Kuzma Parfyonov
Kuzma Dmitryevich Parfyonov | |
---|---|
Born | 14 November 1907 Chistopol, Kazan Governorate, Russian Empire |
Died | 15 January 1987 Solnechnogorsk, Soviet Union | (aged 79)
Allegiance | Soviet Union |
Service/ | Red Army (Soviet Army from 1946) |
Years of service |
|
Rank | Major general |
Commands held | |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Order of Lenin |
Kuzma Dmitryevich Parfyonov (Russian: Кузьма Дмитриевич Парфёнов; 14 November 1907 – 15 January 1987) was a Soviet Army major general who held divisional commands during World War II.
Parfyonov rose through command and staff positions in the prewar Red Army, and was imprisoned for a year during the Great Purge. Being freed in 1939, he was a regimental chief of staff when Germany invaded the Soviet Union. Parfyonov spent much of the war with the 4th Guards Rifle Division, serving as chief of its operations section, a regimental commander, and deputy commander through near-constant combat on the Eastern Front. After serving as deputy commander of the 34th Guards Rifle Division from summer 1943, he returned to command the 4th Guards Rifle Division in spring 1944, leading it until the end of the war. Parfyonov continued to hold division commands postwar before ending his career in the 1950s in training roles.
Early life and prewar service
A Russian, Kuzma Dmitryevich Parfyonov was born on 14 November 1907 in the town of
From February 1938 he temporarily served as chief of staff of the regiment, but on 4 June was arrested by the NKVD during the
World War II
After Germany invaded the Soviet Union, the division was sent to the Western Front and assigned to the 20th Army, defending in the region of Lyudovichi and Kiseli in Smolensk Oblast. From mid-July the division attacked to capture Rudnya during the Battle of Smolensk. During the fighting, Parfyonov, then a captain, was evaluated as having displayed "fine organizational abilities, courage and heroism. He skillfully directed the subunits of the regiment through the staff."[1] He was wounded in action that month.[3]
In August, Parfyonov was appointed chief of the Operations Staff Section of the
Parfyonov was appointed commander of the division's 11th Guards Rifle Regiment on 27 February 1942, replacing
Parfyonov, then a colonel, was transferred to serve as deputy commander for the combat units of the 5th Shock Army's
On 3 September 1943 during the offensive of units of the corps on the city of Ordzhonikidze, Stalino Oblast, Comrade Parfyonov was ordered to command the forward mobile detachments of the corps, which had the task of suddenly bursting into the city, creating panic and cutting the path of the enemy's retreat, furthering with this the movement of the main forces of the corps, and developing the success to take the city.
Comrade Parfyonov fully accomplished the assigned objectives, being personally with the combat units of the detachments, skillfully organized combined arms cooperation and directed the fighting of the detachments. Comrade Parfyonov, with the detachment of the 34th Guards Rifle Division, was first to burst into the city, reached the western outskirts of the city to cut the path of the enemy's retreat and captured an artillery battalion consisting of 14 guns.
The operations of the detachments furthered the successful advance and the units of the corps took the city of Ordzhonikidze without loss...
For skillful leadership of the detachments and displaying in this personal courage he is deserving of the award of the Order of the Red Banner.
Between 5 December 1943 and 5 January 1944 Parfyonov temporarily commanded the division, while it was assigned to the
Comrade Parfyonov finely organized the preparation of the operation to break through the German-Romanian defense on the Dniester, successfully carrying out the breakthrough and pursuit of the beaten enemy. The units of the 4th Guards Rifle Division were the first to force a crossing of the Prut, and captured significant trophies, both on the left and right banks of the river. Discipline in the division was maintained at the required level. The operations of the units were correctly directed, cooperation organized well...Guards Colonel Parfyonov, for his correct and courageous leadership, is deserving of the state award of the Order of Suvorov, 2nd class.
The division was transferred to the 4th Guards Army on 11 November, taking part in the Budapest offensive. Parfyonov's division forced a crossing of the Danube on 2 December and by 29 December was one of the first units to link up with troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front in the Esztergom region, strengthening the outer Budapest encirclement ring. In January 1945 the division took part the defense against German attempts to relieve Budapest. Under the pressure of superior German forces the 4th Guards Rifle Division was forced to retreat, stopping the German advance near Bicske. For his performance in the Budapest Offensive, Parfyonov was recommended for another Order of the Red Banner by Bobruk, which he was awarded on 4 March. The recommendation read:[3]
During the period of the conduct of the operation of the corps beyond the Danube, the 4th Guards Rifle Division, being the lead division of the corps, skillfully carried out battles to reduce the enemy defenses on the right bank of the Danube and on the enemy's heels quickly came up to the second enemy defensive line on the line of Lakes Velence and Balaton, inflicting great losses in personnel and equipment on the enemy...
During the breakthrough of the second defensive line at Lake Velence Colonel Parfyonov employed a bold maneuver, sending one regiment through the marshes of Lake Velence, inflicting a strike into the enemy flank and rear, breaking the resistance of the enemy and in several hours excellently accomplished the assigned objectives for the day. Subsequently, he finely organized the cooperation of infantry with tanks and artillery, breaking the enemy resistance, capturing the city of Esztergrom together with tanks, severing the enemy's last line of retreat to the west.
During the retreat battles of the corps from the line of Neszmély and Tata, the division, defending on a broad front, held back the strong strike of enemy tank units and skillfully maneuvering, covered the main axis to Budapest.
For skillful organization of battle and control in battle, and also for displaying courage and valor, Colonel Parfyonov is deserving of the state award of the Order of the Red Banner.
The division assisted in the breakthrough of fortified defenses between
Postwar
Postwar, Parfyonov continued to command the division. In March 1947 he was sent to the Higher Academic Courses at the
Awards
Parfyonov was a recipient of the following awards:[1]
- Order of Lenin
- Order of the Red Banner (4)
- Order of Suvorov, 2nd class
- Order of Kutuzov, 2nd class
- Order of the Patriotic War, 1st class (6 April 1985 for the 40th anniversary of the victory in World War II)
- Order of the Partisan Star, 1st class (Yugoslavia)
- Order of 9 September 1944, 2nd class (Bulgaria)
References
Citations
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Tsapayev & Goremykin 2015, pp. 1123–1125.
- ISBN 978-5-94113-040-5.
- ^ a b "Парфенов Кузьма Дмитриевич: Орден Красного Знамени". Pamyat Naroda (in Russian). 4 March 1945.
- ^ Kadyrov 1985, p. 27.
- ^ Kadyrov 1985, p. 52.
- ^ Kadyrov 1985, p. 78.
- ^ "Парфенов Кузьма Дмитриевич: Орден Красного Знамени". Pamyat Naroda (in Russian). 1943.
- ^ Kadyrov 1985, pp. 115–116.
- ^ "Парфенов Кузьма Дмитриевич: Орден Суворова II степени". Pamyat Naroda (in Russian).
- ^ "О присвоении воинских званий офицерскому составу и генералам Красной Армии" (PDF). Krasnaya Zvezda (in Russian). 20 April 1945. p. 2.
- ^ Kadyrov 1985, p. 471.
Bibliography
- Kadyrov, N. Z. (1985). От Минска до Вены: Боевой путь 4-й гвардейской стрелковой Апостоловско-Венской Краснознаменной дивизии [From Minsk to Vienna: The Combat Path of the 4th Guards Apostolovo-Vienna Red Banner Rifle Division] (in Russian). Moscow: Voenizdat. OCLC 609329268.
- Tsapayev, D.A.; et al. (2015). Великая Отечественная: Комдивы. Военный биографический словарь [The Great Patriotic War: Division Commanders. Military Biographical Dictionary] (in Russian). Vol. 4. Moscow: Kuchkovo Pole. ISBN 978-5-9950-0602-2.