The Tragedy of General Vlasov: Between Betrayal and Tragic Fate in World War II

Vlasov was a general who stole attention amidst the onslaught of World War II. As a commander under Stalin, he was celebrated for his efforts in saving Moscow from destruction in the winter of 1941-42 and also took part in the fighting around Leningrad. However, his fate changed when he fell into the hands of the Nazis. They succeeded in convincing him to defect to the Third Reich. In 1944, Vlasov was given permission by Germany to form his own army with the aim of liberating the Russian people from Stalin. By recruiting Russian soldiers captured by the Germans, Vlasov formed the Russian Liberation Army. However, closer to the end of the war, his army, consisting of around 50,000 men, came face to face with the Red Army, ultimately resulting in defeat for the Liberation Army. After surrendering to American forces advancing into Czechoslovakia, Vlasov and his followers were handed over to Soviet authorities. In May 1945, Vlasov and his colleagues were executed by the Soviets on August 1, 1946.