Fanny Kaplan 1890 – 1918

Biography

Fanny Kaplan was born on February 10, 1890, in Novichi during a turbulent period in Russian history. Little is widely documented about her early life, yet her name would become marked by one of the most consequential moments in the Russian Revolution. She lived during an era of profound social upheaval and political division, when ideological conflicts shaped the destinies of millions across the vast Russian Empire.

On September 3, 1918, Kaplan was executed by shooting in Moscow at the age of twenty-eight. Her death marked the end of a brief but historically significant life, one that became intertwined with the pivotal events of her time. Though records of her burial were not preserved, her place in history remained indelible.

Fanny Kaplan’s story reflects the intensity and tragedy of the revolutionary period in which she lived, a time when individuals were drawn into violent currents larger than themselves. Her life, though short, became embedded in the historical narratives of Russia’s most transformative century.