Vasily Kryuchenkin

Vasily Dmitrievich Kryuchenkin (Russian: Василий Дмитриевич Крючёнкин, Ukrainian: Василь Дмитрович Крючонкін) (January 13, 1894, – June 10, 1976, Kyiv) was a Soviet Lieutenant general during World War II who commanded several armies.

Before World War II

He was born in the village of Karpovka in the Orenburg Oblast, in a peasants' family, and had seven siblings. In 1915 he joined the Russian Army and fought on Western Front as a Non-commissioned officer.

After the outbreak of the October Revolution, he joined the Red Guard in 1917 and the Red Army in 1918. He participated in several battles and was commander of a cavalry platoon, a squadron, assistant commander of the regiment, and Commander of a cavalry regiment. After the end of the civil War, he graduated from the military school in Kiev in 1921. He was then assigned to the 11th Cavalry Division, where he was deputy commander of the 64 Cavalry regiment, and took part in battles with the Basmachi movement on the border with Afghanistan.

At the end of the battle, he was continued his studies until 1935. At that time, he served as commander of the Regiment school, chief of Staff of the regiment, assistant commander of the regiment and Commander of the Cavalry Regiment. In June 1938 he became commander of the 14th Cavalry Division in the Kiev Military District.

World War II

After Germany's attack on the Soviet Union, the division fought in the area of Kremenets and Berdychiv, where it was surrounded. After 6 days of fighting, the division was able to break through and escape. In November 1941 he became commander of the 5th Cavalry Corps, which he commanded during the Yelets Offensive, Barvenkovo–Lozovaya Offensive, the Second Battle of Kharkov and Battle of Voronezh (1942).

In July 1942, he became commander of the 28th Army, and a few weeks later of the 4th Tank Army, which he commanded until December 1942. Then he followed a course at the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia. After its completion in March 1943, he was appointed commander of the 69th Army, which he led during the Battle of Kursk. In April 1944 he became commander of the 10th Army and then of the 33rd Army, with which he participated in the Battle of the Dnieper.

In the period from July to October 1944 he was hospitalized for illness, and after he was cured in December 1944, he became a member of the Military Council of the 1st Belorussian Front. In January 1945, he became deputy commander of the 61st Army and then deputy commander of the 1st Belarusian front. At the end of the war he was deputy commander of the Don Military District.

In 1946, he was transferred to the reserve. He lived in Kyiv until his death.

Sources
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