Wolston-Volfovsky, Ilya E. (31091891)

Ilya E. Wolston-Volfovsky
Personal details
Born	10 May 1918 Starodub, Russia
Died	1984
Nativity	Russia
Religion	Jewish
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Army
ASN	31091891
Rank	Colonel
Rank at Ritchie	Private
Camp Ritchie	Class 10 (23 July – 20 September 1943)
Section	7D

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Ilya E. Wolston-Volfovsky (10 May 1918–1984), also known as Elliott I. Wolston, was a Russian-born Camp Ritchie Class 10 Russian linguist who later worked in occupied Berlin; his name appears on public Venona name lists.

Biography

Ilya E. Wolston-Volfovsky was born on 10 May 1918 in Starodub, Russia. Drafted into the United States Army as a private (ASN 31091891), he became an American citizen and used the name Wolston (also recorded as Elliott I. Wolston). He graduated from Camp Ritchie Class 10 on 20 September 1943 as a Russian linguist and was promoted to technician fourth grade on 27 September 1943.

He was discharged on 11 October 1946. From late 1946 into 1949 he worked as a civilian for the U.S. Occupation administration in Berlin (Public Safety / State Department-related work in research notes). Public historical literature lists Ilya Elliott Wolston among Americans named in the Venona papers; the Wikipedia compilation of that list notes that the extent of any individual’s involvement with Soviet intelligence remains disputed. He died in 1984. Highest rank recorded on the roster page is colonel.

Research notes

• Was Elliott I. Wolston
• Venona: published only the high-confidence public fact that the name Ilya Elliott Wolston appears on standard Venona Americans lists matching this identity (Elliott I. Wolston / ASN 31091891 / Class 10). No speculative espionage narrative added.

Gallery

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Technical record

Field	Imported value
Approx Age at Death	66
Class_ASN	31091891
Class_Name	WOLSTON-VOLFOVSKY, Ilya E.
match_method	asn_exact_name_exact
row_source	both

Timeline

• 10 May 1918 — Born in Starodub, Russia.
• Drafted as Pvt (ASN 31091891); naturalized; used name Wolston.
• 18 May 1943 — Naturalization date noted in prior research timeline.
• 20 September 1943 — Graduated Camp Ritchie Class 10 (Russian linguist).
• 27 September 1943 — Promoted to T/4.
• 11 October 1946 — Discharged; thereafter civilian work in Berlin (OMGUS / State Dept., 1946–1949).
• 1984 — Died.

Sources

• Wikipedia: List of Americans in the Venona papers — entry “Ilya Elliott Wolston” (list compiled largely from Haynes & Klehr; page notes disputes over extent of involvement)
• Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
• Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
• NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
• 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
• Dan Gross, Timeline of Ilya E. Wolston-volfovsky for Camp Ritchie (private research document; 3 source documents reviewed)
• Dan Gross, Timeline of Wolston-volfovsky, Ilya E. for Camp Ritchie (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 3 source files: ILYA E. WOLSTON - 16.doc, ILYA E. WOLSTON - BDE.doc, ILYA E. WOLSTON.doc)