Soviet commander Pyotr Kirillovich Koshevoy. Peter Kirillovich Koshevoy Peter Koshevoy

The marshal was in service to the end. As befits the winner

In the year of the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the liberation of Ukraine from the Nazi invaders, I would like to gratefully honor the memory of those who took part in the battles of the Great Patriotic War. Many lives were sacrificed for the liberation of territories that are now part of Ukraine. The lives of soldiers, the lives of civilians. Now in Kyiv on the Walk of Fame, by decision of the government, bronze busts of twice Heroes are installed Soviet Union, whose fate is connected with Ukraine. We do not know whether there is a “small gap” in that bronze formation for Peter Koshevoy...

But we must remember this man. Military leader, twice Hero of the Soviet Union, holder of five Orders of Lenin, the Order of the October Revolution, 3 Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky 1st degree, the Order of Suvorov 2nd degree, two Orders of Kutuzov 2nd degree, many medals and foreign awards A native of Ukraine, who went through life from a simple peasant boy to Marshal of the Soviet Union, Pyotr Kirillovich Koshevoy was born on December 8 (21), 1904 in the city of Alexandria (now in the Kirovograd region) in a peasant family.

At the age of 15 (!), Peter joined the young Red Army as a private, and in 1920 he graduated from military primary school. Then he served in the 2nd Cavalry Regiment of the 8th Cavalry Division of the Red Cossacks. In those years, he had the opportunity to take part in battles “against the White Poles” and Petliura’s troops in Southwestern Front. Later he fought with Ukrainian rebels. In 1923, he successfully completed the Crimean Cavalry Courses, after which, until August 1924, he served as a foreman of the cavalry squadron of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment of the 1st Cavalry Division of the Red Cossacks of the Ukrainian Military District. In 1927, Koshevoy graduated from the Cavalry School named after. S. M. Budyonny. He continued to serve in the cavalry, commanding a platoon in the Moscow Military District. After graduating from the Military Academy. M. V. Frunze served as chief of staff of the 15th Cavalry Division in the Transbaikal Military District. Since February 1940, he became commander of the 65th Infantry Division there.

At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, Divisional Commander Koshevoy took part in fierce, difficult battles near the city of Tikhvin near Leningrad. There was a moment when, after long, seemingly hopeless battles, a glimmer of hope appeared. Pyotr Koshevoy wrote in his memoirs: “The army commander often stopped, peering at the buildings scorched by the battle fire, at the broken German equipment, and thought about something... On the road, the corpse of a fascist soldier lay face up. A bullet-pierced belt buckle with the inscription “Gott mit uns” glittered dully on his stomach. Meretskov spoke: “Well, Comrade Koshevoy, now the enemy is retreating. I think that we helped not only Leningrad, but also the capital. And the turnaround is not only happening here. It goes on all fronts. The Nazis are still strong. The struggle ahead is hard and long, but the fascists can be beaten... There is no doubt about it.” Pursuing the enemy, we were approaching the Volkhov River. It is difficult to convey in words the enormous upsurge that gripped the troops at that time. Despite extreme fatigue, the commanders and soldiers acted quickly and energetically. We were pleased with the messages from the Sovinformburo, which spoke of successes Soviet troops near Tikhvin. But even more enthusiasm was caused by the urgent message about the failure of the German plan to encircle and capture Moscow. General Meretskov, as it turned out, was right: we helped the capital.”

Map of the Tikhvin operation

In the summer of 1942, Koshevoy was appointed commander of the 24th Guards Rifle Division, which was part of the 8th Army, under the command of Lieutenant General Philip Starikov. The division was located in the Volkhov region and took part in the offensive that lifted the blockade of Leningrad. It is known that Hitler personally demanded from Field Marshal Erich von Manstein “immediate intervention in the situation on the Volkhov front in order to avoid a catastrophe.” In “strategic hysteria,” the enemy’s attacks did not stop - Manstein’s troops carried out offensive operations without interruption, for many days in a row, trying to push back the front line. “And a little later, at the positions, the soldiers repulsed the enemy without sending a single bullet past the target,” Koshevoy recalled. - Now we saw with even greater clarity what a guards division is. People have become especially fit and focused. Even the wounded stood in the trenches, not wanting to leave their comrades.”

On October 15, 1942, the 24th Infantry Division was sent to the village of Rasskazovo, Tambov Region. Now it was part of the 2nd Guards Army, commanded by Major General Yakov Kreizer. The division was able to rest a little and undergo retraining, and at the end of 1942 it was sent “through the blizzard and blizzard” near Stalingrad... The division encountered enemy tank formations near the Verkhne-Kumsky farm. In the battles for the Generalovsky and Novoaksaysky farms, it defeated two Romanian divisions - the 2nd Infantry and the 17th Tank. And during the liberation of the city of Kotelnikovo, our troops captured numerous enemy warehouses with food, medicine and supplies for the 6th Army, which participated in Battle of Stalingrad under the command of Field Marshal Paulus.

On February 2, 1943, Stalingrad was liberated. The division advanced further in battle. Semikarakorsk, Novocherkassk, and Matveev Kurgan were liberated. Koshevoy wrote: “On the Mius River, front troops encountered strong positional defenses of Hitler’s troops. Here and on the Molochnaya River we fought throughout the first half and next three months of 1943. We did not have to break the backbone of the main forces of Hitler's Wehrmacht, as Soviet troops did at Kursk. Day after day, we hammered at the strong defenses, shook them and firmly held large enemy forces here, not allowing the fascist German command to free up reserves for use in the decisive, western direction. Every morning we eagerly awaited news from Kursk, Orel and Kharkov; we knew that the main events of the war were taking place there. Like all Soviet soldiers, we carried out our tasks out of conscience and duty, and believed that it would be our turn to be in the forefront of the attack.”

Ivan Bovkun, Pyotr Koshevoy, Sergey Khramtsov (from left to right). Volkhov Front. June 1942

In 1944, after being in reserve, Koshevoy’s division became part of the 51st Army and was sent for further battles in the Crimea, on the southern shore of Lake Sivash. Together with the 19th tank corps she managed to completely destroy the German defenses on the Turkish Wall and strengthen herself in the Armyansk area. This made it possible to develop a defense breakthrough in the direction of Dzhankoy, Simferopol and Sevastopol. An active offensive began in April. “The most important center of enemy resistance - Karanka - was completely eliminated,” Koshevoy wrote in his memoirs. - We reached the As-Naiman line, and height 30.3 was already looming ahead, where the last position of the enemy defense was located. Scouts reported that the 33rd Infantry Regiment of the 10th Romanian Infantry Division and the 70th Infantry Regiment of the 111th German Infantry Division had been defeated. We captured 550 people, including 11 officers. The enemy left many corpses on the battlefield. A lot of weapons were captured, especially artillery.”

Sapun Mountain was taken with difficulty, from which the liberation of “the legendary Sevastopol, the city of Russian sailors” began. The hero city was liberated exactly a year before the end of the war - May 9, 1944. Over the years, military commander Koshevoy found heartfelt and figurative words to convey the personal and general mood of that period: “...I left my last observation post in Crimea on the morning of May 10th. I went to the top of the Malakhov Kurgan to take a last look at the destroyed heroic city. Its ruins were still smoking. Only in the area of ​​​​Cape Chersonesos were volleys and the sound of battle heard... Almond was wounded by shrapnel and bullets. Pieces of torn, already darkened metal stuck into the bark. The juice, like blood, flowed in thick drops, leaving an uneven, winding trail along the trunk. There was no strength to bloom, but the almonds had already overcome death and now greedily reached out to the sun with chopped but unkilled branches. So, we thought then, Sevastopol itself would find a new, even more beautiful youth and life...”

Then troops under the command of Pyotr Koshevoy liberated Belarus, stormed Koenigsberg, and fought in East Prussia. Until the bitter end.

On Marshal Koshevoy Street in Volgodonsk

After the Victory, Pyotr Koshevoy remained in service; in 1948 he graduated from the Higher Courses at the Military Academy of the General Staff. He held the position of commander of the troops of the Siberian and Kyiv military districts, was the commander-in-chief of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany, and was a member of the Group of Inspectors General of the USSR Ministry of Defense. On April 15, 1968, Pyotr Koshevoy was awarded the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union.

Pyotr Kirillovich died in Moscow on August 30, 1976. He was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery. The military exploits of Peter Koshevoy are still remembered in different parts of our great Fatherland. IN hometown A bronze bust of the Marshal was erected; the street and square bear his name. His name was given to the Omsk Higher Tank Engineering School of the Order of the Red Star (now the Omsk Tank Engineering Institute).

Twice busts were erected to the Hero of the Soviet Union Pyotr Koshevoy in Omsk, Alexandria, and Volgodonsk. And in Dzhankoy one of the streets bears the name of Marshal Koshevoy.

Mikhail KHUSTOCHKA, “One Motherland”

Born in the city of Alexandria, Kherson province, into a peasant family. In 1920 he joined the Red Army. Civil War participant, Red Army soldier. In 1927 he graduated from cavalry school and served in command and staff posts. After graduating from the Academy in 1939. Frunze, before the Great Patriotic War he held the position of chief of staff of a division with the rank of colonel.

During the Great Patriotic War, Koshevoy (until September 1943, commander of a rifle division and then a rifle corps) proved himself to be an proactive and strong-willed commander. He performed a number of outstanding military operations, distinguished himself, in particular, during the assault on Sapun Mountain near Sevastopol and the capture of Königsberg (for these battles he received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union). He graduated from the war with the rank of lieutenant general. At the Victory Parade he commanded the combined regiment of the Third Belorussian Front.

After the war, Koshevoy held a number of important command posts and was highly regarded as a commander and military administrator (according to his grandson, writer P. G. Palamarchuk, “his comrade-in-arms Marshal Bagramyan called him military number one at that time”), although he did not pursue a career and for positions in the Ministry of Defense and was proud that he had never served in Moscow. He was army commander (1946-1955), first deputy commander-in-chief of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany (1955-1957), commander of the Siberian Military District (1957-1960), Kyiv Military District (1960-1965).

The highest position held by Koshevoy was Commander-in-Chief of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany (1965-1969). During this time, he did a lot to strengthen the combat capability of the Group, which “had to be ready to reach Gibraltar in three days.” On April 15, 1968, Army General Koshevoy was awarded (together with P.F. Batitsky) the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union.

As the head of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany, Koshevoy took part in the organization and entry into Czechoslovakia on August 20, 1968 of units of the 20th Guards Army from the Group, which, in accordance with the plans of Operation Danube, established control over the main objects of the capital of Czechoslovakia, Prague.

However, already in October 1969, Koshevoy was removed from the post of Commander-in-Chief and replaced by V.G. Kulikov. From that time until the end of his life, he held the traditional honorary position of “Inspector General of the Group of Inspectors General of the USSR Ministry of Defense,” traditional for Marshals who actually retired.

P.K. Koshevoy was the first of those who died in freedom and with the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union, buried not at the Kremlin wall, but at the Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow.

By order of the USSR Ministry of Defense dated April 9, 1977, the name of Pyotr Kirillovich was assigned to the Omsk Higher Tank Engineering School of the Order of the Red Star. Memorial plaque in memory of P.K. Koshevoy was installed in Novosibirsk on the building where the headquarters of the Siberian Military District was located.

Awards

• Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (05/16/1944, 04/09/1945)
• five Orders of Lenin (12/17/1941, 05/16/1944, 04/30/1945, 12/09/1964, 02/22/1968)
• Order of the October Revolution (04.12.1974)
• three Orders of the Red Banner (11/03/1944, 11/15/1950, 02/21/1969)
• Order of Suvorov, 2nd degree (03/31/1943)
• two Order of Kutuzov, 2nd degree (09/17/1943, 07/04/1944)
• Order of Bohdan Khmelnitsky, 1st degree (05/05/1945)
• medals
• foreign awards.

Koshevoy Petr Kirillovich
8(21).12.1904–30.08.1976

Marshal of the Soviet Union

Born in Alexandria in Ukraine. In 1920 he joined the Red Army and fought on the fronts of the Civil War. In 1939 he graduated from the Military Academy. M. V. Frunze.

During the Great Patriotic War in 1941, he commanded a division in the battles of Tikhvin and Leningrad. In 1942 he took part in the Battle of Stalingrad. During the liberation of Crimea (1944), he commanded a rifle corps in the troops of F.I. Tolbukhin, distinguished himself during the assault on Sapun Mountain near Sevastopol, for which he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Next, Koshevoy participates in the battles for the liberation of Ukraine, Belarus and the Baltic states. IN East Prussian operation, commanding the Guards Corps in the troops of Marshal A. M. Vasilevsky, Koshevoy takes part in the “star” assault on Koenigsberg, for which he receives a second Gold Star. On June 24, 1945, at the Victory Parade, General P.K. Koshevoy commanded the combined regiment of the 3rd Belorussian Front. After the war, he was the commander of a number of military districts, and since 1965 he became the Commander-in-Chief of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany. On April 15, 1968, P.K. Koshevoy was awarded the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union.

He was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow. A bronze bust of the marshal was installed in his homeland in

G. Alexandria.

Marshal P.K. Koshevoy had:

• 2 gold Stars of Hero of the Soviet Union (05/16/1944, 04/19/1945),
• 5 Orders of Lenin,
• order of the October Revolution,
• 3 Orders of the Red Banner,
• Order of Bohdan Khmelnitsky 1st degree,
• Order of Suvorov 2nd degree,
• 2 Orders of Kutuzov 2nd degree,
• 11 medals,
• as well as 10 orders and medals of foreign countries.

V.A. Egorshin, “Field Marshals and Marshals.” M., 2000

Koshevoy Petr Kirillovich

Born on December 8 (December 21), 1904 in the city of Alexandria, Kirovograd region, from peasants, Ukrainian.

In 1919 he graduated from the “higher primary school”, in 1927 - the Cavalry School named after. S. M. Budyonny, in 1939 - Military Academy named after. M. V. Frunze, in 1948 - “VAK at the Higher Military Academy named after. K. E. Voroshilov."

He entered the Soviet Army voluntarily on February 13, 1920, and before the start of the Great Patriotic War he held the positions of platoon commander, head of the regimental school, chief of staff of the regiment and chief of staff of the rifle division (September 1927-February 1940).

At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War - commander of a rifle division (until September 1943).

The army commander, Lieutenant General V.F. Yakovlev, in the combat description of P.K. Koshevoy in 1942, noted: “... during the combat operations of the division, he proved himself to be a strong-willed, energetic commander... When performing assigned tasks, sometimes from narrow parochial goals is capable of missing the general, the main thing...”

Until the end of the war and post-war period P.K. Koshevoy - commander of the rifle corps (until July 1946), army commander (until July 1955), first deputy commander-in-chief of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany (until July 1957), commander of the Siberian Military District (until April 1960), Kyiv Military District (until January 1965).

The Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces, Marshal of the Soviet Union V.I. Chuikov, wrote in his 1962 certification: “He skillfully applies the acquired combat experience in the training and education of troops... A disciplined, energetic and highly demanding general towards his subordinates. Hardworking and persistent in implementing the decisions made.”

From January 1965 to October 1969 - Commander-in-Chief of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany, to September 1976 - Inspector General of the Group of Inspectors General of the USSR Ministry of Defense.

PC. Koshevoy - twice Hero of the Soviet Union (05/16/1944, 04/19/1945), awarded 5 Orders of Lenin (12/17/1941, 05/16/1944, 04/30/1945, 12/9/1964, 02/22 .1968), Order of the October Revolution (12/4/1974), 3 Orders of the Red Banner (11/3/1944, 11/15/1950, 02/21/1969), Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky, 1st degree (05/5/1945 g.), Order of Suvorov II degree (03/31/1943), 2 Orders of Kutuzov II degree (09/17/1943, 07/4/1944), as well as 11 medals of the USSR and 10 orders and medals of foreign countries.

Military ranks: Colonel - awarded on February 29, 1940, Major General - October 1, 1942, Lieutenant General - May 17, 1944, Colonel General - May 31, 1954, Army General - April 13, 1964. , Marshal of the Soviet Union - April 15, 1968

Member of the CPSU since 1925, candidate member of the CPSU Central Committee from 1961 to 1971, deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 6th and 7th convocations.

Marshals of the Soviet Union: personal stories tell. M., 1996

Awards and regalia: 5 Orders of Lenin, Order of the October Revolution, 3 Orders of the Red Banner, Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky 1st degree, Order of Suvorov 2nd degree, 2 Orders of Kutuzov 2nd degree, medals, foreign awards

Koshevoy Pyotr Kirillovich. Born on December 21, 1904 in the city of Alexandria, now Kirovograd region of Ukraine. Ukrainian. In the army since 1920. Member civil war. In 1927 he graduated from the cavalry school, in 1939 - from the Military Academy named after M.V. Frunze. He served in command positions in the cavalry.

Participant of the Great Patriotic War from November 1941 as commander of the 65th Infantry Division, which participated in the Tikhvin operation. From July 1942 - commander of the 24th Guards Rifle Division (Volkhov, Stalingrad, Southern fronts). From August 1943 he commanded the famous 63rd Rifle Corps (4th Ukrainian Front), which distinguished itself during the liberation of Crimea. Thanks to the skillful interaction of troops and the heroic impulse of the soldiers, the assault on the impregnable fortifications of Sapun Mountain on the outskirts of Sevastopol was completed in one day.

The title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the presentation of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal was awarded to Major General Pyotr Kirillovich Koshevoy on April 16, 1944 for the successful leadership of military formations during the capture of Sevastopol and the personal courage and heroism shown.

From May 1944 - commander of the 71st Rifle Corps (3rd Belorussian Front), who distinguished himself during the liberation of Belarus and the Baltic states. From January 1945 he commanded the 36th Guards Rifle Corps. The corps' troops distinguished themselves in the East Prussian operation and during the assault on Koenigsberg.

On April 19, 1945, Lieutenant General P.K. Koshevoy He was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for the second time for his skillful leadership of military formations during the storming of Koenigsberg and the personal courage and heroism displayed.

After the war he commanded the corps and army. In 1948 he graduated from the Higher Academic Courses at the Military Academy of the General Staff. In 1957-1960 - commander of the troops of the Siberian Military District, in 1960-1965 - commander of the troops of the Kyiv Military District. In 1965-1969 - Commander-in-Chief of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany. Since 1969 - in the Group of Inspectors General of the USSR Ministry of Defense.

Marshal of the Soviet Union (since April 15, 1968). Awarded 5 Orders of Lenin, Order of the October Revolution, 3 Orders of the Red Banner, Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky 1st degree, Order of Suvorov 2nd degree, 2 Orders of Kutuzov 2nd degree, medals, foreign awards.

A bronze bust was installed in the city of Alexandria. There is also a square and a street named after him.

Biography

Pyotr Kirillovich Koshevoy was born on December 8 (according to the new style - 21) December 1904 in the city of Alexandria (now the Kirovograd region of Ukraine). Ukrainian by nationality.

The Great Patriotic War

In November 1941, Koshevoy's division was transferred to the active army, to the Volkhov Front, where it took part in. In July 1942, Koshevoy was appointed commander of the 24th Guards Rifle Division, and in August 1943 became commander of the 63rd Rifle Corps. Koshevoy's corps particularly distinguished itself during the liberation of Crimea. On April 8-10, 1944, he broke through enemy defenses and entered the operational space. On April 11, 1944, units of the corps liberated the city of Dzhankoy, on April 18, 1944, they crossed the Chernaya River and reached the approaches to. During the offensive, they liberated Simferopol, Bakhchisarai, Balaklava, Karasu-Bazar and more than 200 more settlements. The culmination of the Crimean battles was the assault on Sapun Mountain, in which Koshevoy’s corps took an active part. The enemy suffered huge losses - more than 6 thousand soldiers and officers killed and more than 8 thousand captured, a lot of equipment, horses, and military equipment. For his skillful command of the corps, Koshevoy was awarded the title.

In May 1944, Koshevoy was appointed commander of the 71st Rifle Corps of the 31st Army, at which time he was awarded the rank of lieutenant general. Under his command, this formation successfully operated during the liberation, including during the assault on Insterburg, Königsberg and Pillau. For his distinction in those battles, Koshevoy was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for the second time.

Post-war career

In the post-war period he continued to serve in the Soviet Army. Participated in, commanded the combined regiment of the 3rd Belorussian Front. In July 1946, Koshevoy was appointed commander of the 6th Guards Army of the Baltic Military District. In 1948, he graduated from the Higher Academic Courses at the Higher Military Academy named after K. E. Voroshilov (now - Military Academy General Staff Armed Forces Russian Federation), after which he commanded the 5th Army, stationed in the Primorsky and Far Eastern military districts. In 1954-195 he commanded the 11th Guards Army of the Baltic Military District. On May 31, 1954, he was awarded the rank of Colonel General. In July 1955, Koshevoy was sent to the post of First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany.

Returned to the USSR in 1957. He commanded the Siberian and then the Kyiv Military District. On April 13, 1964, he was awarded the rank of army general. From January 1965 to October 1969, Koshevoy again served in the GDR and was commander-in-chief of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany. On April 15, 1968, he was awarded the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union.

In 1961-1971, Koshevoy was elected as a candidate member of the CPSU Central Committee, and was also a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 6th and 7th convocations.

In October 1969, Koshevoy was transferred to the Group of Inspectors General of the USSR Ministry of Defense. He died on August 30, 1976, and was buried at the Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow (site No. 7). He became the first Marshal of the Soviet Union not buried near the Kremlin wall (not counting those repressed).