Aleksandr Razguljajev
Aleksandr Razguljajev
Aleksandr Razguljajev at age 101.
Birth: 13 January 1915
Petrograd, Russian Empire (now Saint Petersburg, Russia)
Death: 9 January 2021
Kohtla-Jarve, Ida-Viru County, Estonia
Age: 105 years, 362 days
Country: RussiaRUSEstoniaEST

Alexander Mikhailovich Razguljajev (13 January 1915 – 9 January 2021) was a Russian-born Estonian centenarian who was the oldest known living man in Estonia at time of his death.


Early life and education

Aleksandr Razguljajev was born in Petrograd, Russian Empire (now Saint Petersburg, Russia) on 13 January 1915. His father Mikhail Maksimovich Razgulyaev, was a participant in the revolutionary movement of 1917 and was awarded the Order of Lenin. His mother Olga Karlovna had three brothers who were Latvian riflemen and were involved in the protection of Vladimir Lenin.

From the age of 15, after graduating from a seven-year school, he worked as a turner at the Leningrad abrasive plant "Ilyich".

World War II

In 1939, he entered the Leningrad Naval Hydrographic School named after G.K. Ordzhonikidze. In June 1941 during the World War II, he asked to volunteer to serve in the Northern Fleet, thereby interrupting his training. He was sent to serve in the town of Polyarny, where during the war the main naval base of the Northern Fleet was stationed. In 1942, he was promoted to junior lieutenant, served in the 254th separate marine brigade as the commander of a reconnaissance platoon.

In the fall of 1944, while was commanding a machine-gun platoon of the 347th separate infantry battalion of the Marine Corps, took part in the preparation and landing of the Northern Fleet's amphibious assault on the territory occupied by German troops in northern Finland and Norway. He participated in the Petsamo–Kirkenes Offensive operation, he took part in the breakthrough of the amphibious assault on one of the main naval bases of the enemy in Liinakhamari, whose forces carried out constant armed attacks on the Arctic convoy of allies with strategic cargo of weapons and military equipment from the USA and Great Britain. Thanks to the insolence and desperate bravery of the amphibious assault, a powerful defensive line of enemy artillery was broken through, protecting Liinakhamari.

He also took part in the liberation of the Norwegian port-fortress Kirkinesse in the fall of 1944 as a result of a fierce assault. In addition to the Soviet medal, he subsequently received Norwegian awards. After the World War II, he continued his military career, served in the missile forces.

Later life

He married Galina Grigorievna and had an unreported number of children.

Many decades after the World War II, he received a reward from the Norwegians. In 2000, with an award order signed by King Harald V of Norway, he was awarded a medal for his participation in the liberation of Norway from the Nazi troops. A few years later, in 2006, he was awarded an anniversary medal in honor of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of northern Norway from the German occupation.

In 2014, he attended a gala reception at the Kremlin on Victory Day. In 2015, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary, he was congratulated by the President of the Republic of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves.

He became the oldest known living man in Estonia following the death of 105-year-old Leo Ginovker on 8 May 2020.

Aleksandr Razguljajev died after of fell down the stairs when he was going for the mail, an ambulance was called, but he refused to go to the hospital in Kohtla-Jarve, Ida-Viru County, Estonia on 9 January 2021 at the age of 105 years, 362 days. He was survived by his wife Galina Grigorievna, children and grandchildren.


Estonia's Oldest Living Man Titleholders (VE)

August TurpGrigori ValkevicJuhan KallasteJaan KraavJohannes BitterEduard IlvesJohannes TarkKarl ViiluAnts IlusMartin SelliBernhard HolbergKarl PlutusElbert VaaboHeinrich-Eduard MuntiArved TammLeo GinovkerAleksandr RazguljajevHugo-Eduard Vaino
