He was called "Iron Martyn." Some historians admired this adamant commander of the Red Army, others branded him as a fanatic and a merciless punisher. Yan Fritsevich Fabricius is one of the most controversial characters of the Civil War in Russia.
From the biography of Jan Fabricius
Fabricius was born in 1877. The place of his birth was the town of Zlekas in the Courland province. Now it is the territory of Latvia. His father was a Latvian farm laborer. However, he made sure that his son was educated.
Even in childhood, Jan enthusiastically accepted the ideas of the revolution. Before the Russo-Japanese War, he joined the Social Democratic organization. After participating in the May Day demonstration, Yan was brought to trial. He received four years of hard labor and was exiled to the Far East. However, here, too, Yane did not stop revolutionary activity.
Since 1916, Fabricius has been actively involved in the imperialist war. Having reached the rank of headquarters captain, he is working on the formation of army committees.
Fabricius during the Revolution and Civil War
In the fall of 1917, Jan Fritsevich became the battalion commander in the 1st Latvian rifle regiment. At the same time, he becomes a member of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee.
The Civil War began. Fabricius commands the detachment, and then takes the post of chairman of the Military Revolutionary Committee of one of the counties in the North-West of the country. The red commander was particularly distinguished in battles against the German invaders near Pskov. He took part in the elimination of gangs.
From 1918 to 1919, Fabricius became the head of the 2nd Novgorod Rifle Division. His part liberated Latvia, for which he was represented by the leadership of the Order of the Red Banner.
Then Fabricius successfully smashed Denikin's troops and participated in the war with Poland. In 1921, Iron Martyn, already famous, fought bravely with the rebels in Kronstadt.
At the end of the Civil War, Yan Fritsevich commanded the 2nd Don Infantry Division, and after that he took command of the 17th Infantry Corps, which was part of the Ukrainian Military District.
In 1928, Fabricius continued his military career, becoming an assistant commander of a powerful Caucasian army.
