Rudolf Samoylovich

Who was Rudolf Samoylovich?

Rudolf Lazarevich Samoylovich was a Soviet polar explorer, professor, and doctor of geographic sciences.

In 1904, Rudolf Samoylovich graduated from the Mining Academy in Freiberg, Germany. In 1912, he participated in Vladimir Rusanov's geological expedition to Spitsbergen. Rudolf Samoylovich was one of the initiators and the first director of the Northern Research and Trade Expedition. In 1925, this research center was reorganized into the Institute of Northern Studies, headed by Rudolf Samoylovich in 1925-1930. In 1932-1938, he was deputy director of the All-Union Arctic Institute. Rudolf Samoylovich was also the founder and first chairman of the Polar Countries' Department at Leningrad State University. Rudolf Samoylovich was the head of the rescue party on the Krasin icebreaker. Also, he participated in the Graf Zeppelin expedition and headed expeditions on icebreakers Vladimir Rusanov, Georgy Sedov, and Sadko. In 1938, Rudolf Samoylovich was arrested and then executed, most likely some time in 1940. In 1988, he was posthumously rehabilitated.