Sergei Yaroslavsky

Sergei Yaroslavsky was a pilot with the Soviet Red Air Force. He served during the Second World War.

Yaroslavsky initially flew missions against German forces invading Czechoslovakia in 1938. After Czechoslovakia fell, Yaroslavsky and his squadron began attacking Germany proper.

In 1939, the Soviet Union declared war on Poland, which added new targets for Yaroslavsky and his squadron.

While a devoted Communist, Yarslavsky was aware of the purges initiated by Joseph Stalin in the years leading up to the war. He was also aware of the inconsistencies that riddled Soviet propaganda, especially as he saw first hand how the Soviet war effort faired. Nonetheless, Yaroslavsky knew to keep his mouth shut.