16 Facts About Ivan Boldin

Ivan Boldin was drafted into the Russian Imperial Army on July 28,1914, during World War I Ivan Boldin received several months of infantry training before his regiment, the 23rd Rifle Regiment, was deployed to Sarakomysh on the Turkish front.

Ivan Boldin served for three years on this front against the Turks, taking part in operations around Erzurum and Kars, and completing his secondary schooling.

Ivan Boldin joined the Communist Party in June 1918, and attended the All-Russian Congress of Soviets in July, representing Penza.

In October 1919, Ivan Boldin restarted his military career by volunteering for service in the Red Army in the ongoing Civil War.

Ivan Boldin was posted to Tula after his graduation, taking command of a rifle regiment that he had to form from scratch.

Ivan Boldin got involved in political work by serving in the city's Soviet.

Ivan Boldin remained politically active, serving as a member of the Moscow Regional Bolshevik Committee.

In September 1939, Ivan Boldin was chosen to command a Cavalry-Mechanized Group in the Special Western Military District on the border of Poland.

At the outbreak of Operation Barbarossa, Ivan Boldin was the deputy of Gen.

Ivan Boldin flew in a light aircraft under heavy fire to the command post of 10th Army near Bialystok.

Ivan Boldin remained continuously in command of 50th Army until February 1945, being promoted to the rank of Colonel-General on July 15,1944.

In October 1943, the Army was transferred to Belorussian Front and Ivan Boldin came under command of Gen.

All but a small rearguard of those slipped away to battle the Front's main forces and it was 48 hours before Ivan Boldin noticed, all the while reporting that the full force was still in place.

Ivan Boldin then got the prestigious assignment of command of the 8th Guards Army of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany, which he held until March 1951, likely because of his political reliability.

Ivan Boldin commanded the Eastern Siberian Military District for two years, and after a short stint in Gorky Military District, he was assigned as First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Kiev Military District until 1958.

Ivan Boldin was now due for retirement, with a final assignment as Military Consultant to the Defense Ministry Group of General Inspectors.