Alexander Gelver Explained
Alexander Gelver (born Helver, 1914 – January 1, 1938) was an American defector to the Soviet Union who was taken there by his parents. Gelver was originally from Oshkosh, Wisconsin.[1] At 24 years old, he wanted to return to the United States. He was stopped by Soviet police outside the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. On New Year's Day 1938, he was executed.[1]
In 1997, it was learned that he was executed by the secret police in 1938.[2] [3]
References
- News: Cullison . Alan . Files Reveal Stalin's Police Killed Americans . Johnson City Press . November 9, 1997 . Johnson City, TN . 58 . March 24, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
- https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2013/07/24/205121529/for-american-defectors-to-russia-an-unhappy-history For American Defectors To Russia, An Unhappy History
- Alan Cullison, Stalin-Era Secret Police Documents Detail Arrest, Execution of Americans, (November 9, 1997)
