Vasily Shatilov
Encyclopedia
Vasily Mitrofanovich Shatilov (Russian
: Васи́лий Митрофа́нович Шати́лов; 17 February 1902, Kalmek, Voronezh
, Russian Empire
- 16 February 1995, Moscow
, Russian Federation) was a Soviet
general who commanded the 150th Rifle Division during the Battle of Berlin
.
at 1924, becoming a member of the Communist Party
three years later. On 1928 he graduated from the Tiflis Infantry School, and matriculated from the Mechanization and Motorization faculty of the Frunze Academy at 1938. Shatilov took part in the Soviet invasion of Poland
.
, commander of the 28th Tank Brigade in Riga
. Then he was transferred to the same post in the Dnipropetrovsk
-based 196 Infantry Division, under General Konstantin Kulikov, not long before the commencing of Operation Barbarossa
. When Kulikov was ambushed and taken prisoner at September, Shatilov replaced him.
On August 1942 he was put in charge of the 182nd Infantry Division. The Division fought in the Baltics, not far from Leningrad, and advanced from Demyansk
to the Velikaya River
while under Shatilov. On May 1944 he was appointed commander of the 150th Rifle Division, a unit of the 79 Rifle Corps in the 3rd Shock Army, itself a formation within the 1st Belorussian Front
.
in the vicinity of Wriezen
, reaching Berlin
on the 21. It was tasked with hoisting the Victory Banner
on the Reichstag
. On the morning of 30 April, after days of heavy fighting in the streets of the German capital
, the Division stormed the building. Soldiers of the Division hoisted several Soviet flags atop the structure, one of which - placed by Meliton Kantaria
, Mikhail Yegorov and Alexei Berest
- was eventually proclaimed
the official Victory Banner
(Though the first flag was probably hoisted by the Division's soldier Mikhail Minin
).
(Medal no. 6735). He graduated from the General Staff Academy at 1949, becoming the first deputy commander of the Far East Military District
. He retired from the Armed Forces at 1964, soon after being promoted to the rank of Colonel-General.
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
: Васи́лий Митрофа́нович Шати́лов; 17 February 1902, Kalmek, Voronezh
Voronezh Oblast
Voronezh Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . It was established on June 13, 1934.-Main rivers:*Don*Voronezh*Bityug*Khopyor-Economy:...
, Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
- 16 February 1995, Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Russian Federation) was a Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
general who commanded the 150th Rifle Division during the Battle of Berlin
Battle of Berlin
The Battle of Berlin, designated the Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation by the Soviet Union, was the final major offensive of the European Theatre of World War II....
.
Early life
Born to a peasant family, Shatilov joined the Red ArmyRed 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...
at 1924, becoming a member of the Communist Party
Communist Party of the Soviet Union
The Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the only legal, ruling political party in the Soviet Union and one of the largest communist organizations in the world...
three years later. On 1928 he graduated from the Tiflis Infantry School, and matriculated from the Mechanization and Motorization faculty of the Frunze Academy at 1938. Shatilov took part in the Soviet invasion of Poland
Soviet invasion of Poland
Soviet invasion of Poland can refer to:* the second phase of the Polish-Soviet War of 1920 when Soviet armies marched on Warsaw, Poland* Soviet invasion of Poland of 1939 when Soviet Union allied with Nazi Germany attacked Second Polish Republic...
.
Soviet-German War
Until May 1941, Shatilov served as chief of staff to Colonel Ivan ChernyakhovskyIvan Chernyakhovsky
Ivan Danilovich Chernyakhovsky, also Cherniakhovsky, ; Oksanina, Uman, Russian Empire , - Mehlsack, today Pieniężno, Poland, 18 February 1945) was a Soviet General of the Army , twice Hero of the Soviet Union, commander of the 3rd Belorussian Front, who died from wounds received outside...
, commander of the 28th Tank Brigade in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
. Then he was transferred to the same post in the Dnipropetrovsk
Dnipropetrovsk
Dnipropetrovsk or Dnepropetrovsk formerly Yekaterinoslav is Ukraine's third largest city with one million inhabitants. It is located southeast of Ukraine's capital Kiev on the Dnieper River, in the south-central region of the country...
-based 196 Infantry Division, under General Konstantin Kulikov, not long before the commencing 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...
. When Kulikov was ambushed and taken prisoner at September, Shatilov replaced him.
On August 1942 he was put in charge of the 182nd Infantry Division. The Division fought in the Baltics, not far from Leningrad, and advanced from Demyansk
Demyansk
Demyansk is an urban locality and the administrative center of Demyansky District of Novgorod Oblast, Russia, located along the Yavon River. Population:...
to the Velikaya River
Velikaya River
For the Velikaya river in Far East Siberia, see Velikaya River .Velikaya River is located in western Russia . It starts in highlands in the south of Pskov Oblast, flows north through the cities of Opochka, Ostrov, and Pskov into Lake Peipus, which is drained by the Narva River....
while under Shatilov. On May 1944 he was appointed commander of the 150th Rifle Division, a unit of the 79 Rifle Corps in the 3rd Shock Army, itself a formation within the 1st Belorussian Front
1st Belorussian Front
The 1st Belorussian Front was a Front of the Soviet Army during World War II...
.
Battle of Berlin
On 16 April 1945, the Division crossed the OderOder
The Oder is a river in Central Europe. It rises in the Czech Republic and flows through western Poland, later forming of the border between Poland and Germany, part of the Oder-Neisse line...
in the vicinity of Wriezen
Wriezen
Wriezen is a town in the district Märkisch-Oderland, in Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated 11 km southeast of Bad Freienwalde....
, reaching Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
on the 21. It was tasked with hoisting the Victory Banner
Victory Banner
The Soviet Banner of Victory is the banner raised by the Red Army soldiers on the Reichstag building in Berlin, on April 30, 1945. It was raised by three Soviet soldiers: Alexei Berest, Mikhail Yegorov, and Meliton Kantaria, from Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia respectively.The Victory Banner, made...
on the Reichstag
Reichstag (building)
The Reichstag building is a historical edifice in Berlin, Germany, constructed to house the Reichstag, parliament of the German Empire. It was opened in 1894 and housed the Reichstag until 1933, when it was severely damaged in a fire. During the Nazi era, the few meetings of members of the...
. On the morning of 30 April, after days of heavy fighting in the streets of the German capital
Battle in Berlin
The Battle in Berlin was an end phase of the Battle of Berlin. While the Battle of Berlin encompassed the attack by three Soviet Army Groups to capture not only Berlin but the territory of Germany east of the River Elbe still under German control, the Battle in Berlin details the fighting, and...
, the Division stormed the building. Soldiers of the Division hoisted several Soviet flags atop the structure, one of which - placed by Meliton Kantaria
Meliton Kantaria
Meliton Varlamovich Kantaria or Kantariya , Hero of the Soviet Union , was a Georgian sergeant of the Soviet Army credited to have together with M. A...
, Mikhail Yegorov and Alexei Berest
Alexei Berest
Oleksi Prokopovich Berest was a Soviet political officer and one of the three Red Army soldiers who hoisted the Victory Banner.-Early life:Born to an impoverished...
- was eventually proclaimed
Raising a flag over the Reichstag
Raising a flag over the Reichstag is a historic World War II photograph taken during the Battle of Berlin on 2 May 1945, by Yevgeny Khaldei. It depicts several Soviet troops raising the flag of the Soviet Union atop the German Reichstag building. The photograph was instantly popular, being...
the official Victory Banner
Victory Banner
The Soviet Banner of Victory is the banner raised by the Red Army soldiers on the Reichstag building in Berlin, on April 30, 1945. It was raised by three Soviet soldiers: Alexei Berest, Mikhail Yegorov, and Meliton Kantaria, from Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia respectively.The Victory Banner, made...
(Though the first flag was probably hoisted by the Division's soldier Mikhail Minin
Mikhail Minin
Mikhail Petrovich Minin was a Russian Soviet soldier who was the first to enter the Reichstag building on April 30, 1945 during the Battle of Berlin, and the first soldier to mount the flag on the Reichstag building at 10:40 pm.The iconic picture showing a Georgian soldier, Meliton Kantaria,...
).
Post-war years
On the 29 of May, Shatilov was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet UnionHero of the Soviet Union
The title Hero of the Soviet Union was the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, awarded personally or collectively for heroic feats in service to the Soviet state and society.-Overview:...
(Medal no. 6735). He graduated from the General Staff Academy at 1949, becoming the first deputy commander of the Far East Military District
Military district (Soviet Union)
In the Soviet Union, a military district was a territorial association of military units, formations, military schools, and various local military administrative establishments...
. He retired from the Armed Forces at 1964, soon after being promoted to the rank of Colonel-General.