Mamsurov Khadzi-Umar  

(1903-1968) 

Colonel-General, Hero of the Soviet Union, one of the key commanders of the Soviet military intelligence service.  

Khadzhi Umar Mamsurov was born in Shanaevskoe, North Ossetia into a peasant family. In 1918, fifteen-year-old Khadzi joined the Red Army forces, in order to fight against former Tsar Regime supporters. After the Civil War was over, Mamsurov decided to get more educated and in 1924 he completed a full course at the Political School. In 1935 he also graduated from Intelligence School and in 1948 - from the Military Academy of the General Staff.  

In 1936-1937 K.Mamsurov voluntarily participated in the Soviet Intelligence operations in Spain. He got in illegally as a Macedonian tradesman named Ksanty. Later on he became a military adviser to the leader of Spanish anarchists, Duruty. Then Mamsurov led the defensive operations in Madrid. His courage and decisiveness were described by American writer Ernest Hemingway in his novel “For Whom the Bell Tolls”. Hemingway met Khadzhi Umar (as a Macedonian “Ksanty”) several times and was so impressed by him, that Mamasurov became a prototype of the main character of the novel – Jordan.  

In 1939 Colonel K.Mamsurov took part in battles against Finnish troops.  

During the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945), Mamsurov, as a commander of the division participated in many successful operations at the Leningradsky, Briansky, South and South-West Fronts. Showing outstanding courage and commanding skills Mamsurov was honored many times with the high Soviet Orders and Medals. He was wounded five times, but every time after receiving treatment in a hospital, Khadzi Umar returned to the front. He also was one of the organizers of the partisan operations on German-occupied territories.  

In May 1945 for the great contribution in overpowering the Nazis and for personal courage Khadzhi Umar Mamsurov was honored with the Hero of the Soviet Union – the highest Soviet honorary title.  

A lot could be written about Mamsurov’s work as a Deputy Chief of the Soviet Defense Ministry’s Intelligence Agency. He has unofficially been called “A Father of the Soviet Spetsnaz – Special forces”. But most likely, this part of his life still can’t be exposed to public.