Alexander Gorbatov

Alexander Vasilyevich Gorbatov ( _ru. Алекса́ндр Васи́льевич Горба́тов) (1892 A.D. to A.D. 1971) served as a Colonel-General in the Red Army during the Second World War.

Gorbatov served in the Czar's Army in the First World War, fighting in numerous engagements along the Eastern Front, including the Battles of Tannenburg, Galicia, Przemsyl, the Gorlice-Tarnow Offensive, both Battles of the Masurian Lakes, the Brusilov Offensive, and the Kerensky Offensive. [Erickson John (1984). The Road to Stalingrad: Stalin's War with Germany] After the Communist Revolution of November and the counter-revolution the following year, Gorbatov enlisted in the Red Army as a commander (all Soviet officers were classified as "commanders" for the Soviet leaders believed that the word "officer" was too Westernized for the Red Army) in 1919. Gorbatov served with distinction and was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for his exploits. [Erickson John (1984). The Road to Stalingrad: Stalin's War with Germany] By the end of the Russian Civil War, Gorbatov had risen to the command one of the Red Guards cavalry divisions.

During the Great Purge of Soviet officers by Soviet Premier Joesph Stalin, Gorbatov was convicted of "being an enemy of the people" and was sent to the Kolyma gold mines as punishment. After several years of working as a manual laborer, he was reinstated in the army at his previousrank, in March 1941. In the aftermath of the opening days of Operation Barbarossa, Gorbatov was placed in command of the 226th Rifle Division. After performing his duties at this position skillfully, Gorbatov was appointed commander of the3rd Army, and was instrumental in the Red Army's drive towards Germany. [Keegan John (1999). The First World War] Following the war, he was appointed Soviet Commandant of Berlin in 1945, under the command of Field Marhsal Georgi Zhukov.

His autobiography was published in the Soviet literary magazine Novy Mir, in the March - May, 1964 issue, and published in the West as "Years off My Life".

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