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Nikolay BiryukovSoviet military leader, lieutenant general
Date of Birth: 06.12.1901
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Content:
- Early Life and Military Career
- Post-Civil War Service
- Pre-World War II Service
- World War II
- Post-Stalingrad Service
- Post-War Career
- Foreign Orders
Early Life and Military Career
Nikolai Ivanovich Biryukov was born on April 19, 1945, in the village of Knyazhaya Baigora, Lipetsk Uyezd, Tambov Governorate. He came from a peasant family and received only a partial secondary education. Before joining the military, Biryukov worked at a publishing house in Leningrad.
In March 1920, Biryukov joined the Red Army. During the Russian Civil War, he served as a Red Army soldier in the 32nd Reserve and later the 20th Rifle Regiments of the Moscow Military District. In December 1920, he attended infantry and machine gun courses and participated in suppressing a peasant uprising in the Tambov Governorate.
Post-Civil War Service
From September 1922, Biryukov served in the 56th Rifle Regiment of the 19th Rifle Division of the Moscow Military District. He held various positions, including squad commander, company senior, platoon commander, battalion adjutant, assistant commander, and company commander.
In October 1925, Biryukov was transferred to the 165th Rifle Regiment of the 55th Rifle Division, where he commanded a company and a battalion. From October 1926 to August 1927, he attended refresher courses for command staff at the Moscow Infantry School.
Pre-World War II Service
In November 1930, Biryukov became a student at the Rifle-Tactical Improvement Courses for Command Staff of the Red Army at the "Vystrel" academy. After graduating in June 1931, he served as assistant to the head of the 4th sector of the 1st department and later as assistant head of that department in the Command Directorate of the Red Army General Staff.
From February 1935, Biryukov commanded the 219th Rifle Regiment of the 73rd Rifle Division in the Siberian Military District. In 1936-39, he served in the Spanish Civil War. On August 19, 1939, he was appointed commander of the 186th Rifle Division of the Ural Military District. On June 4, 1940, he was promoted to Major General.
World War II
In June 1941, the 186th Rifle Division was assigned to the 22nd Army and deployed to the Polotsk area. It fought in the Battle of Smolensk but was forced to retreat. In August 1941, Biryukov was wounded and spent several months in hospital.
In December 1941, Biryukov formed the 214th Rifle Division in the Ural Military District. The division was transferred to Stalingrad in July 1942 and fought in the Stalingrad Battle.
Post-Stalingrad Service
From June 23, 1943, Biryukov commanded the 20th Guards Rifle Corps, which fought in various offensive operations, including the Battle of the Dnieper, the Korsun-Shevchenkovsky Offensive, and the Vienna Offensive.
For his outstanding leadership in the liberation of Budapest, the corps was awarded the honorific title "Budapest" and Biryukov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Additionally, he was made an honorary citizen of several liberated cities.
Post-War Career
After the war, Biryukov continued to command the 20th Guards Rifle Corps. In March 1946, he attended the Higher Academic Courses at the Voroshilov Higher Military Academy. From January 1947, he served as head of the inspectorate of the Main Personnel Directorate of the USSR Armed Forces.
Biryukov retired in July 1953 and settled in Moscow, where he died on June 30, 1980. He was buried at the Kuntsevo Cemetery in Moscow.
Foreign Orders
- Order of Merit of the Hungarian People's Republic- Order of the Red Banner of the Mongolian People's Republic
- Order of Polonia Restituta (Poland)
- Military Cross (Czechoslovakia)
