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Konstantin KoroteevHero of the Soviet Union, Colonel General
Date of Birth: 12.02.1901
Country:  Ukraine |
Content:
Biography of Konstantin Koroteev
Konstantin Aleksandrovich Koroteev was born on February 12, 1901, in the village of Shcheglovka, which is now part of the city of Bogodukhov in the Kharkov region of Ukraine. He began his military service in 1916 and joined the Red Army in 1918. Koroteev completed the Saratov Infantry-Machine Gun Courses in 1920, the Middle Command Training Courses in 1924, the "Vystril" Artillery Courses in 1926, and the Academic Courses at the Higher Military Academy in 1947.
Early Military Career
During the Russian Civil War and the military intervention in Russia, Koroteev served as a platoon and company commander, participating in battles against the White Guard forces near Lugansk, Millerovo, Belaya, Kalitva, and Tsaritsyn. After the Civil War, he held various positions such as platoon commander, assistant commander, and company commander. From 1930 to 1935, Koroteev served as a battalion commander and chief of staff, and from 1935 he became a regiment commander. In 1937, he was appointed as the chief of staff of a rifle division.
World War II
In February 1938, Koroteev was appointed as the commander of the 27th Rifle Division. He participated in the campaign in Western Belarus in 1939 and commanded the division during the Soviet-Finnish War of 1939-1940. From March 1940, he commanded the 56th Rifle Corps and later became the inspector of infantry for the Leningrad Military District. In March 1941, Koroteev assumed command of the 55th Rifle Corps, with which he entered the Great Patriotic War.
Koroteev took part in battles on the Southern, Southwestern, Transcaucasian, North Caucasus, Voronezh, Steppe, 2nd and 1st Ukrainian Fronts. From June 1941, he commanded the 55th Rifle Corps and later assumed command of the 12th Army from October 1941 to April 1942. From April 1942, he served as the assistant commander of the Southern Front and commanded the 11th Guards Rifle Corps from August to September. From September 1942 until the end of the war, Koroteev successively commanded the 9th, 18th, 37th, and 52nd Armies.
The forces under Koroteev's command, including the 12th, 9th, 18th, and 37th Armies, played a significant role in the defense of Donbass, the defense and liberation of the North Caucasus, and the 52nd Army's participation in the Dnieper River crossing in 1943. They also took part in the Korsun-Shevchenkovsky, Jassy-Kishinev, Lower Silesian, Berlin, and Prague offensive operations. For skillful command of the 52nd Army during the Oder River crossing and the capture of important communication nodes in the Sandomierz-Silesian operation, Koroteev was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Later Career and Honors
After the war, Koroteev continued to command the 52nd Army and from 1947, he commanded the troops of the Trans-Baikal Military District. He was also a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR during the third convocation. Koroteev was honored with three Orders of Lenin, four Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of Suvorov 1st Class, three Orders of Kutuzov 1st Class, the Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky 1st Class, numerous medals, and foreign orders.
