Alexander Taranovski

Ukranian anarchist revolutionary. Born into a middle class peasant family of Jewish origin, in 1917 he fought in the Great War as a lieutenant and that same year declared himself an anarchist. He headed the Polish Jewish society's 'Black Guard' and, during the autumn of 1918, he entered the Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Nestor Makhno, and was appointed a member of staff in October 1920. He also commanded the battalion of Jewish guerrillas created in Hulaipóle. In November 1920, he left Crimea and, after breaking the siege by the Red Army, he managed to collect Makhnovist forces at Hulaipóle. In August 1921, he participated in the group responsible for the escape of Nestor Makhno abroad. Taranovskiwas captured on 18 August 1921 by a group of Ukrainian anti-Makhnovist peasants who, on 26 August 1921, burned him alive.