Vasily Ivanovich Petrov

Vasily Petrov (2011)

Vasily Ivanovich Petrow ( Russian Василий Иванович Петров ; * January 2, ^July / January 15,  1917 ^{greg. In} the village of Chornolesskoje in the Stavropol Governorate ; † February 1, 2014 in Moscow ) was a marshal of the Soviet Union .

Life

Petrov lost his father, Ivan Vasilievich Petrov, at an early age. He was raised by his mother, Praskovia Makarovna Petrowa, and was often with his grandfather, a stove fitter, who often took him to his work and aroused Petrow's interest in manual labor. In 1935 he finished the ten-grade school. Since his interest was now in pedagogical work, he began a teacher training at the pedagogical technical center. After completing his training, he taught at the facility for two years and then wanted to begin studying at a pedagogical institute.

Second World War

He did not study because Petrov, like many other teachers and fellow students, was drafted into the army in 1939. He began his service as a cavalry soldier . This was followed by studies at the regimental school and after graduation he was employed as a group commander. In a short period of time he developed leadership qualities that were recognized with the "Best of the Red Army " award, which was rarely given at the time . In 1941, with the beginning of the Great Patriotic War , he finished short-term courses in training to become a second lieutenant and was then immediately deployed to the front. He was wounded in the fighting for Odessa and evacuated to a military hospital in Sochi . After his recovery he was used as platoon leader within the 193rd Cavalry Regiment, which belonged to the 72nd Cuban Cossack Cavalry Division . This unit was deployed on the Kerch Peninsula in the Battle of the Caucasus on the North Caucasian Front and joined the 40th Mechanized Infantry Brigade , in which Petrov was first appointed as the deputy squadron commander, then as chief of staff of the mechanized infantry battalion and later as Commander of a machine gun battalion or deputy to the chief of staff for operational work. Captain Petrov's excellent military performance in these battles was recognized in 1942 when he was awarded the Order of the Red Star, and in February 1943, in the Russian counter-offensive, he assumed the role of battalion commander. In May 1943 Petrov became chief of the operational department of the 38th Rifle Division and took part in the liberation of Kiev . In April 1944, troops were sent to the rear of the front to tie up German- Romanian units. When communication with them was broken, Major Petrov was ordered to investigate the situation. He recognized their hopelessness and withdrew the battalion. For this military achievement he was awarded the Order of the Great Patriotic War . In the same year, Petrov joined the CPSU . From January 1945 he studied in crash courses at the military academy MW Frunze and continued his studies in a three-year main course from May 1945 after the victory of the Red Army.

post war period

Petrov was deployed in the Far Eastern Military District and from 1948 to 1953 he was Deputy Chief of the Operations Department of the 1st Army Staff. From June 1953 to December 1955 he was commander of the 50th Rifle Regiment, from December 1955 to January 1957 Chief of Staff of the 39th Rifle Division and from January 1957 to July 1961 commander of the 129th Mechanized Rifle Division. In 1961 he was promoted to major general . From July 1961 to June 1964 he was Chief of Staff of the Army, then until January 1966 Commander-in-Chief of the 5th Army. In May 1969, Petrov graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff and then returned to his military district. Until April 1972 he was Chief of Staff and 1st Deputy Commander in Chief and until May 1976 Commander in Chief of the Far Eastern Military District.

In May 1976, a new stage in Petrov's service began. He was ordered to Moscow to take on the role of 1st Deputy Commander in Chief of the Land Forces. But after two years he had to go back to the east of the Soviet Union , where he was given the duties of Commander-in-Chief of the Far Eastern Armed Forces. In December 1980, Petrov returned to Moscow. He now performed the duties of the Commander-in-Chief of the Land Forces of the USSR - Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR, and from January 1985 the 1st Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR. On February 16, 1982, on the instructions of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, he was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union for "the great contribution to establishing and increasing the combat readiness of the armed forces, courage and bravery in performing special tasks during the Great Patriotic War". On March 23, 1983, Petrov was appointed Marshal of the Soviet Union and in July 1986 to the group of Inspectors General.

Petrov was a member of the Central Committee of the CPSU from 1976 to 1989 and a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR from 1974 to 1989 . He lived in Moscow until his death.

Awards

• Hero of the Soviet Union with the presentation of the Order of Lenin and the "Golden Star" medal (February 16, 1982)
• Alexander Nevsky Order (February 24, 2012)
• Order of Lenin (4x: 1967, 1978, 1982, 1987)
• Order of the October Revolution (1974)
• Order of the Red Banner (1944)
• Order of the Red Star (2x: 1942, 1955)
• Order of the Patriotic War 1st class (2x: 1944, 1985)
• Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class (1943)
• Order "For the service at home in the armed forces of the USSR" 3rd class (1976)
• 13 other orders of the USSR and 16 orders and medals from other countries

Web links

Commons : Wassili Iwanowitsch Petrow  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ПЕТРОВ Василий Иванович , biography , accessed on May 10, 2010 (Russian)
2. ↑ ^{a b} Heroes of the Country, Петров Василий Иванович , accessed on May 11, 2010 (Russian)