Mishka Yaponchik (Russian: Ми́шка Япо́нчик (literally 'Mikey the Jap'); born 30 October 1891 in Odessa, Russian Empire; died 29 July 1919 in Voznesensk in Ukrainian SSR) was an Odessa gangster, Jewish revolutionary, and a Soviet military leader.

Early years

Moisey Volfovich Vinnitskiy was born into the family of a Jewish wagon-builder, Meyer-Volf Mordkovich Vinnitskiy, according to some records in stanitsa Golta (today is part of Pervomaisk). Vinnitskiy was around 4 years old when his family moved to Odessa (Moldavanka). Other records state that he was born into the family of a seaport serviceman (bindyuzhnik) at 23 Hospital Street (today Bohdan Khmelnytsky Street) in Odessa (Moldavanka). Vinnitskiy's mother, Doba Zelmanovna, gave birth to five sons and a daughter. Upon his birth he received a double name, Moisey-Yakov (Moses-Jacob), similar to his father. Because such a double name was uncommon in Russian culture, Vinnitskiy's second name was sometimes recorded as the paternal name—Moisey Yakovlevich. Sometime in 1897 Mishka lost his father. At first he worked at a mattress factory as a trainee, while also attending the Jewish school (presumably heder). Later, as an electrician, he received a job at the "Anatra" factory. At the time of the Jewish pogroms in October 1905 Vinnitskiy participated in the Jewish self-defense. Later he joined the organization of anarchists-communists Molodaya Volya (Young Will). It was probably during that time that he received his famous street name, presumably for the shape of his eyes. Another version suggests that he began to be recognized by this name after he narrated a story that he heard from a Portuguese sailor to his Odessa friends about a Japanese gang from Nagasaki. The story was about Japanese gangsters who set up rules for their "business" and never trespassed them. Yaponchik offered this example for his buddies to follow.

In 1907 Vinnitskiy was sentenced to death by hanging for the assassination of the chief of the Mikhailov police precinct in Odessa V.Kozhukhar,. This sentence was later commuted to a term of 12 years' hard labor (katorga). According to legend, Vinnitskiy made a special boot-shining box in which he placed explosives. Vinnitskiy would sit on the corner of Dalnytska Street and Steep Street and ask passers-by if they wanted their boots cleaned. This activity was annoying the chief of the local precinct. One day, however, a slightly-inebriated precinct chief placed his boot on the cleaning box. After cleaning his boots, Vinnitskiy lit the explosives and managed to run away, leaving his client to face his end. While serving time, Vinnitskiy with Grigoriy Kotovskiy.

Revolution

During the amnesty issued by the Russian Provisional Government in 1917 Yaponchik returned to the hometown (Odessa) where he organized his gang which to the extent of nearly took control of the city. During the evacuation from the city of the last retrieving Austrian and German forces on 12 December 1918 Yaponchik made a successful raid on the city jail freeing numerous detainees. During the occupation of Odessa by the Entente forces (French, Greeks, and British) in 1919 he cooperated with the Bolshevik underground (including Kotovskiy). Yaponchik was also well acquainted with Lazar Veyssbeyn (Leonid Utyosov) who later became one of the most popular singers in the Soviet Union and vouched for Yaponchik as a humane gangster (avoided killings, sponsored local artists). Once to prevent his banditism he was arrested by the counter-intelligence service (chief – General Shilling) of the Denikin's Volunteer Army. After about half an hour, his place of detention was visited by a cavalcade of phaetons and horse driven cabs (prolyotkas) with numerous gangsters holding grenades. Upon request to release Yaponchik the latter exited the building in less than 15 minutes.

Yaponchik is known for his aphorisms such as "Don't shoot in the air—don't leave witnesses", "The dead have the shortest tongues", "The dead won't sell out".

After Odessa was taken by the Red Army, some evidences suggest him being in charge of an armored train to defeat the mutinied otaman Grigoryev.

In May 1919 he was allowed to form his own military unit for the Soviet forces that fell under the command of the 3rd Ukrainian Army (Soviet forces). The unit was later reformed into the 54th Lenin's Soviet Revolutionary Regiment. Yaponchik's assistant (adjutant) was Meyer Zayder, nicknamed Mayorchik (as diminutive of Major), who later shot Kotovskiy in 1925 (see Grigoriy Kotovskiy). The regiment consisted of the Odessa's former convicts, anarchist militia, and the newly mobilized students of the Novorossiya University. The Red-Army men of Yaponchik did not have a uniform, which was not uncommon in many military formations that were drafted by Bolsheviks. Many of them wore boaters and top hats, however almost everyone considered to be honorary to wear what is known as telnyashka (a sailor's shirt).

The regiment was reassigned to Kotovskiy's Brigade under the command of the 45th division led by a Bessarabian Jewish Iona Yakir. In July 1919 Yaponchik's forces were engaged in fight against the army of the Ukrainian People's Republic that often being exclusively associated with Symen Petlyura, the Ukrainian national leader who led Ukraine's struggle for independence following the Russian Revolution of 1917. The Yaponchik's men rendezvous with Ukrainians near the town of Birzula (today's Kotovsk) where they were so successful that managed to take the town of Vapnyarka in Podolie (near Vinnytsia, dozens of miles away) securing several military prisoners and trophies. However, after the followed counter-attack the regiment fled and many soldiers deserted it. What happened afterward is covered in mystery. There are some suggestions that the regiment mutinied and after securing couple of trains tried to return to Odessa. Another version of the story tells that the higher command tried to isolate Yaponchik from the rest of his troops and ordered him to head towards Kiev. Yaponchik, however, with a company-size security did not go to Kiev, but rather turned towards Odessa. He was ambushed by Cheka about mile away from the town of Voznesensk and was killed in a clay quarry during the arrest by an uyezd military commissar Nikifor Ursulov on 29 July 1919 at eight o'clock in the morning. His body was covered by sand. Later by the order #296 of the 12th Army Nikifor Ursulov was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.

Popular culture

The Yaponchik's cult of personality was so strong in Odessa that it was used as a prototype by Isaak Babel as Benya Krik in his Odessa Tales. Traces of his personality can also be found in the artistic works of Alexander Rozenbaum.

A Russian biographic television series based on Yaponchik's life, The Life and Adventures of Mishka Yaponchik (Жизнь и приключения Мишки Япончика), also titled internationally as Once Upon a Time in Odessa, was released in 2011.