The Fortress of Stalin’s Villa: An Insider’s Account

Recollections from Stalin’s Personal Bodyguard

This article presents the firsthand narrative of Vladimir Vasilyev, who served as Joseph Stalin’s personal bodyguard for eight years.

Here are his detailed recollections.

For years, I have shared bits and pieces of my experiences while working closely with Stalin with my son, Andrei Vasilyev. Recently, Andrei made these accounts public through the Russian media, offering insights into the role of Stalin’s bodyguards and certain aspects of his personal life.

I joined the Soviet Red Army in 1939 at the age of 19.

My military journey took me through the Winter War and the Great Patriotic War, where I sustained minor injuries over three years of combat. I earned several medals and the Order of the Red Star for bravery in battle, although I only advanced to the rank of sergeant due to my lack of formal military training.

Andrei attributes my survival during the war to my previous combat experience in the Winter War, the rigorous training regimen of the “Cheryomushki Special Mission Division,” and a brief educational stint at an officer’s school in 1943, which provided a much-needed respite.