Muller Ruvin Zusmanovich (1912)

Muller Ruvin (Ruwin) Zusmanovich (1912, Riga) — wood-processing specialist.

Ruvin Muller was the son of Zusman Muller (1880, Riga — 1929, Riga) and Sara Muller (née Medalie) (1880(?), Riga(?) — 1941, Riga). In 1926 he completed six grades of a basic school in Riga. In 1926–1927 he studied at the Riga Jewish Gymnasium. In 1926 he joined an illegal school revolutionary circle, took part in the creation of the Riga Pioneer organization, and in 1929 joined the underground Komsomol of Latvia. He was repeatedly detained by the political police of Riga.

In 1928 he worked as a grader (quality inspector) at the Liburkin and Mintz firm in Riga. In 1928–1931 he was a grader at the firm “Shmulovich, Yavich and Isyemin.” In 1932–1934 and 1935–1939 he worked as a grader at Gurevich’s firm. In 1934–1935 he served in the Latvian Army in a labor platoon for politically unreliable conscripts. From 1936 he was a member of MOPR (International Organization for Aid to Revolutionary Fighters). In 1939–1940 he worked as a grader at Milman’s firm. In 1940–1941 he was a commodities expert at the Exportles enterprise.

By decision of the Kirov District Komsomol Committee of Riga, he was assigned to trade-union work and appointed head of the cultural and propaganda department of the Woodworkers’ Trade Union. He volunteered for the front, and in 1941–1942 fought in the 201st Latvian Rifle Division. During the liberation of the town of Borovsk he was seriously wounded and, after recovery, demobilized.

In 1942–1944 he was head of the radio center in the settlement of Kareli within the Georgian radio network. Despite the suspension of the local power station in 1942, Muller ensured uninterrupted operation of the radio center by switching it to battery power, which he transported for recharging to the post office in the city of Gori. Thanks to his work, the Kareli radio center operated continuously throughout the war. Using local telephone networks, he provided radio coverage to all collective and state farms of the district.

In 1944–1945 he was head of a radio workshop at the DRTS of the Latvian SSR. In 1945–1948 he headed a department at the Latfanspichtrust enterprise. In 1948–1952 he was head of a department at Latsevles. In 1952–1953 he was head of a workshop at the Rosiba artel. In 1958–1964 he worked as master, shop manager, technical-control engineer, senior engineer, and head of the planning department at the Riga Wood-Processing Plant. In 1964–1972 he was a senior engineer at the Riga plywood plant “Milgravis.” In 1966 he graduated from the Riga Construction Technical School. In 1972–1974 he was a master at the Riga Wood-Processing Plant. In 1974–1976 he worked as a master at the Latvian Plywood Production Association. From 1976 he worked as an electrician at the Silava Scientific Production Association.

Ruvin Muller was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class, and the medals “For Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–45,” “For Valiant Labor in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–45,” “20 Years of Victory over Germany,” “30 Years of Victory over Germany,” “Veteran of Labor,” and “For Services to the National Economy.” His contributions to the development of lumber-drying technology were officially recognized. His works were published in Latvia and throughout the USSR. In 1984 he was recognized as the best rationalizer at the Latvian Research Institute of Agricultural Problems.

During the Holocaust, his mother and his sister, Rashel (Muller) Zandberg (1908, Riga — 1941, Riga), were killed. His brothers Moses Muller (1911, Riga — 1941) and Chaim Muller (1914, Riga — 1941) died heroically on the fronts of the Second World War.

In marriage with Shura Biniashvili (1916, Kareli District, Georgian SSR — 1971, Tbilisi; marriage dissolved), two children were born: Mira (née Muller) Maizlina (1943, Kareli District, Georgian SSR) and Mikhail Muller (1948, Riga). In a second marriage with Galina Kirillova (1923, Riga), a daughter was born: Olga Krivyan (née Muller) (1958, Riga).

Family:

Shura Biniashvili (1916, Kareli District, Georgian SSR — 1971, Tbilisi) — first wife
Mira Maizlina (née Muller) (1943, Kareli District, Georgian SSR) — daughter
Mikhail Muller (1948, Riga) — son
Galina Kirillova (1923, Riga) — second wife
Olga Krivyan (née Muller) (1958, Riga) — daughter
Zusman Muller (1880, Riga — 1929, Riga) — father
Sara Muller (née Medalie) (1880, Riga — 1941, Riga) — mother
Pinkhos Muller (1907, Riga) — brother
Moses Muller (1911, Riga — 1941) — brother
Chaim Muller (1914, Riga — 1941) — brother
Rashel Zandberg (née Muller) (1908, Riga — 1941, Riga) — sister