Innokenty Khalepsky

Innokenty Andreyevich Khalepsky (July 14, 1893 – July 29, 1938), was a Soviet General, formerly also the People's Commissar for Communications of the USSR. He was a recipient of the Order of Lenin and the Order of the Red Banner. As head of the Department of Mechanization and Motorization, he informed tank designer Semyon Alexandrovich Ginzburg of Poland's acquisition of light infantry and cavalry tanks from the British and French on January 26, 1931. He was one of the 10 individuals promoted to Komandarm 2nd rank on November 11, 1935. During the Great Purge, he was denounced by Dmitry Shmidt, who had taken into custody by the NKVD. While serving as People's Comissar, others who had been denounced by Shmidt including Marshal Mikhail Tukhachevsky, Ieronim Uborevich and Iona Yakir were executed. He was removed from his post, arrested and later executed himself.