Alexander Gelver
U.S. defector to the Soviet Union
About Alexander Gelver
Lived 1914 – 1938 (aged 23–24).
Alexander Gelver (born Helver, 1914 – January 1, 1938) was an American defector to the Soviet Union who was taken there by his parents. Gelver was originally from Oshkosh, Wisconsin. At 24 years old, he wanted to return to the United States. He was stopped by Soviet police outside the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. On New Year's Day 1938, he was executed.
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Alexander Gelver's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Alexander Gelver?
U.S. defector to the Soviet Union (1914–1938)
When was Alexander Gelver born?
Alexander Gelver was born in 1914 in Oshkosh.
When did Alexander Gelver die?
Alexander Gelver died in 1938.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Alexander Gelver. https://biography.guide/alexander-gelver/
MLA: "Alexander Gelver." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/alexander-gelver/.
Chicago: "Alexander Gelver." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/alexander-gelver/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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