Ivan Yakovlevich Kravchenko
Ivan Yakovlevich Kravchenko (Russian: Ива́н Я́ковлевич Кра́вченко; 10 October [O.S. 27 September] 1905–8 April 1942) was a Ukrainian Red Army major and a Hero of the Soviet Union.
Ivan Yakovlevich Kravchenko | |
|---|---|
| Born | 10 October [O.S. 27 September] 1905 Studeniki, Pereyaslavlsky Uyezd, Poltava Governorate, Russian Empire |
| Died | 8 April 1942 (aged 36) near Klintsy, Duminichsky District, Kaluga Oblast, Soviet Union |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | Soviet Union |
| Service/ | Red Army |
| Years of service | 1927–1942 |
| Rank | Major |
| Commands held | 324th Rifle Division |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |
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Kravchenko became a Red Army officer during the Interwar period, and was made a Hero of the Soviet Union for his actions during the Winter War, which included taking command of his battalion after his battalion commander was killed. He studied at the Frunze Military Academy after the Winter War, and after Operation Barbarossa began in June 1941 was appointed commander of a regiment. After the Soviet defeat in Operation Typhoon he took command of a sector of the defense of Tula before becoming a deputy division commander. Kravchenko was demoted to command of a regiment in early 1942 then appointed commander of the 324th Rifle Division. In April 1942, during the Rzhev–Vyazma Offensive, he died of wounds received while leading his troops.