Joseph Beyrle: Russo-American WWII Soldier

Photo credit: www.rian.ru

It’s an incredible story of a Michigan guy who was sent overseas to fight fascism, was captured, managed to escape and became the only soldier who served in two armies: in the American one and in the Soviet Union’s. In the honour of  Joseph Beyrey (1923-2004) the Russian Museum has opened a special exhibition “Jumping Joe. A hero of two nations”.

In 1944, Beyrle, then a 20-year paratrooper, was sent to France to take part in the launching of the second front organized by the Soviet allies: Great Britain, USA and France. Unfortunately, soon he was captured by the Nazis and spent 10 months in prisons. Luckily, he managed to escape and trying to find the US army met Soviet soldiers. He said in Russian: “Ya Amerikansky tovarisch!” (I’m an American comrade).

Thus he became a Soviet soldier, and his experience of use since Russian army had a lot of American equipment, for example, a tank Sherman. In the meanwhile, his family was told that he had been killed in a battle in France. How come this mistake took place you can read here.

What is interesting about Beyrle’s behaviour, he wanted to fight the Germans, though he could continue sitting in a German concentration camp and wait for the end of the war. Or just ask to send him home. But Beyrle was a type of a hero which could fit as a character of a Hollywood movie, and I wonder why still there is no a movie about his extraordinary life.

So, Beyrle made his contribution to the defeat of the fascists, and in 1945 met with the architector of the victory, marshall Georgy Zhukov, the chief of Soviet troops (a meeting with a merciful and helpful big boss is really what Hollywood likes). Mr Zhukov helped Beyrle go home, which ended the fairy-tale.

The exhibition diplays personal belongings of Joseph Beyrle, his numerous awards, including those obtained during the service in the Soviet army, ammunition of American paratroopers of the 1940s, basketball uniform of the St. Joseph High School which the most famous paratrooper graduated from and other interesting items.

His son John Beyrle is now an ambassador of U.S. to Russia.

The Russian museum. Stroganovsky Palace.

Open hours: all days, except Tuesday, 10.00-18.00. On Monday. 10.00-17.00