10 Facts About Lev Dovator

Lev Dovator joined the Red Army in 1924 and went on to become an officer after graduating from cavalry school and a military academy.

From May 1935 to May 1936, Colonel Lev Dovator was commissar of the Independent Reconnaissance Battalion of the 93rd Rifle Division.

Lev Dovator attended Frunze Military Academy in 1939, and during the early months of the war, Dovator was with the Western Front Headquarters.

Colonel Lev Dovator conducted a successful fighting withdrawal, crossing a bridge over the river just before the Germans captured it.

Lev Dovator's famous raid in early 1941 was conducted with only 3000 sabres and sixty-five machine guns carried on packhorses.

Lev Dovator was killed in an offensive action on 19 December 1941, near the outskirts of Ruza.

Lev Dovator was reportedly cut down by machine-gun fire while crawling towards a forward position to get a better look near the village of Palashkino.

Lev Dovator was posthumously awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union two days afterwards, as well as the Order of Lenin.

Lev Dovator was replaced in command by Major General Issa Pliyev.

Lev Dovator is buried alongside Ivan Panfilov, as they fought together to stop the 9th Army from reaching Moscow.