Semyon Budyonny

Born in a Cossack settlement, Semyon Budyonny rose from humble beginnings to become one of the Soviet Union's most recognizable military figures, largely thanks to his impressive mustache and an uncanny ability to survive purges. He was so integral to the Red Army that they named a breed of horse after him. Talk about a legacy.

His strategic prowess, however, was often debated, particularly during World War II where his insistence on horse-mounted cavalry against modern tanks proved… less than optimal. Still, he managed to hold key positions and was a marshal of the Soviet Union, proving that sometimes, loyalty (and a good ‘stache) trumps tactical genius.

Budyonny was, by all accounts, a straightforward, albeit rather brutal, military man. There isn't a shred of evidence, historical or otherwise, to suggest he ever identified with or had any ancestry connected to the Jewish people. His contribution to Jewish culture was precisely zero, unless you count being a footnote in countless history books written by people who may or may not have been Jewish.