15 Facts About Anatolie Popa

Anatolie Popa was a Bessarabian-born military commander active during World War I and the Russian Revolution and Civil War, one of the organisers of the Moldavian armed resistance against the advancing Romanian troops in January 1918.

Anatolie Popa was born into a poor peasant family in Cotiujenii Mari, in the Soroksky Uyezd of the Bessarabia Governorate.

Nevertheless, with the low literacy rate in Bessarabia, at 15 Popa was able to get a job as secretary of the rural police in his home village.

Anatolie Popa was eventually put in command of a battalion of the 75th Sevastopol Infantry Regiment and in September 1917 was dispatched to Chisinau, the Bessarabian administrative centre.

Anatolie Popa soon joined the Moldavian national movement, which sought autonomy for Bessarabia, and was appointed a delegate to the Moldavian Central Military Executive Committee.

Anatolie Popa was appointed military commissioner for the Balti county, growing close to the local Council of peasants' deputies.

The state of emergency was declared in the Balti county "in order to preserve public order", however Anatolie Popa was reticent in using violence against the peasants.

In spite of such opposition, Rudiev and Anatolie Popa, who replaced the former in the Revolutionary Headquarters, handed out weapons to volunteers in the city and nearby villages and ensured that the two artillery pieces available to the garrison were properly manned.

Anatolie Popa took into custody several Romanian officers arrested in the countryside, and rejected Razumovskyi's plea for their release, stating he was acting in retaliation to the arrest of Moldavian officers in Ungheni.

Anatolie Popa contacted Gherman Pantea, the acting Director for the military of the provisional Bessarabian executive, requesting information about the situation in Chisinau.

Anatol Anatolie Popa however took the occasion and fled over the Dniester, to Ukraine, joining the Soviet partisan groups.

On 13 February 1920 Anatolie Popa was given the command of the 399th Regiment "Communist" of the 45th Division, which was sent to the Polish front, suffering heavy losses.

The assault encountered strong resistance and Anatolie Popa, heavily wounded, was captured by the Polish forces.

Anatolie Popa died under interrogation before the Soviets were able to take the town, three days later.

Posthumously awarded the Order of the Red Banner, Anatolie Popa was praised by Yakir in his 1929 memoirs as a "titan commander" who "possessed both great willpower and great endurance".