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Alexander BakhtinHero submariner, commander of the submarine "Panther"
Date of Birth: 04.06.1894
Country:  Dive |
Content:
- Alexander Nikolaevich Bakhtin: A Renowned Submarine Commander
- World War I Service
- Soviet Career
- Post-War Contributions
- Tragic End
- Posthumous Recognition
Alexander Nikolaevich Bakhtin: A Renowned Submarine Commander
Early Life and EducationAlexander Nikolaevich Bakhtin was born on June 4, 1894, in the village of Malyye Bobriki, a descendant of a noble family. At the age of 10, he enrolled in the Oryol Cadet Corps, founded by his great-grandfather. He later graduated from the St. Petersburg Naval Corps in 1914 and the Submarine Class in 1916.
World War I Service
During World War I, Bakhtin served on the submarines "Kaiman" and "Volk" in the Baltic Fleet. His combat expeditions earned him numerous awards.
Soviet Career
After the revolution, Bakhtin supported the Soviet government and served in the Workers' and Peasants' Red Navy. On August 31, 1919, while commanding the "Pantera" submarine, he sank the British destroyer "Vittoria" in the Koporskaya Gulf. This victory was a significant achievement for the Soviet submarine fleet, and Bakhtin was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for his bravery.
Post-War Contributions
In the years that followed, Bakhtin made significant contributions to the Soviet submarine force. He commanded submarine divisions in the Baltic and Black Seas, taught at the Naval Academy, and served on naval command staff courses. He also published extensively in newspapers and journals, contributing to the revival of the Red Navy.
Tragic End
After graduating from the Naval Academy in 1926, Bakhtin was dismissed from service. He was subsequently arrested and sentenced to five years' imprisonment on Article 58 charges, and his Order of the Red Banner was revoked. He served time in a Solovetsky Islands camp, which was later replaced by exile. In 1929, he was released early but returned to Leningrad in ill health. He passed away in 1931 and was buried in the Smolensk Cemetery.
Posthumous Recognition
Bakhtin was posthumously rehabilitated in 1956. In honor of the 100th anniversary of the submarine fleet, the St. Petersburg government installed a memorial plaque on his residence. In 2007, a monument was unveiled on his grave site in the Smolensk Orthodox Cemetery. His daughter and son died in the 1942 siege of Leningrad, and his wife, Olga Petrovna, passed away in 1963.
