Georgiy Druzhinin Soviet military leader, major general (1945) Date of Birth: 23.04.1895

1. Early Life and Military Career
2. Civil War and Bolshevik Party
3. Interwar Period and Chinese Invasion
4. Arrests and Reappointment
5. World War II
6. Liberation of the Baltic States
7. Postwar Service and Retirement
8. Awards and Honors

Early Life and Military Career

Nikolai Dружиininwas born on April 23, 1895, in the village of Nikolaevka, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia. In May 1916, he was drafted into the army during World War I and served in the 38th Siberian Rifle Regiment. In 1917, he fell ill and was discharged from service due to typhus.

Civil War and Bolshevik Party

After recovering, Dружиnin was mobilized into the army of Admiral Kolchak's anti-Bolshevik forces in November 1918. However, he later deserted and joined the Red Army in September 1919. He quickly rose through the ranks, attending officer training courses and becoming a company commander in the 3rd Siberian Rifle Regiment.

Interwar Period and Chinese Invasion

After the Civil War, Dружиnin served in various positions within the Red Army. He participated in the Soviet campaign against the Chinese warlord Zhang Zuolin on the Chinese Eastern Railway in 1929. For his bravery, he received the Order of the Red Banner.

Arrests and Reappointment

In 1938, Dружиnin was arrested by the NKVD and imprisoned for over a year. After his release, he was rehabilitated and appointed as a tactics instructor at the Kansk Military Infantry School. He later became Chief of Training at the Kemerovo Infantry School and then Head of the Trans-Baikal Military Infantry School.

World War II

With the outbreak of World War II, Dружиnin continued to command the Trans-Baikal school. In July 1943, he was given command of the 103rd Rifle Division and later the 344th Rifle Division. He led the division through several key operations, including the liberation of Mogilev and Vilnius. For his leadership, he was awarded three Orders of the Red Banner.

Liberation of the Baltic States

In August 1944, Dружиnin's division was transferred to the 1st Baltic Front. He played a key role in the capture of Memel and the elimination of the German forces in Courland. He was awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky for his contributions.

Postwar Service and Retirement

After the war, Dружиnin remained in command of his division until 1950. He then served as head of the military department at the Yerevan Zooveterinary Institute. In 1955, he retired from military service with the rank of General-Major.

Awards and Honors

Dружиnin received numerous awards for his military service, including the Order of Lenin, four Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of Suvorov 2nd degree, the Order of Alexander Nevsky, and other medals.