Korvin-Piotrovskiĭ, Vladimir Lʹvovich, 1901-

Vladimir L'vovich Korvin-Piotrovskii was born May 15, 1891 in Kiev. After serving in World War I and the White Army, he crossed through Poland and made his way to Berlin around 1920. In Berlin, Korvin-Piotrovskii was active in the Russian emigre literary community, befriending IUrii Ofrosimov and Vladimir Sirin (Nabokov). He was a member of the Berlin Poets' Club, a group of Russian emigre poets founded by Mikhail Gorlin. In addition to Korvin-Piotrovskii, Ofrosimov and Sirin, members included Raisa Blokh and Sofiia Pregel'. Vladimir and Nina Korvin-Piotrovskii left Germany for France before World War II began. During the war, Korvin-Piotrovskii was active in the French Resistance movement and was subsequently arrested and imprisoned. Vladimir and Nina Korvin-Piotrovskii were close friends with Italian sculptor Italo Griselli and his wife Leila and visited them many times in Italy. In 1961 the Korvin-Piotrovskii family moved to Los Angeles, California, where Vladimir Korvin-Piotrovskii died on April 2, 1966 and Nina Korvin-Piotrovskaia died in 1975.

From the description of Vladimir Korvin-Piotrovskii papers, 1899-1973. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702153041

Vladimir L'vovich Korvin-Piotrovskii was born May 15, 1892 in Kiev. His place of birth is sometimes identified as the Ukranian town of Bila Tserkva, where Korvin-Piotrovskii spent much of his childhood. During Word War I, Korvin-Piotrovskii served in the White Army as an artillery officer. After being taken prisoner and barely escaping execution, he crossed through Poland and made his way to Berlin around 1920.

In Berlin, Korvin-Piotrovskii became active in the Russian emigre literary community. There he met IUrii Ofrosimov and Vladimir Sirin (Nabokov). He also became involved with the Berlin Poets' Club, a group of Russian emigre poets founded by Mikhail Gorlin. In addition to Ofrosimov, Korvin-Piotrovskii and Sirin, members included Raisa Blokh, Nina Korvin-Piotrovskaia (née Kaplun), Vera Nabokov, and Sofiia Pregel'.

Vladimir and Nina Korvin-Piotrovskii left Germany before World War II began. Nina Korvin-Piotrovskaia worked at the French Embassy in Berlin and they were able to travel to Paris with embassy staff. During World War II, Korvin-Piotrovskii was active in the French Resistance movement. He was arrested and imprisoned for approximately eight months in 1944. His fellow prisoners included the French writer André Frossard, whose memoir La maison des otages documents this time period.

Vladimir and Nina Korvin-Piotrovskii were close friends with Italo and Leila Griselli and visited them many times in Italy. Italo Griselli, a sculptor, made busts of both Vladimir and Nina Korvin-Piotrovskii.

In 1961 the family moved to Los Angeles, California, where Vladimir Korvin-Piotrovskii died on April 2, 1966 and Nina Korvin-Piotrovskaia died in 1975. They had one son, Andre De Korvin, born in 1935.

From the guide to the Vladimir Korvin-Piotrovskiĭ papers, 1899-1973, (Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library)