Stepan Chernyak
Stepan Ivanovich Chernyak | |
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 Chernyak, 1940 | |
| Born | 25 December 1899 Chernevichi, Borisovsky Uyezd, Minsk Governorate, Russian Empire |
| Died | 20 July 1976 (aged 76) Krasnodar, Soviet Union |
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| Service/ | |
| Years of service |
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| Rank | General-mayor |
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| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Hero of the Soviet Union |
Stepan Ivanovich Chernyak (Russian: Степан Иванович Черняк; 25 December 1899 – 20 July 1976) was a Soviet Army general and Hero of the Soviet Union who held field army and division command during World War II, rising to the rank of general-leytenant.
A veteran of World War I and the Russian Civil War, Chernyak rose through command positions in the interwar Red Army, serving as a military advisor in the Spanish Civil War. Made a Hero of the Soviet Union for his leadership of the 136th Rifle Division during the Winter War, Chernyak commanded the 44th Army in the Battle of the Kerch Peninsula, but after the defeat in Crimea he was demoted and remained a division commander for the rest of the war, which he ended as a general-mayor. His career stagnated postwar and he retired in the late 1950s.
Early life, World War I and Russian Civil War
A Belorussian, Stepan Ivanovich Chernyak was born on 25 December 1899 in the village of Chernevichi, Borisovsky Uyezd, Minsk Governorate. Conscripted into the Imperial Russian Army in January 1917, Chernyak was enlisted as a ryadovoy in a reserve regiment in Voronezh. In May he was sent to the Southwestern Front with a marching company, where he fought as a gunner in the Colt Machine Gun Detachment of the 28th Polotsk Infantry Regiment of the 10th Infantry Division.[1]
During the
Interwar period
After the end of the war, the regiment joined the 25th Rifle Regiment of the
From April 1932 Chernyak served as an instructor at the Training Center for the Preparation of Reserve Command Personnel of the
World War II
After the German invasion of the Soviet Union began, Chernyak's corps defended the Black Sea coast. In late July the 46th Army was formed from the corps, and Chernyak appointed its commander. After finishing its formation, from 23 August, the army covered the Soviet-Turkish border and the Black Sea coast as part of the Transcaucasus Front. Chernyak was appointed commander of the Separate Coastal Army on 13 December, simultaneously serving as assistant commander of the Black Sea Fleet for infantry. Under his command, the army took part in the defense of Sevastopol. Chernyak was transferred to command the 44th Army of the Crimean Front on 8 February 1942, taking command as it fought in the Battle of the Kerch Peninsula. After the defeat of the Soviet troops on the peninsula the remnants of the army were evacuated to the Taman Peninsula. For the defeat in Crimea, Chernyak was relieved of command by a Stavka directive on 29 May 1942, and in early June demoted to colonel.[1]
Chernyak commanded the
Chernyak took command of the 162nd RD of the front's
Postwar
After the end of the war, Chernyak after the disbandment of the division in June and July was placed at the disposal of the
Decorations
Chernyak was a recipient of the following decorations: [1]
- Order of Lenin (3)
- Order of the Red Banner (3)
- Order of Suvorov, 2nd class (2)
- Order of Kutuzov, 2nd class
- Order of the Cross of Grunwald, 3rd class (Polish People's Republic)
- Cross of Valour (Polish People's Republic)
References
Citations
Bibliography
- 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.