General Dovator
Yevsei Moiseyenko
1947
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Soviet military commander, Guards Major General, Hero of the Soviet Union
Born: 20 February 1903 (village of Khotino, Lepel district. Vitebsk Guberniya)
Died: 21 December 1941 (near village of Palashkino, Ruza Raion. Moscow Oblast)
Lev Mikhailovich was born 20 February 1903 in the village of Khotino into a Jewish working-class family (his birthplace is now in Beshenkovichy Raion, Vitebsk Oblast). In 1922, he was elected secretary of the Komsomol committee of Khotino village. He joined the RKKA (Workers and Peasants Red Army) as a volunteer in September 1924 (some sources say that it was in 1923). In 1925, he graduated from military-chemical courses in Moscow. In 1926, he attended the Borisoglebsk-Leningrad Cavalry Commander’s School of the RKKA. In 1928, he joined the KPSS (b). In 1929, he graduated the Cavalry Commander’s School. In October 1929, he became a platoon commander in the 27th Cavalry Regiment 5th Cavalry Division. From October 1933, he was a Politruk in the 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. From May 1935 to May 1936, he was Commissar of the independent reconnaissance battalion of 93rd infantry division. In 1939, he attended the M V Frunze Military Academy.
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Stamp honouring Lev Mikhailovich…
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In the early months of World War II, Colonel L M Dovator was with the headquarters of the Western Front. In July 1941, he won the Order of the Red Banner for bravery in the defensive battles at the Solovyov Crossing of the Dnepr. In August 1941, under the Western Front, he led an independent group of cavalry, formed of several Cossack regiments under the 50th and 53rd Cavalry Divisions. Under Dovator’s command, this large mounted formation raided the enemy’s rear, striking lines of communication. They broke through the German defences on a narrow front, and the appearance of strong units of Soviet cavalry 100 kilometres (62 miles) behind enemy lines caused panic among the fascists. For two weeks, Dovator’s men slogged through a difficult path, going through roadless forests and trackless swamps near Smolensk. During this time, Dovator’s men killed over 2,500 enemy soldiers, they destroyed 9 tanks, more than 200 motor vehicles, and a large amount of military stores. Much of the captured matériel went to partisan bands operating behind the fascist lines. The German High Command placed a large monetary reward of 50,000 Reichmarks (11,900 Gold US Dollars {equivalent to about 300,000 USD (9.59 million Roubles. 220,000 Euros. 192,000 UK Pounds) in today’s baloney dollars: editor}) on Dovator’s head, they created special units to track and capture him, but Dovator and his Cossacks proved elusive. The Cossacks accepted him as one of their own; they considered him an outstanding leader. It didn’t hurt that he was a fine rider and a master with the sabre.
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Cover of book “General Dovator”
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Memorial to Lev Mikhailovich in his home village of Khotino in Byelorussia… he’s still honoured today… as this image proves.
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On 20 November 1941, these units became the cadre of the newly-formed 3rd Cavalry Corps. Due to their outstanding performance, on 27 November 1941, the unit became the 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps. Tirelessly, General Dovator moved throughout all of his units, keeping up the morale of his cavalrymen, who fought bravely on the outskirts of Moscow. In conjunction with the 8th Guards Division (Panfilovskaya), 1st Guards Tank Brigade (under General Mikhail Katukov), and other troops of the 16th Army defended the approaches to Moscow in the Volokolamsk sector. On 11 December 1941, Dovator’s 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps was transferred to Kubinka Raion. The unit advanced as far as 150 kilometres (93 miles) into the rear of the retreating German troops in pursuit, and, on 19 December, they came to the Ruza River. On 17 December 1941, Dovator became Deputy Commander of the 16th Army and commander of its Operations Group, command of the 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps passed to General Issa Pliyev.
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Grave of General Dovator at the Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow (General Dovator’s grave is on the left, the grave of Major General Ivan Panfilov is on the right)… the grave in the centre is of Lieutenant Viktor Talalikhin, an early air ace.
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On 21 December 1941, Major General Dovator was mortally wounded by machine-gun fire, he was in the front lines scouting for an attack by the 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps against the Wehrmacht positions near the village of Palashkino, Ruza Raion of Moscow Oblast. He was crawling towards a forward position to get a better look. Upon hearing of his death, Marshal Georgi Zhukov is said to have lamented that it was a grievous loss. General Dovator was buried in Moscow at the Novodevichy Cemetery. On 23 December 1941, a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR posthumously awarded Guards Major General Lev Mikhailovich Dovator the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for his courage and heroism in battle against the Nazi invaders.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lev_Dovator
http://www.warheroes.ru/hero/hero.asp?Hero_id=1047
http://www.tvc.ru/ShowNews.aspx?top=5&id=71230538-b086-452f-a472-ae0ecbf5a4b5
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