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Lev Dovator

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Lev Dovator
File:Lev Dovator.jpg
Born20 February 1903
Khotino, Russian Empire
Died19 December 1941(1941-12-19) (aged 38)
near Palashkino, Ruzsky District, Moscow Oblast, Soviet Union
Buried
Novodevichy Cemetery
Allegiance Soviet Union
Service / branchRed Army
Years of service1924-1941
RankMajor general
Commands3rd Cavalry Corps
2nd Guards Cavalry Corps
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsHero of the Soviet Union
Order of Lenin (2)

Order of the Red Banner

Order of the Red Star
Lev Dovator (upper left) on the Soviet stamp published during the war. The text says "Death to German invaders!"

Lev Mikhaylovich Dovator (February 20, 1903 - December 19, 1941[1]) was a Soviet major-general who was killed in action during World War II and posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

Biography

Born at Khotino, Dovator came from a family of peasant Jewish origin.[2] At the start of the German invasion of the Soviet Union, he was posted as Chief of Staff of the Red Army's 36th Cavalry Division. He soon became the commander of a cavalry group, and in August–September 1941 this cavalry group executed the most daring raid through the rear areas of the German army in the area of Smolensk.

During the battle of Moscow, Dovator was the commander of 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps, which fended off the enemy advance at Volokolamsk. He was killed in action on 19 December 1941 near the outskirts of Ruza. He was reportedly cut down by machine-gun fire while crawling towards a forward position to get a better look. Dovator was posthumously given the title Hero of the Soviet Union[3] two days afterward, as well as the Order of Lenin. He was replaced in command by Major General Issa Pliyev.[4]

References

  1. ^ Alexander Werth, Russia at War (1964), Carroll & Graf, page 254.
  2. ^ Axell, Albert. Russia's Heroes, 1941-45 (156), ISBN 0-7867-1011-X
  3. ^ Zhukov, Georgy (1974). Marshal of Victory, Volume II. Pen and Sword Books Ltd. p. 50. ISBN 9781781592915.
  4. ^ Braithwaite, Rodric (December 9, 2010). Moscow 1941: A City & Its People at War. Profile Books. ISBN 1847650627.

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