Tyltyn’, Alfred (Jan-Alfred) Matisovich (1897-1942)

Alfred Tyltyn’, known in the United States as Alfred Tiltin, was a Soviet Red Army commander and intelligence officer.

Tyltyn’ was born in 1897 into a peasant family in the Curlandskaya gubernia of the Russian Empire (now part of Latvia). He was drafted into the Russian army in 1916 and was a platoon commander with the Kursemsky Lettish regiment in World War I. After the Bolshevik revolution of October 1917, Tyltyn’ took part in the Russian Civil War on the side of the Bolsheviks. From platoon commander he advanced to become a battalion commander, assistant regiment commander and later regiment and brigade commander. From 1920 to 1922, he studied at a military academy and then joined the Red Army intelligence service. By that time, Tyltyn’ was fluent in German, French and English.

In July 1922, Tyltyn’ was posted in France as an illegal resident, with his wife, Maria Tyltyn’, serving as his assistant. In 1926-1927, the Tyltyn’s were posted in Germany, and from 1927 to 1930, in the United States.  During his U.S. posting, Tyltyn’ lived in New York City with Canadian papers in the name of, first, Joseph Paquett, and later, Martin.

Upon his return to the Soviet Union, Tyltyn’ served in several command capacities, including commander of the 5^th mechanized brigade in Borisov from March 1932 to June 1936. From June 1936 to November 1937, he fought in the Spanish Civil War. Tyltyn’ was awarded the Order of Lenin  in 1936 and three Orders of the Red Banner in 1920, 1922 and 1928.  His good fortune came to an end in November 1937, in the wake of purges in the Red Army, and in December 1940 he was sentenced to 15 years in prison camps. Tyltyn’ died in December 1942 and was rehabilitated in March 1957. ¹