- Ivan Panfilov
Ivan Vasilyevich Panfilov ("Панфилов Иван Васильевич") (January 1, 1893 (O.S. December 20, 1892) - November 19, 1941) was a Russian general and
Hero of the Soviet Union (1942, posthumously).During the
Battle of Moscow in November 1941 Panfilov, commander of the 316th Rifle Division (renamed to 8th Guard Rifle Division onNovember 18 ,1941 ), died in fierce self-sacrificial infantry combat against German tanks. During the battle, Panfilov received an order from Marshal Zhukov, stating that if he retreated he would face a firing squad. [cite book | author=Overy, Richard | title=Russia's War| publisher=Penguin| year=1999| id=ISBN 0-14-027169-4 | pages=pp.116-117] While antiquated Kazakh artillery pounded the Nazis, wounded soldiers armed only with bottles of petrol rolled under tanks. In this way General Panfilov's brigade of 28 soldiers and sappers destroyed 47 tanksdubious. Only 3 Soviet soldiers survived the carnage. [cite book | author=Robbins, Christopher | title=In Search of Kazakhstan| publisher=Profile Books| year=2007| id=ISBN 978-1-86197-868-4| pages=p.47] Large numbers of German soldiers and tanks were killed and disabled as well. It was because of this action that the termPanfilovtsy was coined.Notes
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