Pyotr Koshevoy

Who was Pyotr Koshevoy?

Petr Kirillovich Koshevoi was a Soviet military leader.

Koshevoi was born to a peasant Ukrainian Cossack family and joined the Red Army in 1920.

He took part in the Russian Civil War and commanded a corps during the second world war taking part in the defense of Stalingrad, the Liberation of the Crimea and the capture of East Prussia. He was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union twice – in 1944, for the taking of Sapun-gora and in 1945, for his part in the capture of Königsberg.

Following the war, Koshevoi commanded the Siberian Military District in 1957–60, the Kiev Military District in 1960–65, and the Group of Soviet forces in East Germany in 1965–69. Koshevoi was promoted to Marshal of the Soviet Union in 1968. He is buried at the Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow.