Leonid Petrovsky

After the German invasion of the Soviet Union, Operation Barbarossa, began on 22 June 1941, the 63rd Rifle Corps was rushed to the front as part of the 21st Army of the Western Front, and fought in the defense of eastern Belarus against the German advance. On 6 July, the 63rd's 117th Rifle Division attacked across the Dnieper at night in what was planned as a reconnaissance-in-force. However, the attack surprised the XXIV Motorized Corps' 10th Motorized Division, and pushed the German troops back to the Bobruisk-Rogachev road.[1] During the Battle of Smolensk, Petrovsky used his corps to temporarily halt the German advance in the Rogachev area, one of the first successful Soviet counterattacks of the war. The 13 July counterattack across the Dnieper penetrated 8–10 kilometers into the defenses of the LIII Army Corps' 52nd and 255th Infantry Division, and captured Rogachev and Zhlobin. However, its success was fleeting, as the 63rd's advance was soon halted, and within a week, Rogachev and Zhlobin had fallen to the German troops again.[2]

On 26 July, the army and the 63rd Corps were transferred to the new Central Front. In mid-August, troops from the German 2nd Army and 2nd Panzer Group attacked south from Rogachev towards the 21st Army positions around Gomel, encircling and destroying most of the army. Army commander Vasily Gordov requested that the 63rd Corps be allowed to withdraw to Gomel, but Stalin refused.[3] While attempting to break out of the pocket, Petrovsky was killed while defending positions in the village of Staraya Rudnya.[4] Around this time, he was given command of the 21st Army, but as a result of the combat situation Petrovsky was unable to assume command.[5] In an uncommon action for the Eastern Front, he was buried with full military honors by German troops and a cross was erected over his grave with an inscription announcing his bravery.[3]

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