Pavel Rotmistrov
Encyclopedia
Chief Marshal
of Armoured Troops Pavel Alexeyevich Rotmistrov (6 July 1901–6 April 1982) was a commander of armoured troops in the Red Army
during and following World War II
.
, during which he was involved in the suppression of the Kronstadt Rebellion
and in the Polish Soviet War. He commanded a platoon and later rifle company in 31st Rifle Regiment of 11th Rifle Division. In 1928 he entered Frunze Military Academy. From 1937 to 1940 he was an instructor at the Moscow Higher Military Academy. In May 1941 he became Chief of Staff of the 3rd Mechanised Corps
.
, and in Operation Bagration. He was removed from command following Bagration, and became deputy head of armoured troops at the General Staff. It is possible that the high losses incurred by 5th Guards Tank Army at the Battle of Minsk led to his removal from command. It is notable that he never held an active unit command again.
He was promoted to general colonel in October 1943 and became the first Marshal of Armoured Troops in February 1944.
, and he became a Deputy to the Supreme Soviet
and an assistant minister of defense.
He became the first Chief Marshal of Armoured Troops on 28 April 1962.
Chief Marshal
The ranks of Marshal of a branch and Chief Marshal of a branch were senior military ranks of the Soviet Armed Forces. Immediately above the rank "Marshal of a branch" is the rank "Chief Marshal of a branch". Both ranks are immediately above the rank "Colonel General" and equal to Soviet General...
of Armoured Troops Pavel Alexeyevich Rotmistrov (6 July 1901–6 April 1982) was a commander of armoured troops in the Red Army
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...
during and following World War II
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...
.
Pre-War
Rotmistrov joined the Red Army in 1919, and served during the Russian Civil WarRussian Civil War
The Russian Civil War was a multi-party war that occurred within the former Russian Empire after the Russian provisional government collapsed to the Soviets, under the domination of the Bolshevik party. Soviet forces first assumed power in Petrograd The Russian Civil War (1917–1923) was a...
, during which he was involved in the suppression of the Kronstadt Rebellion
Kronstadt rebellion
The Kronstadt rebellion was one of many major unsuccessful left-wing uprisings against the Bolsheviks in the aftermath of the Russian Civil War...
and in the Polish Soviet War. He commanded a platoon and later rifle company in 31st Rifle Regiment of 11th Rifle Division. In 1928 he entered Frunze Military Academy. From 1937 to 1940 he was an instructor at the Moscow Higher Military Academy. In May 1941 he became Chief of Staff of the 3rd Mechanised Corps
3rd Mechanised Corps (Soviet Union)
The 20th Motor Rifle Division is a formation of the Russian Ground Forces, originally formed within the Soviet Red Army as the 3rd Mechanised Corps....
.
Second World War
He commanded 5th Guards Tank Army in the Battle of KurskBattle 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 Operation Bagration. He was removed from command following Bagration, and became deputy head of armoured troops at the General Staff. It is possible that the high losses incurred by 5th Guards Tank Army at the Battle of Minsk led to his removal from command. It is notable that he never held an active unit command again.
He was promoted to general colonel in October 1943 and became the first Marshal of Armoured Troops in February 1944.
Post-War
Following the war he commanded the mechanized forces of the Group of Soviet Forces in GermanyGroup 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....
, and he became a Deputy to the Supreme Soviet
Supreme Soviet
The Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union was the Supreme Soviet in the Soviet Union and the only one with the power to pass constitutional amendments...
and an assistant minister of defense.
He became the first Chief Marshal of Armoured Troops on 28 April 1962.