General Segalovich and Stalin

 During the Great Patriotic War, there was a Jewish Lieutenant General in the RedArmy named Segalovich, and Stalin loved to constantly joke with him.

For example, he would say, "Comrade Segalovich, because we lost Kiev to the Nazis, I'm afraid we'll have to shoot you." Or he would say, "Comrade Segalovich, even though our troops have succeeded in taking back Stavropol, because of your past failures, we might have to shoot you." Or he would say, "Comrade Segalovich, what would you say if I told you that we decided to shoot you?"

Every time, Segalovich would become pale and reach for a cyanide pill, and this invariably amused Stalin who then would say, "Don't worry, comrade Segalovich, it was a joke. Go get back to work!" And so it went. 

After the war, there was a banquet in the Kremlin, and Stalin offered toasts. One of them was to General Segalovich. Stalin said, "I drink to the health of our Comrade Segalovich, because General Segalovich is not only a good military specialist, but he also has a good sense of humor."