Pyotr Georgyevich Novikov

Pyotr Georgyevich Novikov (Russian: Пётр Георгиевич Новиков; 18 December 1907 – August 1944) was a Red Army major general. Novikov fought in the Spanish Civil War as a battalion commander. After returning to the Soviet Union he fought in the Winter War. After the end of the Winter War Novikov became commander of the 2nd Cavalry Division. He led the division in battles on the Southern Front. The division became the 109th Rifle Division and fought in the Siege of Sevastopol. After the evacuation of Filipp Oktyabrsky and Ivan Yefimovich Petrov, Novikov became commander of the Sevastopol defense. Novikov attempted to evacuate the city on a patrol boat and was intercepted and captured by German forces. He was sent to concentration camps in Germany and died at Flossenbürg concentration camp in August 1944.[1]

Pyotr Georgyevich Novikov
Native name
Пётр Георгиевич Новиков
Born18 December 1907
Luch, Kazan Governorate, Russian Empire
DiedAugust 1944 (aged 36)
Flossenbürg concentration camp, Nazi Germany
AllegianceSoviet Union
Service/branchRed Army
Years of service1923–42
RankMajor General
Commands held2nd Cavalry Division

2nd Rifle Division
109th Rifle Division

Sevastopol Defense Region
Battles/warsSpanish Civil War

Winter War
World War II

AwardsOrder of the Red Banner

Early life and interwar military service

Novikov was born on 18 December 1907 in the village of Luch in Kazan Governorate to a peasant family. Novikov graduated from the rural school and then higher primary school. In 1923 he entered the Red Army Kazan Infantry School. After graduating from the school, he became a Red Army officer. Novikov became a Communist Party of the Soviet Union member in 1928. Between May 1937 and July 1938 Novikov fought in the Spanish Civil War as a battalion commander. On 22 October 1937 he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for his actions. Novikov received the Medal "For Courage" on 14 November 1938. Returning to the Soviet Union, Novikov became commander of the 95th Rifle Division's 241st Rifle Regiment, which he led until September 1939.[2] He fought in the Winter War. In May 1940, he was appointed commander of the 2nd Cavalry Division.[1]

World War II

After Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, Novikov fought in battles on the Southern Front, leading the 2nd Cavalry Division. Novikov fought in the Siege of Odessa. After being evacuated from Odessa to the Crimea,[3] he was promoted to Major general on 12 October 1941. On 3 November he was appointed commandant of Yalta. On 23 November he was appointed commander of the 2nd Rifle Division, the dismounted 2nd Cavalry Division.[4] He fought in the Siege of Sevastopol. Novikov's division defended the 1st Sector of Sevastopol's defense on the Balaklava axis from 9 November 1941. Novikov became the sector commander.[5][2]

In January 1942 the division became the 109th Rifle Division.[2] On 1 June the division withdrew back to Cape Kherson after the final German offensive, holding positions between Streletskaya Bay and Firsovo Farm. After the evacuation of Filipp Oktyabrsky and Ivan Yefimovich Petrov Novikov was appointed commander of the Sevastopol Defense Region by Petrov.[6] On 2 July he left Sevastopol with other officers in subchaser SKA-112[2] and was intercepted by S-boats off Yalta. The subchaser was sunk after a running battle with the German boats and Novikov was captured.[7] He was transferred to the Hammelburg camp. In December 1942, Novikov was transferred to the Flossenbürg concentration camp. He was killed by camp guards in August 1944.[1] According to postwar testimony by Lieutenant Colonel Kalanchuk, Novikov died when he was hit with a stool by a camp guard near the furnace of Flossenbürg's 5th Block. Generals Ivan Muzychenko and Ivan Skugarev testified that Novikov died of overwork and exhaustion.[8]

Notes
  1. Sverdlov 1999, pp. 40–42.
  2. Maslov 2001, pp. 21–23.
  3. Laskin 1977, pp. 35, 46.
  4. Charles C. Sharp, "Red Swarm", Soviet Order of Battle World War II, Vol. X, 1996, p 40. Note that Forczyk states that the division was formed based on remnants of 2nd Cavalry Division. Sharp states that 2nd Cavalry was almost entirely dismounted on arrival in Crimea, and was renamed 2nd Rifle on Nov. 25, 1941; Sharp, "Red Sabers", Soviet Order of Battle World War II, Vol. V, 1995, p 38.
  5. Donnell 2016, p. 70.
  6. Donnell 2016, p. 224.
  7. Forczyk 2013, p. 212.
  8. Maslov 2001, pp. 36–37.

References
  • Donnell, Clayton (2016). The Defence of Sevastopol 1941–1942: The Soviet Perspective. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen & Sword. ISBN 9781473879270.
  • Forczyk, Robert (2013). Where the Iron Crosses Grow: The Crimea 1941–44. Oxford: Osprey. ISBN 9781782009757.
  • Laskin, Ivan (1977). На пути к перелому [On the Way to the Fracture] (in Russian). Moscow: Voenizdat. OCLC 252452236.
  • Maslov, Alexander (2001). Captured Soviet Generals: The Fate of Soviet Generals Captured by the Germans, 1941–1945. London: Frank Cass. ISBN 9780714651248.
  • Sverdlov, Fyodor (1999). Советские генералы в плену. Moscow: Russian Research and Educational Holocaust Center. OCLC 43058137.
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