbe River during World War II.
Movlid Visaitov (1913-1986), a Chechen colonel and a commander of 255th Separate Chechen–Ingush cavalry regiment in the World War II which Visaitov jokingly referred to "we came from Terek river to Elbe river". He was the first to radio-contact, meet, and shake hands with American forces under the command of general Bolling on the Elbe River. Both Bolling and Visaitov exchanged gifts: Visaitov gave Bolling his horse, and in return Bolling gave Visaitov a Willys MB. Visaitov received the Legion of Merit from US President Harry S. Truman. In 1946 Visaitov refused to participate in the plot to execute the Chechen dissident Abdurakhman Avtorkhanov who lived in Europe. He was deported to a prison settlement in Kazakhstan where all deported Chechens and Ingush were located since 1944.
References[]
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTddGuQiL_k
- http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20050505/39887224.html
- "Всадник Чести. Комполка Висатов ..." Документальный фильм
The original article can be found at Movlid Visaitov and the edit history here.