Order of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR, May 26, 1943

Source: Tom 18

Colonel V.I. Stalin is to be removed from the post of commander of the air regiment for drunkenness and debauchery and for corrupting the regiment.

Note

Vasily Iosifovich Stalin (1921-1962) was Stalin's son, who served in the Air Force during the war. Despite his father's attempts to hold him to the same standards (or even higher) as other officers, Vasily repeatedly caused disciplinary problems. He was reprimanded and reassigned multiple times. This order dismissing him from command of an air regiment is one of the clearest examples of Stalin's refusal to shield his son from consequences. Vasily was later reinstated and eventually rose to the rank of Lieutenant General of Aviation, though his career continued to be plagued by personal indiscipline.