Pavel Batov
Encyclopedia
Pavel Ivanovich Batov was a senior Red Army
general during the Second World War
and afterwards.
Batov was a close friend of Marshall K. K. Rokossovski, under whom he served many times during Second World War
. As many World War II Soviet generals, Batov began his military career during World War I
, later joining the Red Army during the civil war. He attended Vystrel Officer's school in 1926 and Frunze Military Academy in 1936.
He was then sent to Spain where he first served as military adviser to the Republican Army. He fought on the Terruel Front, at Guadalajara
and on the Aragon front. Back to Soviet Union, he successively commanded 10th Rifle Corps, 3rd Rifle Corps (which took part in the Soviet-Finnish War in February–March 1940).
Lieutenant-General on June 20, 1940, Batov was in command of the 9th Separate Rifle Corps at the outbreak of operation Barbarossa
. During the first part of the war, Batov held major commands during the battle for Crimea (as Commander 51st Army
) and for the Kerch Peninsula. In January 1942 he joined the Bryansk Front
as commander of the 3rd Army, and later deputy commander-in-chief of the front, under Rokossovski. Batov (now commander of the 65th Army) later served under Rokossovsky's Don Front during the battle of Stalingrad
, where his army played a critical role in the final stages of the battle.
In July 1943, Batov's 65th Army was a key component of Rokossovski's Soviet Central Front
during the giant Battle of Kursk
, and in the exploitation operations that followed the German Defeat. In the 1st Belorussian Front, Batov's army took part to the major strategic operations in Belorussia, in Poland (Brest-Lublin), in East Prussia and in Pomerania.
After the war, Batov held various senior commands including Deputy commander of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany
, commander of the Carpathian Military District
(in this period he participated in the suppression of the 1956 Hungarian Revolt
), the Baltic Military District
, and Chief of Staff of Warsaw Pact Forces.
Although mostly unknown to the general public, Batov had a well-deserved reputation of competence and takes place among the myriad of the talented generals who, after "surviving" the first part of the Soviet-Nazi war, greatly contributed to the final victory over the Nazis.
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
general during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and afterwards.
Batov was a close friend of Marshall K. K. Rokossovski, under whom he served many times during Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. As many World War II Soviet generals, Batov began his military career during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, later joining the Red Army during the civil war. He attended Vystrel Officer's school in 1926 and Frunze Military Academy in 1936.
He was then sent to Spain where he first served as military adviser to the Republican Army. He fought on the Terruel Front, at Guadalajara
Battle of Guadalajara
The Battle of Guadalajara saw the Republican People's Army defeat Italian and Nationalist forces attempting to encircle Madrid during the Spanish Civil War...
and on the Aragon front. Back to Soviet Union, he successively commanded 10th Rifle Corps, 3rd Rifle Corps (which took part in the Soviet-Finnish War in February–March 1940).
Lieutenant-General on June 20, 1940, Batov was in command of the 9th Separate Rifle Corps at the outbreak of operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
. During the first part of the war, Batov held major commands during the battle for Crimea (as Commander 51st Army
51st Army (Soviet Union)
The 51st Army was a field army of the Red Army that saw action against the Germans in World War II on both the southern and northern sectors of the front. In particular, it was involved in the Crimean debacle of May 1942, and the final cutting-off of German forces in the Courland area next to the...
) and for the Kerch Peninsula. In January 1942 he joined the Bryansk Front
Bryansk Front
The Bryansk Front was a Front of the Soviet Army during the Second World War.General Andrei Yeremenko was designated commander of the Front when it first formed in mid-late August 1941, comprising, in Erickson's words, 'on paper two armies, 50th and 13th, with eight rifle divisions each, three...
as commander of the 3rd Army, and later deputy commander-in-chief of the front, under Rokossovski. Batov (now commander of the 65th Army) later served under Rokossovsky's Don Front during the battle of Stalingrad
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was a major battle of World War II in which Nazi Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad in southwestern Russia. The battle took place between 23 August 1942 and 2 February 1943...
, where his army played a critical role in the final stages of the battle.
In July 1943, Batov's 65th Army was a key component of Rokossovski's Soviet Central Front
Soviet Central Front
The Central Front was a Front of the Soviet Army during the Second World War.The Central Front describes either of two distinct organizations during the war...
during the giant Battle of Kursk
Battle of Kursk
The Battle of Kursk took place when German and Soviet forces confronted each other on the Eastern Front during World War II in the vicinity of the city of Kursk, in the Soviet Union in July and August 1943. It remains both the largest series of armored clashes, including the Battle of Prokhorovka,...
, and in the exploitation operations that followed the German Defeat. In the 1st Belorussian Front, Batov's army took part to the major strategic operations in Belorussia, in Poland (Brest-Lublin), in East Prussia and in Pomerania.
After the war, Batov held various senior commands including Deputy commander of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany
Group of Soviet Forces in Germany
The Group of Soviet Forces in Germany , also known as the Group of Soviet Occupation Forces in Germany and the Western Group of Forces were the troops of the Soviet Army in East Germany....
, commander of the Carpathian Military District
Carpathian Military District
The Carpathian Military District was a military district of the Soviet Armed Forces from 1945 after the conclusion of the Second World War to 1990-91. It became part of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 1991 and was disbanded by being redesignated the Western Operational Command later in the 1990s.Two...
(in this period he participated in the suppression of the 1956 Hungarian Revolt
1956 Hungarian Revolution
The Hungarian Revolution or Uprising of 1956 was a spontaneous nationwide revolt against the government of the People's Republic of Hungary and its Soviet-imposed policies, lasting from 23 October until 10 November 1956....
), the Baltic Military District
Baltic Military District
The Baltic Military District was a military district of the Soviet armed forces, formed briefly before the German invasion, and then reformed after World War II and disbanded after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991....
, and Chief of Staff of Warsaw Pact Forces.
Although mostly unknown to the general public, Batov had a well-deserved reputation of competence and takes place among the myriad of the talented generals who, after "surviving" the first part of the Soviet-Nazi war, greatly contributed to the final victory over the Nazis.