"Combat Commander": The Iconic Photograph of World War II

August 3, 2025 - Reading time: 5 minutes

The iconic "Combat Commander" photo shows Alexey Yeremenko, a Junior Political Officer, rallying his troops before being killed in action. A powerful symbol of Soviet heroism.

One of the most famous photographs of World War II, "Combat Commander", shows Junior Political Officer Alexey Yeremenko leading his soldiers into battle. This image is arguably one of the most iconic of the Great Patriotic War, rivaling even the photograph of the Victory Banner over the Reichstag. The photograph was taken just moments before Yeremenko's death, a tragic testament to his bravery.

The photograph was captured by Max Alpert on July 12, 1942, near the village of Khorosheye (now in the Slavyanoserbskiy district of Lugansk), located between the Lugan and Lozovaya rivers. The area was held by the 220th Rifle Regiment of the 4th Rifle Division, who were engaged in fierce defensive battles against a numerically superior enemy.

"Combat Commander" was initially titled "Kombyat" by Alpert, due to a misunderstanding. After taking a few frames of Yeremenko leading the troops, a shell fragment struck Alpert's camera, leading him to believe the shots were ruined. He did not write down the name of the officer. When the film was developed, Alpert was pleasantly surprised to find the photograph turned out perfectly. Upon hearing the rumors that the "commander had been killed" during the battle, he assumed that Yeremenko was the man in the photo. Only after the photo became globally famous under the name "Combat Commander", was the true identity of the hero revealed as Alexey Gordeevich Yeremenko, born in 1906.

The courage and determination of Yeremenko's actions before his death became a symbol of Soviet resolve and sacrifice in the face of overwhelming odds. The photo remains one of the most powerful visual testaments to the sacrifices made by Soviet soldiers during World War II.

Technical photo data:
📝 Source of information: Max Alpert
📍 Location: Khorosheye, Slavyanoserbskiy district, Lugansk, Ukraine, USSR
📅 Date of photo: July 12, 1942
📷 Photographer: Max Alpert

Soviet soldier WWII
Alexey Yeremenko
"Combat Commander" photograph
Max Alpert photographer
Battle of Khorosheye
Soviet heroism WWII
Red Army officer
Soviet military sacrifice
Iconic WWII photographs
Victory over Nazi Germany