Pavel Kurochkin

Pavel Alekseyevich Kurochkin
Born	19 November 1900 Gornevo,Smolensk Governorate,Russian Empire
Died	28 December 1989(1989-12-28)(aged 89) Moscow,Soviet Union
Allegiance	Soviet Union
Years of service	1918–1970
Rank	Army General
Commands held	23rd Rifle Corps 17th Army 20th Army 43rd Army 11th Army 34th Army North-Western Front 2nd Belorussian Front 60th Army Kuban Military District
Battles/wars	Russian Civil War, World War II: Battle of Smolensk, Toropets-Kholm Operation, Korsun-Shevchenkovsky operation, Lvov-Sandomierz operation
Awards	Hero of the Soviet Union
Other work	Chairman of the Supreme Military Council of theWarsaw Pact Deputy to the Supreme Soviet

Pavel Alekseyevich Kurochkin(Russian:Па́вел Алексе́евич Ку́рочкин;19 November 1900 [O.S.6 November] – 28 December 1989) was aSovietarmy commander.

Military career

Pavel Kurochkin was born in the village ofGornevo,Smolensk Governorate.He joined theRed Armyin 1918. Kurochkin completed cavalry courses inPetrogradin 1920, the year when he also joined theRussian Communist Party (Bolsheviks).He graduated from the Red Army High Cavalry school in 1923, theFrunze Military Academyin 1932 and theGeneral Staff Academyin 1940.

Russian Civil War

During the Civil War, Kurochkin saw action against GeneralPyotr KrasnovnearGatchina,theBritish-American interventionin the north and GeneralNikolai Yudenichin 1919. He commanded a cavalry regiment in thePolish-Soviet warand was involved in the suppression of theTambov Rebellionin 1921.

Inter-war period

In 1935 he was promoted to chief commander of a cavalry division. After theSoviet-Finnish warbroke out, he took over as the commanding officer of23rd Rifle Corps.From 1940 to 1941, he served as commander-in-chief of the 1st Army Group inMongolia,commanding officer of the17th Armyin Mongolia, commander-in-chief of theTransbaikal Military Districtand commander-in-chief of theOrel Military District.

World War II

In July 1941 he was given command of the20th Armywhich participated in the unsuccessfuldefenseofSmolensk.

He briefly held the command of the43rd Armyin August 1941 until his promotion to commander-in-chief of theNorth-Western Front.He held that post until October 1942, when he was moved to command theSoviet 11th Armyand then the34th Army.He was again placed in command of theNorth-Western Frontfrom July to November 1943. It was during this time that Kurochkin commanded theToropets-Kholm Operation.

From December 1943 until February 1944, he was the first deputy commander-in-chief of theFirst Ukrainian Frontunder MarshalKonevand was remembered for his planning of the bloodyKorsun–Shevchenkovsky Offensive.

From February to April 1944, he commanded the units of theSecond Belorussian Front.His last assignment of the war would be commanding the60th Armyfrom April 1944 through May 1945 which took part in theLvov-Sandomierz operationand fought inCentral Europe.For all his merits and achievements, Kurochkin was awarded with the highest Soviet honor,Hero of the Soviet Union.

Post-war career

Immediately after the war, Kurochkin briefly headed theKuban Military Districtuntil his appointment in 1946 as first deputy commander-in-chief of theSoviet Military Administration in Germany.After his tour in East Germany ended in 1947, he took over as an assistant commander-in-chief of theFar Eastern Military District.

From 1951 to 1968, Kurochkin served in military academies, first at the Military Academy of the General Staff and later as the Commandant of theFrunze Military Academy.In 1968, he became the chairman of the Supreme Command of the United Military Forces of theWarsaw Pact.Kurochkin finished his military career as a general inspector of the Ministry of Defense. He went on to become a deputy of theSupreme Soviet of the USSRand was awarded with theOrder of Leninin 1980. Kurochkin died inMoscowin 1989.

Honours and awards

• Hero of the Soviet Union
• FiveOrders of Lenin
• Order of the October Revolution
• FourOrders of the Red Banner
• Order of Suvorov1st class
• TwoOrders of Kutuzov1st class
• Order of the Patriotic War1st class
• Order of the Badge of Honour
• Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR3rd class
• Jubilee Medal "In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary since the Birth of Vladimir Il'ich Lenin"
• Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945"
• Jubilee Medal "Twenty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
• Jubilee Medal "Thirty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
• Jubilee Medal "Forty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
• Medal "For the Liberation of Prague"
• Medal "Veteran of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
• Jubilee Medal "XX Years of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army"
• Jubilee Medal "30 Years of the Soviet Army and Navy"
• Jubilee Medal "40 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
• Jubilee Medal "50 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
• Jubilee Medal "60 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
• Jubilee Medal "70 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"

References

• (in Russian)Bioat people.ru (This article includes translated materials)