Alexander Blank German historian, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Date of Birth: 03.07.1921

1. Alexander S. Blank: Historian, Educator, and War Veteran
2. Early Life and Education
3. Military Service
4. Post-War Career
5. Research and Publications
6. Legacy

Alexander S. Blank: Historian, Educator, and War Veteran

Alexander Sergeyevich Blank was born in Odessa, Ukraine, on July 3, 1921. His father was a lawyer, and his mother was a German language teacher and translator.

Early Life and Education

As a teenager, Blank worked as a counselor at a children's home for Spanish orphans. He then enrolled in the history department at the University of Odessa, where he also pursued journalism.

Military Service

With the outbreak of World War II, Blank joined a student volunteer battalion and fought against Romanian forces. He was severely wounded and evacuated by sea to Saratov, where he underwent medical treatment and was deemed unfit for active duty.

Despite his injuries, Blank completed his education at the University of Odessa, which had been evacuated to Maykop. As German forces advanced into the Caucasus, the university was further evacuated to Barnaul, where Blank taught at the Altai Machine-Building Institute.

Post-War Career

In early 1943, Blank volunteered for the army and served as a translator in special units dealing with German prisoners of war. He worked with Field Marshal Friedrich Paulus as his interpreter.

After the war, Blank taught at universities in Vladimir, Kursk, Cherepovets, and Vologda. He passed away in 1985, leaving a lasting legacy in the field of German history.

Research and Publications

Blank was a prolific author and researcher, specializing in anti-fascist resistance and the history of fascism. He organized studies on modern German history in Vologda and mentored over 20 historians specializing in Germany.

Blank was one of the first scholars to investigate the fate of German prisoners of war in the Soviet Union. His work emphasized the role of Communist exiles from the Comintern in the anti-fascist movement among prisoners.

His book, published in German in 1979, generated significant international attention and sparked further research on the topic.

Legacy

In 2020, Blank's memory was honored with a memorial plaque at the Vologda State University, where he had worked for many years. His contributions to the understanding of anti-fascism, fascism, and German history continue to be recognized and valued by scholars and historians.