German Tarasov
German Fyodorovich Tarasov | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Native name | Герман Фёдорович Тарасов |
| Born | 29 March [O.S. 16 March] 1906 Mokrousovo, Mokrousovsky volost, Yalutorovsky Uyezd, Tobolsk Governorate, Russian Empire |
| Died | 19 October 1944 (aged 38) Kisújszállás, Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok County, Hungary |
| Allegiance | Soviet Union |
| Service/ |
|
| Years of service | 1925–1944 |
| Rank | Major general |
| Commands held |
|
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |
|
German Fyodorovich Tarasov (Russian: Ге́рман Фёдорович Тара́сов; 29 March [O.S. 16 March] 1906 – 19 October 1944) was a Red Army major general during World War II.
An officer in the
7th Guards Army during the rest of the year. After the 53rd Army's commander was wounded in December, he briefly took command of the army but was demoted again to deputy commander in January 1944. Tarasov was killed in action during the Battle of Debrecen
in October of that year.
Early life and interwar period
Tarasov was born on 29 March 1906 in the village of
OGPU Troops at Sverdlovsk. In November he transferred to the 113th Separate Battalion of the OGPU Troops there, serving as a platoon commander and battalion adjutant. In March 1932, Tarasov became chief of the school of junior commanders of the 29th Regiment of the OGPU Troops in Magnitogorsk. He studied at the Frunze Military Academy from April 1934 to October 1937, graduating with honors and a 1st degree diploma.[1]
After his graduation, Tarasov was sent to the 14th
Pleshchenitsy Border Detachment of the NKVD Troops to serve as its chief of staff. From August 1938, he served in the Headquarters of the Border Troops of the Belorussian District in Minsk as chief of the 1st Section of the 3rd Department. In March 1939, he became chief of the 2nd Department, and in September was involved in the Soviet invasion of Poland in this post.[1] In 1940 he became chief of staff of the Transbaikal border detachment.[2]
World War II
Following the beginning of
Toropets–Kholm Offensive, capturing Andreapol and Toropets. For its "courage and heroism", the division was converted into the 16th Guards Rifle Division and awarded the Order of Lenin on 16 February 1942. Tarasov was also awarded the Order of Lenin. In February, the division fought in the Demyansk Offensive, capturing the settlements of Nizhny Sekachi, Verkhne Sekachi, and Kamenka in fierce fighting.[2]
In April, Tarasov became acting commander of an Operational Group of the Kalinin Front's
Central Front, holding positions on the line of Samolurovka and Maloarkhangelsk.[2] In late February and March, it fought in the Dmitriyev-Sevsk Offensive. The offensive bogged down against German resistance and he was dismissed at Konstantin Rokossovsky's request.[6]
In March, Tarasov was appointed commander of the
Kotovsk, Odessa Oblast.[2]
Awards
Tarasov received the following awards and decorations:[2]
- Order of Lenin
- Order of the Red Banner
- Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky, 1st class
- Order of the Patriotic War, 1st class
- Order of the Red Star (2)
References
Citations
- ^ a b Tsapayev & Goremykin 2014, pp. 584–586.
- ^ a b c d e f Vozhakin 2005, p. 224.
- ^ a b Beloborodov 1963, p. 502.
- ^ Glantz 1999, p. 29.
- ^ Glantz 1999, p. 249.
- ^ Beshanov 2008, p. 238.
Bibliography
- Beloborodov, Afanasy, ed. (1963). Военные кадры Советского государства в Великой Отечественной войне 1941 – 1945 гг [Military Leaders of the Soviet State in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945] (in Russian). Moscow: Voenizdat.
- Beshanov, Vladimir (2008). Год 1943 - "переломный" [Year 1943: The Turning Point] (in Russian). Moscow: Yauza. ISBN 978-5-699-27993-7.
- Glantz, David M. (1999). Zhukov's Greatest Defeat: The Red Army's Epic Disaster in Operation Mars, 1942. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas. ISBN 0-7006-0944-X.
- Tsapayev, D.A.; et al. (2014). Великая Отечественная: Комдивы. Военный биографический словарь [The Great Patriotic War: Division Commanders. Military Biographical Dictionary] (in Russian). Vol. 5. Moscow: Kuchkovo Pole. ISBN 978-5-9950-0457-8.
- Vozhakin, Mikhail Georgievich, ed. (2005). Великая Отечественная. Командармы. Военный биографический словарь [The Great Patriotic War: Army Commanders: Military Biographical Dictionary] (in Russian). Moscow: Kuchkovo Pole. ISBN 5860901135.