Ilya Arkhipovich Vlasenko

Ilya Arkhipovich Vlasenko
Born 19 July 1902
Dobrush, Gomel Region,
Russian Empire (now Belarus)
Died 11 May 1963(1963-05-11) (aged 60)
Kiev, Ukraine
Allegiance Soviet Union
Years of service 1932 - 1957
Rank Major-General
Battles/wars Battle of Moscow
Second Battle of Kharkov
Battle of Stalingrad
Battle of Kursk
Battle of the Dnieper
Operation Bagration
Vistula–Oder Offensive
Battle of Berlin
Awards Hero of the Soviet Union
Order of Lenin see below
Other work Political Head of the Military District

Ilya Arkhipovich Vlasenko (19 August 1902 – 11 May 1963) (Ukrainian: Ілля Архипович Власенко, Belarusian: Ілья Архіпавіч Уласенка, Russian: Илья Архипович Власенко) was a political commissar in the Red Army during and following World War II. Hero of the Soviet Union (1943).

Pre-war

Born July 19, 1902 in the town of Dobrush (now the Gomel Region, Belarus) in a family of worker of Dobrush paper mill. At age 14, he began working in the mill, in the 1924-26 served in the Red Army as a soldier. Then he was a trade union leader of Dobrush paper mill, worked in the Central Committee of the trade union in Moscow and as a director of Chashniki paper mill. He was elected a deputy of the Moscow Soviet of People's Deputies.

In May 1932, by the decision of the Communist Party he was mobilized and sent to strengthen the Party and political work in the troops of the NKVD. He served in the Tula region, graduated KomVUZ and Higher School of Border Troops.

Second World War

On 24 June 1941 according to the mobilization plan Battalion Commissar Vlasenko forms together with Lieutenant-Colonel Safiulin 69th Brigade NKVD in the city of Tula and becomes a military commissar of the brigade. 69th Brigade as part of the 50th Army actively participates in the Tula defense operation (the part of Battle of Moscow), reflecting the onset of the 2nd Panzer Group under command of Guderian, who later wrote: "An attempt to capture the city at once stumbled on a strong anti-tank and anti-aircraft defenses and ended in failure, and we have suffered significant losses in tanks and officers".[1] For his personal bravery, courage and leadership in combat Vlasenko awarded the Order of the Red Banner.[2]

He was appointed a military commissar of the 8th Motor Rifle Division NKVD and then of the 13th Motor Rifle Division NKVD, and participated in the Second Battle of Kharkov, was fighting in the region of Izium, Kupiansk, Voronezh, Borisoglebsk.

External images
The command post of the 95th Rifle Division in Stalingrad. From left to right: division commander V. Gorishnii, military commissar of the division I. Vlasenko (sitting), G. Slutsky, chief of division artillery A. Dalakishvili. 1942

After significant losses in the battle, June 15, 1942 the 13th Motorized Rifle Division NKVD was reorganized, incorporated into the Red Army and was named the 95th Rifle Division. In September 1942 the division arrived in Stalingrad. It defended the Mamayev Kurgan, the Krasny Oktyabr factory, Stalingrad Tractor Plant. For the defense of Stalingrad, the 95th Rifle Division was awarded the title of Guards, March 1, 1943, it transformed into the 75th Guards Rifle Division. For his courage, determination and leadership in the battle Colonel Vlasenko awarded a second Order of the Red Banner.[3]

In July 1943, the Division as part of the 13th Army participated in the Battle of Kursk near the Ponyri - Olhovatka. In the heavy fighting the offensive of German troops, who used a large number of tanks, was halted with heavy losses to the enemy. For exemplary performance of combat tasks and for displaying courage and heroism the Division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner, and Colonel Vlasenko awarded the Order of the Red Star.[4]

August 27, 1943 the Division entered the territory of Ukraine. In the battles for the liberation of Ukraine and Battle of the Dnieper the Division liberates station Khutor-Mikhailovsky, townships Yampil, Baturyn and September 9 town Bakhmach. For the heroism shown during the liberation of the city Bakhmach, the division is assigned the name " Bakhmach ". September 21 the Division forces the Desna River, and September 23 Division boosts the Dnieper River, 35 km north of Kiev, near the village Yasnogorodka (Vyshhorod Raion). The capture and expansion of the bridgehead made it possible to concentrate the troops for an attack on Kiev and the liberation of the Ukrainian capital. Guard Colonel Vlasenko for his courage and heroism was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.[5]

He participates in the further liberation of Ukraine, then Belarus (Operation Bagration) and was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. In June 1944, Vlasenko was appointed head of the political department of the 61st Rifle Corps of the 69th Army of the 1st Belorussian Front.

During the Lublin–Brest Offensive 61 Corps July 20, 1944 crossed the Bug River, and July 29 crossed the Vistula near the town of Puławy and captured the bridgehead. January 15, 1945 the Corps, acting in the Vistula–Oder Offensive, freed the city of Radom and was awarded the honorary name "Radom." Continuing the offensive, the Corps forcing the rivers Pilica and Warta, freed the city Tomaszow and Jarocin and came to the Oder to the north of the city of Frankfurt (Oder). For his heroism and bravery, the skill to lead troops in combat Guard Colonel Vlasenko was awarded the Order of Kutuzov 2nd Class.[6]

In April 1945, the Corps participated in the Battle of Berlin, doing offensive from the Kyustrin’s bridgehead. In the Battle of the Seelow Heights the Corps gave not retreat 9th Army (Wehrmacht) to Berlin, then it participated in the elimination of the enemy force, which was surrounded by the south-east of Berlin. For a breakthrough fortified enemy band and skilful political leadership of the offensive operations Colonel Vlasenko was awarded the Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky (Soviet Union) 2nd Class.[7]

May 1, 1945 Guards Colonel Ilya Vlasenko graduated part in the hostilities of World War II when the 61st Radom Rifle Corps came out on the river Elbe near the city of Magdeburg and met with US troops.

Post-war

In July 1945, Vlasenko was appointed Deputy for Political Affairs of the Governance Soviet Military Administration in Germany Head of the Mecklenburg province and he served in that position until the German Democratic Republic was established in 1949. For his work in SMAD, he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.

External images
Major-General Vlasenko I.A.

In 1950-51 Vlasenko studied at the Military-Political Academy named Lenin. Since April 1951 he was the Deputy Head of the Political Administration of the South Ural Military District, from October 1953 to 03.10.1957 year - Head of the Political Administration of the District. He was awarded the title of "Major-General"(1954), awarded the Order of the Red Banner and the Order of Lenin.

Vlasenko had retired in 1957. He lived in Kiev, died on May 11, 1963 and was buried in Kiev Lukyanovka military cemetery.

Awards

Honor

External images
The memorial plaque I.A.Vlasenko in Kiev
The stele I.A.Vlasenko in Dobrush

Bibliography

References

External links

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