Ivan Lyudnikov

Lyudnikov Ivan Iljich - Colonel general, Hero of the Soviet Union.

Ivan Ilyich Lyudnikov, (Russian: Ива́н Ильи́ч Лю́дников); Krivaja Kosa (The Province of the Don Cossack Host, Russian Empire), 8 oktober [O.S. 26 September] 1902 – Moscow 22 April 1976 – Colonel general, Hero of the Soviet Union.

Youth

Ivan Lyudnikov was born in 1902. In 1913 was working with his father at the 2 coal mine of the Sheglov mine at Juzov coal mine leave out of stock, 1913 - rock operator, 1914 - pump ruffer, 1915 - turner apprentice, 1916 - turner at mine repair shop.

Russian Civil War

Starting with 25 October 1917 Volunteer of the Juzov Red Guard Group.

Further career

After the war was over, he was educated at the following military educatuinal institutions :

1925 - Commander at the 13th Dagestan infantry division, course and battalion course commander at the Vladikavkaz infantry school. Printed order 00128 of 29 August 1938 appointed him the special affairs officer of the Red Army 1st department. Starting with April 1939 he was leading 2 sections of the 13 branch department of the Red Army. Its main task was in preparing operations workers for army headquarters and commanding Jitomir infantry school.

He fought the Great Patriotic war at South-Western Front, was fighting at North Caucasian Front, Stalingrad Front, Don Front, Central Front, 1st Ukrainian Front, 3rd Belorussian Front, Transbaikal Front.

Great Patriotic war

The initial period of the war

By 22 of June 1941 colonel Lyudnikov was commanding 200th Rifle infantry division that was part of 31th Rifle corps, in charge of military district and located south of the city of Sarny. Later, the 200th Rifle division was added to the 5th Army and took part of the Battle of Kiev. Occupying the Korosten fortified area, along with other units made numerous flank attacks on the 6th German Army aiming at Kiev. After being withdrawn from the river Dnieper, 200th division took part in defence fighting for Chernihiv. On the 12 of September the division and its staff was attacked from the air, as a result Ivan Iljych was wounded seriously in the head, and his feet were broken. He was treated at Kharkiv hospital and then at Kazan military khospital #361. After his treatment was over, in November of 1941, Luidnikov received 16 separate infantry brigade, organized on the basis of Grozny and some other defence schools of North Caucasian defence district. The brigade was taken on the strength of the 56th Army's North Caucasus Military District. In late November the brigade took part in liberating Rostov-on-Don. Starting with 26 of March 1942 Ivan Iljich was at disposal of various units – the 218th Rifle Division North Caucasus Military District, the 404 Rifle Division, the 390th Armenian Rifle Division and the 63th Mountain Rifle Division of the 44th Army, but due to changes the situation at the front he did not take command of them. On 29 of May 1942 he began command of the 138 Rifle division, and was in its commanded for 9 months.

Battle of Stalingrad

138th Rifle infantry division was fighting the enemy in Stalingrad heroically in October - November 1942. 100 days and nighs the division conducted fighting at the Barrikady works in the area of Lower settlement. This territory of 700m. along the front and 400m in depth was encircled on three sides, the forth was Volga river. It was shot through by artillery, shot at by mines and shells. Division under Lydnikov's command was fighting steadfastly till he proceeded to the final section of the report in December of 1942. On the 25 of January 1943 division's units changed north to destroy the north group of the fascist units in the area of works and settlements. For courageous and brave operation shown by personnel in fighting for Stalingrad, the division was reorganized into the 70th guard infantry division on the 6 of February 1943.

Battle of Kursk and Battle of the Dnieper

On the 1 of June 1943 Lyudnikov was appointed commander of the 15th guard infantry division carried out his orders on defence and then changed to counter offensive attack. On the 22 of September forward units approached Dnieper north of the city of Chernobyl and began forcing it without a pause. After seizing the bridge-head on the right bank they repulsed counterattacks and started battle for widening the bridge-head. He was taken note of successful management in forcing Dnieper and shown audacity and courage. He was afforded with the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union, presented with the order of Lenin and the Gold Star (N1892 of 16 of October 1943).

Operation Bagration

The Red Army performed attack operation "Bagration", called after the Russian commander in the Patriotic war of 1812. At the time Lydnikov was in kommand of 39 Army at the 3rd Belorussian Front. Together with 43 Army of the 1st Baltic Front In command of Army general Beloborodov made an attack operation against German forces. This operation is also known as Vitebsk–Orsha Offensive, or Vitebsk Orsha pocket. This operation resulted in liberation of 447 settlements in 4 days, including Vitebsk and Orsha.

Baltic Offensive

On decision of General Headfuarters the authority of 39 Army was temporarily delegated to 1st Baltic front to take part in Baltic Offensive. The army was given the combat mission of seizing the line Daugavpils-Pabradė and further developing on offensive on Kaunas and Šiauliai. Daugavpils was liberated on the 27 of July, and then Panevėžys and Šiauliai. Kaunas was liberated on the 1-st of august and the army came to the line Raseiniai-Suwałki, where suitable to defence on positions north of Neman at the borders of East Prussia. Further, Lyudnikov's forces receiveed the taktical task of capturing the well equipped town of Tauragė, which allowed to block the main enemy's path from Tilsit across Neman. Army troops seized Tauragė and on the 9 of October crossed the border of German reich, getting down in history, entering Augstogallen. The army passed 150 km in 6 days of attack.

East Prussian Offensive

Ivan Chernyakhovsky, commander of the 3rd Belorussian Front set the tactical task to 39 Army that will put it into operation on the second day attack Kudirkos Naumiestis direction, Pilkallen, Hensnishkenen. The 39 army started the advance on Oktober 17, encountered opposition and carried only 21 km in a week. 39th army carried on fighting. There was a foggy day on the 13 of January, when the art attack was appointed which made fire observation impossible. This made impossible the first day attack. 39 army could not achieve the planned results. The advance began to fade. I.Lyudnikov decided to carry all tanks and self-propelled guns south of Pilkallen, the direction that was considered secondary. The tanks were given the task of breaking through the defence line and carrying out the advance. Infantry has to apply all effort not to break from the tactical enemy and carrying out devekiping the success.If the breakthrough was successful, then developing it to north-west for Tilsit which will make the whole Insterburg group of German's see the threat of full surrounding. The weather (sleet snow) prevented starting the attack in the morning the snow was over by 16 hrs. The tanks made advance and by 22 hrs were 12–16 km in depth. A breach of the damb was formed ready for advance. On the 17th of January 1945 the 5 Guard and 94th Infantry courps broke through the Gumbinnen defence line and entered cities of Pilkallen and Hensnishkenen. The army forces seised Tilsit on the 19th of January. Further, 39 Army reached Dejma river. It took several days for the advanced divisions to cross the river by ferry. Army forces moved forward by 18 km. I.Lyudnikov received the task of creating the fortified defence line, made a roundabout way from the north, then from the west and reached the Baltic sea separating it from the German forces. Army forces seized it from railway station Metgethen separating communication from Königsberg to Pillau. On 16 April 1945 the Army forces seized the city of Fischhausen and this ended the fighting in East Prussia. I.Lyudnikov received the military rank of colonel-general.

Soviet–Japanese War

Starting with May 12 and till the end of military actions in August 1945 the 39 army took part in operations and missions of Soviet-Japanese war. I.Lyudnikov was awarded the 1 degree order and the Medal for Victory over Japan.

Commander of military forces

After the World War II

Commendant of Port Arthur and Commanding officer of the Soviet Army at Liaodong Peninsula till the year 1947.

1976 - Funeral at Novodevechi cemetery.

Public recognition and Awards

Orders and medals Ivan Iljich Lyudnikov that are in the museum-reserve "Battle of Stalingrad"

.

Legion of Merit by I.I.Lyudnikov
Legion of Honour by I.I.Lyudnikov

Soviet Orders and Medals

Foreign awards

Contemporie's memoirs

General of the army Piotr Lashenko (From battle into battle. M.Voenizdat, 1972. p. 198.):

"I.Lyudnikov, one of the Stalingrad heroes, enjoued the military reputation of competent and determined commander, with perfect knowledge of tactics, operations, and using various troops and their arms. Unlike some commanders, he did not like fast decisions and was thinking any task over in detail with a thorough orientation in the most complicated situation, working out the most resonable decision. He never lost his mind even in unsuccessful action, remaining balanced and cool, not raising voice. He could demand explanation and help his staff. It could be felt, that Stalingrad battle, flames of Kursk and experience of many other battles, have hardened his commanding charecter".

Memory and Cinema mentions

Memorial board in Moscow, Leninsky Avenue 61/1

Informational memorial board was placed at the beginning of the Avenue, and the end - bas-relief of Ivan Lyudnikov, Hero of the Soviet Union.

Film The Battle of Stalingrad (film). The role of Lyudnikov was played by Mikhail Nazvanov.

Events, commemorating 110 anneversary of I.I.Lyudnikov

On 12 of October 2012 a conference was held at the Sedovo settlement, marking the 110 Anneversary of I.Lyudnikov. Its main event was presentation of the book, collected and written by two historians and regional ethnographers of Donetsk Oblast - Alexei Andreevich Popov and Victor Nikolaevich Beschastny - "regimental leader from Krivaja Kosa". This is the first biografical book about I.I.Lyudnikov, who like G.J.Sedov is the national hero of the Sjedove settlement, that is why jubilee celebrations became important in the life of settlement. Authors of the book, son of Ivan Iljich - Evgeni Ivanovich, leaders of administration of the Novoazovsk Raion, director and teachers of the Sedov school research workers (which has an exposition, devoted to I.I.Lioudnikov) members of the veterans committee and other participants, telling a lot about Ivan Iljich. The conference was covered by the information means - Novoazovsk regional newspaper Rodnoje Priazovie and television of the Donetsk region. Besides presentation of the book, a scientific conference was held and a film about I Lyudnikov was shown and flowers entrusted to school wall Sedovo, marking Krivaja Kosa natives Georgy Sedov and I.I.Lyudnikov. It was decided to hold a scientific and practical conference devoted to the great general.

References

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