Aleksa Dundić
 | This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. |
Born: 13.4.1896, Grabovac, Dalmatia, Croatia (a part of Austrian-Hungarian Empire at the time).
Died: 8.7.1920, around Rovno, Ukraine
A participant and one of the greatest heroes of the Russian October Revolution. Very popular in Russian literature, known for his riding skills and courage. Dundic was the only person form southern Slavic region (former Yugoslavia), who was honoured with highest October Revoultion Awards.
Life
He was born in a Croatian, Catholic family and the surname 'Dundic' still exists in that region. He acquired his riding skills as a boy in South America (Argentina, Brasil), where he got his nickname "Alejo" (after spanish "Alejandro"), which later bacame "Oleko" in Russia and "Aleksa" in ex-Yugoslavia.
During the First World War (1914-18), he was drafted into the Austrian-Hungarian Army. He joined the Russian Red Army in 1916, where he played a significant role in battles, in cavalry divisions, under the leadership of the legendary commander Budonni, who claimed that Dundic had "a strengh of a lion and a soul of a child".
He died in battle in 1920.
Russian Sources
His origin was a subject of various discussions/arguments among Yugoslavs, untill the matter was completely aired by the Great Soviet Encyclopedia.
Citation from the Great Soviet Encyclopedia(Russian language):
Dundic, Toma (also called himself Ivan, in literature - Oleko), born April 13, 1896 (August 12, 1897 by other data) in the village of Grabovats, Dalmatia, died on the 8th of July, 1920 by Rovno. Hero of Russian Civil War. Born in a peasant family, Croatian by nationality. At the age of 12 he went to South America, where worked for 4 years as a shepheard in Argentine and Brasil. In 1914 recruited as private in the Austro-Hungarian Army. During the First World War of 1914-1918 in May, 1916 Dundic was taken prisoner by Russian troops under Lutzk. Volunteered to join the First Division of Serbian Volunteer Corps in Russia. From the middle of 1917 - in the Red Guard (presumably in Odessa). In March, 1918 headed a guerilla squad in the region of Bahmut (now Artemovsk) that later joined the Morozov-Donetsk division that in May-June retreated together with the army of K.E. Voroshilov towards Tsaritsin. Participated in the defence of Tsaritsin as a member of an International battalion, then with cavalry brigades of Kryuchkovsky and Bulatkin. From 1919 served in the Special Don Caucasus Division of S.M. Budenny (later in the cavalry corps and the First Mounted Army). Was deputy regiment commander, special aid to Budenni, commander of mounted division at the headquarters of the First Mounted Army. Took part in numerous battles, was wounded several times. The legendary courage of "Red Dundic" brought him ardent love and popularity among Budenny's troops. From June 1919 deputy commander of the 36th regiment of the 6th cavalry division. Killed in battle. Awarded the Order of the Red Banner.
References
1) The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3. edition, Moscow 1972, Volume 8, page 539, column 1605.
2) [1].
3) [2].
