Well, my grandfather entered studying Conservatory in St.Peterburg when WWI began. He told that after hard losses of Russian army in 1915 (while losing in Poland) & in 1916 (while winning in Galicia) there was pressing need for officers then Russian government sought volunteers anywhere.
My grandfather had great knacks for foreign languages (it's our "family virtue") then he entered Russian military as translator in "praporschik rank" (corporal for English equivalent?) as volunteer in under-age & was sent into Russian Foreign Legion to fight in the France soil (we are "Russians" only in "foreign" eyes - then Russian Foreign Legion was recruited from "non-Russian" folk preferrably).
Well, he was down by "Spanish" form of influence in 1917 winter & was taken in French custody immediately after that (due to Revolution in Russia).
If you know - many of former Russian officers from Russian Foreign Legion who were released into Russia entered Red Army ranks immediately (Tuchachevsky, Uborevich - for example), because they were greatly despised majority of White Army officers & Entente as well (My granddad explained: "Frenches behaved themselves to us - really awfull. They considered us lower then s..t, naming as "barbarians" & send us in any fighting as "screening force" & "ram" of some sort - we lost very many good guys, because frenches send us in battle without any fire support - our attitude to France was very bad indeed! You can see - Red Army had very big influence of former Russian Foreign Legion Officers after & France till 1941 was considered as "most hateful enemy" by them, but Germany was considered as "fair-playing country" (He liked to repeat very strange stories about his comrades get better treatment in German POW camps of WWI times then from France officials!). He thought - it explained - very soft attitude to Germany from Bolshevik's government - Brest-Litovsk & Rapallo treaties, Ribbenthrop-Molotov & all other stuff.
In any case, - he stayed in France until Russian Civil war was finished, because he didn't like "Whities" at all, but he was "enemy" for most part of "Red" population due to his wrong "social ground". It seems be funny, but after First Emigration wave hit France - he didn't have a wish to stay there, because his strong disagreement with "white" emigrants. By the way - his former military friends ("Red" military officials then) asked him to return into Russia...
Well, he returned. He was one of the seldom educated guys who agreed to work for "Red Government" then he became Minister of Culture in his native "Republic", first Director of local National theatre, Director/Teacher of Russian Language/Literature in most well-known children school, bla-bla-bla... (You can find his name in "Soviet Musical Encyclopedy" as Violinist & Theoretist/Collector of National (Folk) Music). Then there was 1937 & all his former friends died. Then my granddad was inprisoned as well... Then...
New generation of Communist leaders in that region needed good teachers for raising their children as well. My granddad was considered as best - it was reason for his releasing from Stalin' prison in 1940. (He was his ulcer, kidneys & hepaty completely broken by tortures & my grandmother died in prison.)
Well, he explained to me - that he hadn't any choice in that times. He became Director in school & taught Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Geography, Russian Language & Literature simultaneously (teacher ranks were more decimated by Stalin purges then Military ranks - most part of former teachers had "wrong social rooting" in 1937-1939...). He explained that childrem had to get their education in any case - with Stalin or not. "Stalin & his thugs" was one thing, but children education & prospect for future was different. Then it was proper thing for him anyway. Then - it was most natural thing for him to ask permission to enter Red Army in 1941 Summer. As "former political criminal" who had invaluable (for Red Army) "proper military training" (in Czarist Army) he was assigned as commander of "strafbatallion" & send to Moscow region in December of 1941 in "Siberian relieve forces".
He considered himself as very lucky person, because Germans suffered from colds greatly, but he (with his lads) was completely accustomed to -50 winter frosts which are common in Siberia region. He explained that Germans in time of our counter-attack simply died from frost-bites & couldn't shoot at all, because their guns freezed as well as soldiers. It was a reason for his survival "strafbatallion assaulting" in this counter-Drive (usual quota in surviving was 10-15% for "Strafbatallions").
Well, his infinitesmal losses & Red officials overjoy for "saving Moscow" gave him "complete pardon" & chance to became "regular force". More then that - his troops (due to their good resistance to colds) were driven into Karelia (against Finnish Army) & saved themselves from big battles in 1942-1943. Then very good education of my granddad showed again & he was replaced to commander of Howitzer detachement position in 1943 Summer. From this moment he "never saw any living German soldier till end of War"... but he took part in most important battles in any case.
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He never returned to "culture" department, or in Communist Party ranks after his 1939 experience, but he became Doctor of Philosophy instead, Professor of Geography etc, etc, etc... He always was "terminally ill", but he lived until 80-s, speaking that "creaking tree always creaks very long" & considered himself as very happy guy. (Oh, he became "People Teacher of USSR" as well...)
He always said - "Czar, Lenin, Stalin always come & go & blown away gone with wind, but children need their education in any case, then I'm happy man, because I always knew my Duty & Destiny in my Life.
Sincerely yours, Alex