Twice Hero of the Soviet Union Yakubovsky Ivan Ignatievich: biography, photo

Yakubovsky Ivan Ignatievich is one of the most famous heroes of the Great Patriotic War. For his courage and professionalism, he was twice presented to the highest award (Hero of the Soviet Union). His personality for many years is set as an example to the younger generation. And the operations performed are an example of an ideal strategy and tactics on the battlefield. In addition to military merit, Ivan Ignatievich showed his managerial skills in the post-war period. For several decades he played a significant role in the Red Army and the life of the USSR.

Yakubovsky Ivan Ignatievich: biography. Youth

Yakubovsky Ivan was born in the territory of modern Belarus in 1912. His parents were ordinary peasants. At the time of Ivan's birth, there were already five children in the family. Therefore, since childhood, he worked hard, helping his parents in everyday affairs. Immediately, in the Mogilev Province, he graduated from high school. After completing his studies he continues to work on the collective farm. He takes an active civil position. At the age of eighteen he became a secretary in the village soviet. In parallel, he takes a job at a brick factory. Two years later, Yakubovsky Ivan Ignatievich was among the graduates of the Orsha College. The family had high hopes for him, since from childhood the boy showed outstanding abilities.

Conscription

Immediately after the end of the technical school, he is summoned to join the ranks of the Red Army for service. For training he is sent to the Minsk military school, where he studies until 1934. Then begins a military career. In Vitebsk, he gets a training platoon in subjection. In this position, he proved himself well, so the command suggests that he continue his studies. A year later he was sent to Leningrad for further training. There he listens to the course for the commanding staff of the armored units. After that, Yakubovsky is instructed to command a tank platoon.

In 1939, the situation in Europe is heating up. That's about to break the war. The Soviet Union is trying to push its borders as far as possible. In mid-September begins the Polish campaign of the Red Army. Soviet troops occupied the territory of modern Western Ukraine and Belarus. During this campaign, the Polish troops did not resist, and the local population massively supported the Red Army. Nevertheless, maneuvering a few kilometers from the Wehrmacht troops, servicemen carried out a difficult mission. Yakubovsky Ivan Ignatievich and the connection entrusted to him perfectly fulfilled their task and in a short time occupied all the mentioned settlements.

The Finnish War

This same winter, a new war, preceding the Second World War, began. To ensure the security of the northern border and to eliminate the Finnish threat, the Soviet army decides to launch an offensive against Finland. This operation will later be called "winter war". Yakubovsky also took part in it. Having broken many kilometers into Finland, Soviet troops faced a number of serious problems. Constant supply disruptions, terrible cold, the actions of Finnish saboteurs caused serious losses.

The beginning of the Second World War

At the time Nazi Germany attacked the USSR, Yakubovsky Ivan Ignatievich was on the Western Front. The military machine of the Third Reich broke through to the capital of the Byelorussian SSR - Minsk. Battles for the city began. Many bloody soldiers perished in bloody battles on both sides. However, after 3 days the city fell. Red Army soldiers caught panic. The division of Yakubovsky went to Mogilev. Within a few days the Nazis took the city under siege. Heroic resistance did not bring serious successes in the defense of Mogilev, but managed to derail the German plans for the rapid seizure of the entire BSSR. For showing courage, Yakubovsky was introduced to the Order of the Red Star. After his departure from Byelorussia, he commanded various formations on the Western Front.

Retreat of troops

In the spring of 1942, heavy fighting began for the Donbass. In the Donetsk steppes of the Red Army it was finally possible to conduct a series of offensive operations. The settlements were several times passed from hand to hand. Yakubovsky was always on the front line. Once his tank was hit and the car caught fire, but Ivan was able to get out. After the fall of Donbass he took part in other key battles of the Great Patriotic War. He operated under Stalingrad and forced Don. In the list of those who distinguished themselves in the Battle of the Kursk Bulge was Ivan Ignatievich Yakubovsky. The family of the captain at this time was in evacuation and regularly sent letters to the front, which Ivan later repeatedly recalled.

After the victory over the Germans at Kursk, a rapid offensive began throughout the front line. The city was out of town. A special obstacle in the way of the Red Army was the Dnieper. It was extremely difficult to force the river. To defeat the German grouping of troops in the Kiev area, it was necessary to take the strategically important city of Fastov. During his release, Yakubovsky Ivan Ignatievich distinguished himself. The feat of his brigade already the next day printed newspapers throughout the country. The unit entrusted to him destroyed more than 30 enemy tanks.

Yakubovsky Ivan - Hero of the Soviet Union

For these merits the commander was presented to the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. After the liberation of Kiev, Ivan was given the rank of deputy commander of the tank corps. His union takes part in the offensive against Lvov. During this operation, the tanks of Yakubovsky play a significant role in the expansion of the Sandomir bridgehead. Heavy fighting did not stop for a day. Reinforcements came from the west to the Nazis. Despite all the efforts of the Polish Army Ludovaya, they broke through without loss to the front.

The offensive could get bogged down in protracted battles, if not for Ivan Iakubovsky. The commander's feat during the Lvov-Sandomierz operation brought him the second gold star of the Hero of the Soviet Union.

After the war

The end of the war, Jakubowski met in Berlin. His unit participated in the capture of the Nazi capital and perfectly fulfilled the task. During the fighting Ivan was several times wounded, his car caught fire. For his direct participation in the battles earned a huge respect for the personnel. After the war, he graduated from the Academy of the General Staff and commanded the tank troops of several districts. In 15 years he received the post of commander-in-chief of a group of troops in East Germany. This military district was extremely important, as it was at the border of Western countries. During the Berlin crisis, when the world stood on the threshold of a new war, Yakubovsky worked as deputy commander-in-chief and was responsible for all organizational work.

Marshal

Further, he worked in the staffs and the Ministry of Defense. In 1967, by order of the Commander-in-Chief, a new marshal of the Soviet Union, Yakubovsky Ivan, was announced. Interesting facts of his biography and memories of this event, he will publish in his memoirs. For his military merit, the marshal received not only Soviet awards, but also foreign ones. Including German and Czechoslovak.

Ivan Yakubovsky died in 1976. In a number of cities there are still monuments to it, as well as streets named after the hero. Many people still remember who Ivan Yakubovsky is, the marshal of the Soviet Union.