Yakov Okhotnikov ^People

Together with two other cadets, Vladimir Petenko and Arkady Gellerem, Okhotnikov was tasked with guarding the party leadership on the mausoleum plat-form. The problem was, however, that they arrived late.Having run to the mausoleum, they encountered an OGPU officer who blockedtheir path. Pushing him to one side, the trio made their way onto the platform, where the Soviet leaders were already assembled.Okhotnikov quickly extracted himself from the scuffle and, hot in the cheeks, went up to the unsuspecting Stalin. Unexpectedly for the latter, the cadet hit him onthe back of the head with his fist and said: We've come to guard you. What's going on? It may have been more than resentment at the unwelcoming reception that caused thecadet to raise his hand against the Soviet leader. Perhaps Okhotnikov was consciously or otherwise avenging his political mentor Trotsky.The cadets were supported by Roberts Eidemanis, as well as military comman- der Iona lakir and Red Army Chief of Staff Mikhail Tukhachevsky. Stalin had to back down. His position at that time was not secure enough for an open conflict with themilitary command. Okhotnikov faced no disciplinary action whatsoever. After grad- uating from the military academy, he even headed the GiproAviaProm State Institute for Aircraft Plant Design.