Russian cartoonist Yefimov dead at 109

MOSCOW, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Russian political cartoonist Boris Yefimov, who was despised by German Nazi despot Adolf Hitler, has died in Moscow at the age of 109, his family says.

During his career, Yefimov created an estimated 70,000 drawings that all worked toward improving his native land, The New York Times reported Sunday.

Despite Hitler vowing to shoot the cartoonist on sight due to his cartoons about the Nazi leader, Yefimov enjoyed a successful art career in Russia for 70 years.

Ironically, among Yefimov's supporters was the late Soviet Union dictator Joseph Stalin, who edited Yefimov's works during his time in power even though the cartoonist blamed him for ordering the execution of his brother, journalist Mikhail Kolstov.

Yefimov once said in an interview that he was dedicated to covering the political world through his drawings.

"When you are a political cartoonist, you have to keep pace with politics," he said.

The Times, who did not identify any survivors for Yefimov, died Wednesday of unspecified causes.