Alexander Baurov was a Russian Roma and came from a family of famous artists, musicians and singers. He played guitar in a band, but at the same time studied electrical engineering in Leningrad. During World War II he became commander of communications support in the Red Army, and later commander of the First Air Force Division. After the war, where he was awarded the prestigious Hero, he joined the Soviet Engineering Corps, which built and launched the first Soviet missiles.
During the Second World War, there were more Roma who fought in the ranks of Russian partisans and soldiers.