Pyotr Kirillovich Koshevoy (Ukrainian: Петро Кирилович Кошовий; Russian: Пётр Кириллович Кошевой; 21 December[O.S. 8 December]1904 – 30 August 1976) was a Soviet military commander and a Marshal of the Soviet Union.
Koshevoy commanded the 63rd Rifle Corps during the Crimean Offensive, then transferred to command the 71st Rifle Corps before leading the 36th Guards Rifle Corps from early 1945, commanding it in the East Prussian Offensive. He was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union twice – in 1944, for the taking of Mount Sapun during the Crimean Offensive and in 1945, for his part in the capture of Königsberg.
After the end of the war, in August 1922, Koshevoy was sent to study at the Crimean Cavalry Courses, and upon graduation in October 1923 was appointed a squadron starshina in the 3rd Red Cossack Cavalry Regiment of the 1st Red Cossack Cavalry Division, stationed in the Ukrainian Military District. Becoming a kursant at the Ukrainian Cavalry School in August 1924, after graduation in September 1927 he served as a platoon commander with the 61st Cavalry Regiment of the Special Cavalry Brigade in the Moscow Military District. Temporarily transferred to the department of higher education institutions at the district headquarters to serve as officer for assignments of the 2nd category in November 1931, Koshevoy then served at the VTsIK Combined Military School as an assistant machine gun squadron commander.[3]
After attending the Armored Commanders' Advanced Training Courses (KUKS) in Leningrad between March and May 1932, he returned to the school to briefly become a platoon commander in the mechanized battalion. From September of that year, Koshevoy served as head of the regimental school of the 61st Regiment, part of the Special Cavalry Division (formed from the Special Cavalry Brigade). He became assistant chief of the 1st (operations) section of the staff of the regiment in May 1935, and from October of that year was regimental chief of staff. Koshevoy entered the Frunze Military Academy in May 1936 and upon graduation in January 1939 was appointed chief of staff of the 15th Cavalry Division, stationed in the Transbaikal Military District. He was transferred to command the 65th Rifle Division of the district in February 1940.[3] Koshevoy was assigned the rank of colonel on 29 February when the Red Army adopted personal military ranks.[2]
During the Donbass Offensive, Koshevoy was appointed commander of the 63rd Rifle Corps of the 51st Army on 28 August. He went on to lead the corps as part of the 44th and 51st Armies of the 4th Ukrainian Front in the Melitopol and Crimean Offensives, during which it captured Kakhovka, Simferopol, and Sevastopol. For his "skillful leadership" of the corps in the Crimean Offensive, including in the crossing of the Sivash and the taking of Mount Sapun, Koshevoy was made a Hero of the Soviet Union and awarded the Order of Lenin on 16 May 1944,[4] being promoted to lieutenant general a day later.[2] Transferred to command the 71st Rifle Corps on 27 May, he led the latter as part of the 31st Army of the 3rd Belorussian Front in Operation Bagration and the Baltic Offensive. For its "courage in battle", the 71st was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. Koshevoy transferred to command the 36th Guards Rifle Corps of the 11th Guards Army from 7 January 1945, leading it for the rest of the war. During the East Prussian Offensive, the corps captured Insterburg, Königsberg, and Pillau. During the offensive, according to his superiors, Koshevoy personally organized the attacks of the corps and led from the front, in the "most critical and dangerous" areas of Insterburg. For his "skillful leadership" in the offensive, "courage and heroism", he received the title Hero of the Soviet Union a second time on 19 April.[3]
Sergeyev, Igor, ed. (1999). "Кошевой Пётр Кириллович" [Koshevoy Pyotr Kirillovich]. Военная энциклопедия в 8 томах [Military Encyclopedia in 8 volumes] (in Russian). Vol.4. Moscow: Voenizdat. p.249. ISBN5-203-01876-6.
Tsapayev, D.A.; etal. (2015). Великая Отечественная: Комдивы. Военный биографический словарь[The Great Patriotic War: Division Commanders. Military Biographical Dictionary] (in Russian). Vol.4. Moscow: Kuchkovo Pole. ISBN978-5-9950-0602-2.
Vasilevsky, Alexander (December 1974). "От красноармейца до Маршала Советского Союза" [From Red Army man to Marshal of the Soviet Union]. Voyenno-istorichesky Zhurnal (Military-Historical Journal) (in Russian) (12). Moscow: Krasnaya Zvezda: 25–28.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Petr_Koshevoi, and is written by contributors.
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