What did Stalin say after his son was captured by the Germans?

I want to say it was something to the effect of "I don't have a son" or something like that.

Thanks!

~Chip

I wan't able to find the exact quote, but I would not be surprised if he had said that. I did find the following:

July 16, 1941
Stalin's first son Jacob (by his first wife), fighting as a lieutenant in the Red Army, is captured by the Germans in the fighting around Smolensk.
Stalin treated his son, so badly that he attempted suicide. When Jacob was taken prisoner by the Germans during World War II, Stalin refused a German offer to exchange his son


Tom

Stalin's oldest son was maned Yakov, and when Stalin was informed that his son had been captured, Stalin replied "I have no son named Yakov" at least I believe that was the quote. Yakov died in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp in 1943.

I concur, but one of the few... if ever times I will defend Stalin...this was absolutely the right thing to say and do

Steve,
How do you mean-- that he didn't put his son above other soldiers? That I agree with as well...although it seemed that Stalin didn't value his soldiers all that much to begin with
Interesting topic....

Sean

Hey Sean,

I know this thred is kinda old...last post was on the 11th?! but, I think Steve I agree with Steve on this. If Stalin said that he wasn't his son, he might get 'better' treatment than if the Germans knew for sure that he was his son.
I can only imagine the things that the Germans could/would have done to make an example or do otherwise to to him.
Anyone know if he got any "special" treatment while in captivity?

- (another) Steve

Steve,
Better late than never!
I can see where you are coming from...if the Germans knew they had Stalin's son...that could be very bad..propaganda-wise...and a blow to the Russian people.

Sean

well not just that, but there wsa also the matter of Stalins executive order that said the wives of Soviet prisoners would go to the Gulag, and the prisoners themselves would be shot as soon as they either were liberated or the war was over and they returned IIRC. Perhaps he didnt want to have to follow through and order his own son's execution.

sure true, but this wasnt why stalin said 'i have no son yakov' (however he said it) surrender was often considered 'traiting' in the Red Army, especially by 'the officers.