Artyom Sergeyev

Artyom Fyodorovich Sergeyev (Russian: Артём Фёдорович Сергеев; 5 March 1921 – 15 January 2008) was the adopted son of Joseph Stalin. He became a major general in the Soviet military. Sergeyev's biological father, Fyodor Sergeyev, a close friend of Stalin, died in an Aerowagon train derailment in 1921. Vladimir Lenin initiated the following adoption by Stalin. His military service began in 1938 at the age of 17 and he was active in fighting against German troops in World War II. He was appointed lieutenant colonel at the age of 23 and continued serving in the military after the war. In 1960, Sergeyev was given charge of air defences surrounding weapons factories in Dnepropetrosk. By the time of death, he was highly awarded with orders and medals, and was thrice Cavalier of the Order of the Red Banner, Order of Alexander Nevsky, twice Order of the Patriotic War, twice Order of the Red Star. He wrote two books about war and Stalin. His first wife was Amaya Ruiz Ibárruri, the daughter of Spanish Communist politician Dolores Ibárruri. Sergeyev died in 2008. He is buried at Kuntsevo Cemetery in Moscow.