Ivan Vasilenko - Early Years

Early Years

Ivan Dmitrievich Vasilenko was born January 20, 1895 in the village of Makeevka, in the former guberniya of Taganrog in a clerk’s family. Seven years later, his family moved to the city of Taganrog proper. In 1912 Ivan Vasilenko graduated from the 4-year college and became teacher at a village school. He entered the Belgorod pedagogical institute, but was soon dismissed for organization of a Marxist group, because of that the further route for Vasilenko to teaching was closed and he worked as an accountant in the Taganrog Land bank. After October Revolution, he managed trade department, later the department of public education, and gave lessons. During World War II, he contributed to Soviet military newspapers.