Pavel Semenovich
Rybalko
1894-1948
Pavel Semenovich Rybalko was a Soviet military commander, Marshal of armored troops, twice Hero of the Soviet Union. He was a Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 2nd convocation. He was born in the family of a factory worker. In 1908 he began working at a sugar factory, then he was an apprentice turner and attended Sunday school. Since 1912 he lived in Kharkov, worked as a turner at a locomotive factory. In 1914 he was drafted into the Russian Imperial Army. He was a participant of the First World War. He fought as a part of the 82nd Infantry Division near Przemysl on the Southwestern Front. In July 1917, he voluntarily left the army and returned to his homeland. From December 1917 he was in the Red Guard, from February 1918 he was in a partisan detachment, fought against the German and Austro-Hungarian invaders, as well as the troops of Hetman Skoropadsky and Ataman Petlyura. In August 1918, he was captured by the Germans, and released in December 1918. He returned to his homeland again and worked at the Lebedinsky Military Commissariat. He was in the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army since March 1919. He fought on the Southern and Southwestern fronts with the troops of Ataman Grigoriev, General A.I. Denikin in the Kuban, then on the Western Front – with the White Poles in the Lviv direction, near Zamost in October 1920, fought with the troops of General P.N. Wrangel in Northern Tavria, in late 1920 – early 1921 – fought banditry with the armed formations of N.I. Makhno in Ukraine, Belov and Przhevalsky in the Kuban. From May 1931 to April 1934, he was a student of the Military Academy of the Red Army named after M.V. Frunze (cavalry department of the main faculty). From May 1934 to February 1936 he was at the disposal of the Intelligence Directorate of the Red Army Headquarters, military adviser in China; from February 1936 to June 1937 – Assistant commander of the 8th Turkestan Mountain Cavalry Division of the Central Asian Military District; from June 1937 to October 1939 – military attache at the USSR Plenipotentiary missions in Poland; in April-December 1940 – military attache in China; from December 1940 to September 1941 – at the disposal of Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff. From September 1941 to May 1942, he worked as a teacher: head of the Intelligence Department of the Higher Special School of the General Staff of the Red Army. He repeatedly wrote reports with a request to send him to the front. He was a participant of the Great Patriotic War since May 1942. In May-July 1942 he was the Deputy Commander of the 3rd Tank Army; in July-October 1942 – Commander of the 5th Tank Army of the Bryansk Front. From October 1942 to April 1943, he was the commander of the 3rd Tank Army of the Reserve of the Supreme High Command Headquarters, then of the Voronezh and Southwestern Fronts. From April 27 to May 1, 1943, he was the Commander of the 57th Army of the Southwestern Front. From May 1943 to April 1946 – Commander of the 3rd Guards Tank Army of the Supreme Command Headquarters, then the Bryansk, Central, Voronezh, 1st Ukrainian fronts. By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated November 17, 1943, Lieutenant General Pavel Semenovich Rybalko was awarded the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal for the successful crossing of the Dnieper River, the firm consolidation of the bridgehead on the west bank of the Dnieper River and the courage and heroism shown at the same time. From April 1946 to April 1947, he was the First Deputy Commander of armored and mechanized troops of the Soviet Army, from April 1947 to August 1948 – Commander of armored and mechanized troops of the Soviet Army.
Address: Moscow, Shchukino district
