18 Facts About Issa Pliyev

Issa Pliyev became Army General, twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Hero of the Mongolian People's Republic.

However, Issa Pliyev became known in the West largely for his involvement in the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Issa Pliyev started his military career in the Red Army in 1922, graduating from the Leningrad Cavalry school in 1926, from the Frunze Military Academy in 1933 and from the Soviet General Staff Academy.

At the start of the invasion of the Soviet Union, Issa Pliyev commanded the 50th Cavalry Division.

Issa Pliyev later participated in two raids on the rear of Army Group "Center" during the Battle of Smolensk, under the command of Dovator.

Issa Pliyev's unit participated in the Battle of Moscow and the Battle of Stalingrad.

Issa Pliyev served as 2nd in command under Lev Dovator who fought alongside Rokossovsky with the crucial 16th Army, holding the center defensive line of Moscow.

When more tanks were added to the cavalry corps, Issa Pliyev became the pioneer in the new cavalry mechanized groups who immediately proved themselves in battle, which made him well respected among his peers and soldiers.

Issa Pliyev especially distinguished himself in the Bereznegovato-Snigireva and Odessa offensive operations conducted one after the other in March-April 1944.

The group was returned to the 3rd Ukrainian Front, where on October 3,1944, General Issa Pliyev was put in charge of the 4th and 6th Guards Cavalry Corps and the 7th Mechanized Corps, units created with the aim of a deep breakthrough into the enemy rear in the Debrecen operation on Hungarian territory.

Issa Pliyev ended the war in command of the Soviet-Mongolian Cavalry-Mechanized Group of the Transbaikal front in Manchuria, fighting against the Japanese Kwantung Army.

Issa Pliyev graduated from higher academic courses at the Military Academy of the General Staff in 1949, and in April took command of the 4th Army in the Transcaucasian Military District.

On 27 April 1962 Issa Pliyev was promoted to Army General.

In June 1968, Issa Pliyev became an advisor for the Ministry of Defense of the USSR's Group of Inspectors General, a position for elderly senior officers.

Issa Pliyev lived in Rostov-on-Don and died on 6 February 1979 in Moscow.

Issa Pliyev was buried in the Walk of Fame in Vladikavkaz.

Issa Pliyev was awarded five Orders of Lenin, three Orders of the Red Banner, two Orders of Suvorov, Order of Kutuzov, numerous medals and nine foreign orders.

Issa Pliyev was decorated twice Hero of the Soviet Union.