1. Semyon Moiseevich Krivoshein was a Soviet tank commander, who played a vital part in the World War II reform of the Red Army tank forces and in the momentous clash between German and Soviet tanks in the Battle of Kursk.
19 Facts About Semyon Krivoshein
1. 2.
Semyon Krivoshein was sent to study in the elite Frunze Military Academy, graduated in 1931 and served in the mechanized troops, rising in 1934 to commander of mechanized regiment.
3.
Semyon Krivoshein received the honor of becoming the first Soviet tank commander in Spain following his arrival alongside a small group of other Soviet volunteers and T-26 light tanks at the Republican port of Cartagena in October 1936.
4.
In January 1937 Semyon Krivoshein was recalled to the Soviet Union to recuperate.
5.
Semyon Krivoshein was promoted to kombrig and appointed commander of a mechanized brigade.
6.
Semyon Krivoshein held command of the 29th Light Tank Brigade within the 4th Army of Vasily Chuikov.
7.
Semyon Krivoshein agreed, and following a brief talk, the German troops agreed to withdraw west to the previously-agreed demarcation line and hand the city and its fortress to the Soviet forces.
8.
The effective military of this smaller nation surprised the aggressors with unyielding resolve, but Semyon Krivoshein fought with distinction and his promotion was quick.
9.
Semyon Krivoshein received command of the 25th Mechanized Corps in April 1941.
10.
In 1943 when the Red Army was preparing for the decisive Battle of Kursk, Semyon Krivoshein received command of the 3rd Mechanized Corps in Mikhail Katukov's 1st Tank Army of the Voronezh Front, commanded by Nikolai Vatutin.
11.
Semyon Krivoshein took position in town of Oboyan, and together with 6th Tank Corps in Prokhorovka during the battle he faced the main weight of German assault, led by the top Wehrmacht panzer General Hermann Hoth.
12.
Semyon Krivoshein's forces were in dire technical disadvantage to German panzers.
13.
Under massive German assault, Semyon Krivoshein withdrew his corps to a new defense position but the Germans failed to break through his front line.
14.
Semyon Krivoshein's 3rd Mechanized Corps became the 8th Guards Mechanized Corps.
15.
Semyon Krivoshein was promoted to Lieutenant General and was awarded the highest Soviet decoration for his outstanding generalship, the Order of Suvorov.
16.
Semyon Krivoshein spearheaded Konev's offensive in expelling the Germans from the right bank Ukraine.
17.
Semyon Krivoshein was severely wounded in the battle and was recovering for several months.
18.
Semyon Krivoshein slashed through the heavily fortified and echeloned German defenses in the critical Battle of Seelow Heights and fought his way to the Reichstag.
19.
Semyon Krivoshein spent the last quarter century of his life writing four books of his war memoirs.