Mishka Yaponchik

For other uses, seeYaponchik (disambiguation).

Mishka Yaponchik
Birth name	Moisei Wolfovich Vinnitsky
Born	(1891-10-30)30 October 1891 Odesa,Russian Empire
Died	29 July 1919(1919-07-29)(aged 27) nearVoznesensk,Kherson Governorate,Ukrainian SSR
Allegiance	Ukrainian SSR
Branch	Red Army
Service years	1904–1918
Units	122nd Infantry Regiment 1st Neva Infantry Regiment
Commands	54th Soviet Revolutionary Regiment
Conflict	Russian Civil War

Mishka Yaponchik(bornMoisei Wolfovich Vinnitsky;30 October 1891 – 29 July 1919)was an Odesa gangster, Jewish revolutionary, and a Soviet military leader.

Early years

Moisey Volfovich Vinnitsky was born into the family of a Jewish wagon-builder, Meyer-Volf Mordkovich Vinnitsky, according to some records instanitsaGolta (today is part ofPervomaisk). Vinnitsky was around 4 years old when his family moved to Odesa (Moldavanka). Other records state that he was born into the family of a seaport serviceman (bindyuzhnik)at 23 Hospital Street (today Bohdan Khmelnytsky Street) in Odesa (Moldavanka). Vinnitsky's mother, Doba Zelmanovna, gave birth to five sons and a daughter. Upon his birth he received a double name, Moisey-Yakov (Moses-Jacob), similar to his father. Because such a double name was uncommon in Russian culture, Vinnitsky's second name was sometimes recorded as the paternal name—Moisey Yakovlevich. Sometime in 1897 Mishka lost his father. At first he worked at a mattress factory as a trainee, while also attending the Jewish school (presumablycheder).Later, as an electrician, he received a job at theAnatrafactory. At the time of the Jewishpogromsin October 1905 Vinnitsky participated in the Jewish self-defense. Later he joined the organization ofanarchists-communistsMolodaya Volya (Young Will). It was probably during that time that he received his famous street name, "Mishka the Japanese", presumably for the shape of his eyes. Another version suggests that he began to be recognized by this name after he narrated a story that he heard from a Portuguese sailor to his Odesa friends about a Japanese gang fromNagasaki.The story was about Japanese gangsters who set up rules for their "business" and never trespassed them. Yaponchik offered this example for his buddies to follow.

Apartment building of M.M. Kanela onKartamyshevska StreetNo. 14 in theMoldavankasettlement in Odesa. Mishka Yaponchik and his gang used a hidden entrance intoOdesa catacombs,which was located inside the courtyard of this building, to run from the police. The photo dated June 2017.

In 1907 Vinnitsky was sentenced to death by hanging for the assassination of the chief of the Mikhailov police precinct inOdesaV. Kozhukhar.This sentence was later commuted to a term of 12 years' hard labor (katorga). According to legend, Vinnitsky made a special boot-shining box in which he placed explosives. Vinnitsky would sit on the corner of Dalnytska Street and Steep Street and ask passers-by if they wanted their boots cleaned. This activity was annoying the chief of the local precinct. One day, however, a slightly inebriated precinct chief placed his boot on the cleaning box. After cleaning his boots, Vinnitsky lit the explosives and managed to run away, leaving his client to face his end. While serving time, Vinnitsky became acquainted withGrigoriy Kotovskiy.

Revolution

During the amnesty issued by the Russian Provisional Government in 1917 Yaponchik returned to his hometown (Odesa) where he organized his gang to the extent of nearly taking control of the city. During the evacuation from the city of the last retreating Austrian and German forces on 12 December 1918 Yaponchik made a successful raid on the city jail freeing numerous detainees. During theoccupation of Odesaby theEntenteforces (French, Greeks, and British) in 1919 he cooperated with theBolshevikunderground (including Kotovskiy). Yaponchik was also well acquainted withNaftaly Frenkeland Lazar Veyssbeyn (Leonid Utyosov) who later became one of the most popular singers in theSoviet Unionand vouched for Yaponchik as ahumane gangster(avoided killings, sponsored local artists). Once, to prevent his banditry, he was arrested by the counter-intelligence service (chief – GeneralShilling) of the Denikin'sVolunteer Army.After about half an hour, his place of detention was visited by acavalcadeofphaetonsand horse driven cabs (prolyotkas) with numerous gangsters holding grenades. Upon request to release Yaponchik the latter exited the building in less than 15 minutes.

Yaponchik is known for hisaphorismssuch as "Don't shoot in the air—don't leave witnesses", "The dead have the shortest tongues", "The dead won't sell out".

After Odesa was taken by theRed Army,some evidence suggests him being in charge of anarmored trainto defeat theNykyfor Hryhoriv'smutiny.

54th Soviet Regiment

In May 1919 he was allowed to form his own military unit for the Soviet forces that fell under the command of the3rd Ukrainian Soviet Army.The unit was later reformed into the 54th Lenin's Soviet Revolutionary Regiment. Yaponchik's assistant (adjutant) wasMeyer Zayder,nicknamed Mayorchik (as diminutive of Major), who later killedGrigoriy Kotovskiyin 1925. The regiment consisted of Odesa's former convicts, anarchist militia, and the newly mobilized students of theNovorossiya University.The Red Army men of Yaponchik did not have a uniform, which was not uncommon in many military formations that were drafted by Bolsheviks. Many of them woreboatersandtop hats;however, almost everyone considered to be honorary to wear what is known astelnyashka(a sailor's shirt).

The regiment was reassigned to Kotovskiy's Brigade under the command of the 45th division led by a Bessarabian Jew,Iona Yakir.In July 1919 Yaponchik's forces were engaged in a fight against the army of theUkrainian People's Republicthat were often exclusively associated withSymon Petliura,the Ukrainian national leader who led Ukraine's struggle for independence following the Russian Revolution of 1917. Yaponchik's men rendezvoused with the Ukrainians near the town ofBirzula,where they successfully managed to take the town ofVapnyarkainPodolie(nearVinnytsia,dozens of miles away), securing several military prisoners and trophies. However, after a counter-attack, the regiment fled and many soldiers deserted. What happened afterward is covered in mystery. There are some suggestions that the regiment mutinied, and, after securing a couple of trains, tried to return to Odesa. Another version of the story tells that the higher command tried to isolate Yaponchik from the rest of his troops and ordered him to head towardsKyiv.Yaponchik, however (with acompany-size security) did not go to Kyiv, but rather turned towards Odesa. He was ambushed by theChekaabout a mile away from the town ofVoznesenskand was killed in a clay quarry during the arrest byuyezdmilitary commissar Nikifor Ursulov on 29 July 1919 at eight o'clock in the morning.His body was covered by sand.
Later by the order #296 of the12th ArmyNikifor Ursulov was awarded theOrder of the Red Banner.

Popular culture

The Yaponchik's cult of personality was so strong in Odesa that it was used as a prototype byIsaac BabelasBenya Krikin his "Odesa Tales".Traces of his personality can also be found in the artistic works ofAlexander Rozenbaum.

A Russian-Ukrainian biographic television series based on Yaponchik's life,The Life and Adventures of Mishka Yaponchik(Жизнь и приключения Мишки Япончика), also titled internationally asOnce Upon a Time in Odesa,was released in 2011.

External links

• Media related toMishka Yaponchikat Wikimedia Commons