Lev Dovator
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Lev Mikhailovich Dovator (1903 - December 19, 1941[1]) was a Soviet major-general and a Hero of the Soviet Union (1941).
At the start of the German invasion of the Soviet Union, he was posted as Chief of Staff of the Red Army's 36th Cavalry Division. He soon became the commander of a cavalry group, and in August - September of 1941 this cavalry group executed the most daring raid through the rear areas of the German army in Smolensk region.
During the battle of Moscow, Dovator was the commander of 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps, which fended off the enemy advancement at Volokolamsk. He was killed in action near the outskirts of Ruza. He was reportedly cut down by machine-gun fire while crawling towards a forward position to get a better look. Upon hearing of his death, Marshall Georgi Zhukov is said to have lamented that it was a grievous loss.
[edit] References
- ^ Alexander Werth, Russia at War (1964), Carroll & Graf, page 254.
[edit] See Also
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