Theodor Ivanovich Nette was a Soviet diplomatic courier of NKID, who died in a terrorist attack on the Soviet train while delivering diplomatic mail to Berlin. Vladimir Mayakovsky published a poem praising his death – "To Comrade Nette, the Man and the Ship" saying he wants to die like Nette.
Biography
Born in Latvia. Son of the shoemaker. Learned German. Joined the Social Democratic Party when he was 17. After World War I broke he and his father was arrested. Imprisoned at Riga Central, later transported to PetrogradKresty Prison. Released in March 1917 and returned to Latvia. Official version says that he worked underground since August 1917 when German troops occupied Riga. Since the beginning of 1918 worked in Petrograd as the secretary of the visa departament of RSFSR Narkomindel, later became a politcommissar of the second battalion of the 1st Red Latvian Riflemen regiment. After Soviet Latvia was declared in 1919 he was appointed as Chairman of the Jelgavarevolutionary tribunal. Participated in the Civil WarSouthern Front. Since 1922 he became an official diplomatic courier of RSFSR Narkomindel. On February 5, 1926 Moscow – Riga train was assaulted between the Ikšķile and Salaspils station. Armed men required the trainman to show courier's compartment and attacked the Soviet trade representative Pecherskiy. Nette and his partner Johann Mahmastal took their guns but failed to close the door. Nette shot first and hits one attacker, but was instantly killed by a headshot. Mahmastal was wounded in the abdomen and right arm. Two attackers were also wounded and retreated, while at least one could escape. Mahmastal stayed in the coupe and guarded the diplomatic cargo until Riga, where USSR Plenipotentiary Officers arrived. Buried at Vagankovo.
The steamship Tver was renamed in his honour. Later his name was given to the two ships of the Soviet Northern SeaSteamship Line consequently – gas-turbine ship of 1963 and the timber ship of 1990. Currently, no ship bears his name.
Nette's daughter, who was only 1-year old at time of father's death, was cared by State.
February 5 became an official remembrance day of fallen diplomatic couriers.
Odessa Film release a film in 1977 named Red Dipcouriers based on the story of the attack on Nette and Mahmastal.
The man and the ship became a strong cliché in Russia after use by Eduard Uspensky's novel Winter in Prostokvashino and in subsequent animation film. In general, the expression refers to someone with 'gravitas'.
