Konstantin Provalov
Konstantin Ivanovich Provalov (Russian: Константин Иванович Провалов; 12 June 1906 – 8 December 1981) was a Soviet Army Colonel general and Hero of the Soviet Union. Provalov was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin for his leadership of a regiment in the Battle of Lake Khasan. After Operation Barbarossa, Provalov became the commander of the 383rd Rifle Division. He led the division during the Battle of the Caucasus. In 1943, he became commander of the 16th Rifle Corps and fought in the Kerch–Eltigen Operation and Crimean Offensive. In May 1944, Provalov transferred to command the 113th Rifle Corps and led it during the Vitebsk–Orsha Offensive. In July he became commander of 36th Rifle Corps, which fought in the Minsk Offensive, the Gumbinnen Operation, the Battle of Königsberg and the Prague Offensive. Postwar, Probalov led the 3rd Guards Rifle Corps, 9th Guards Rifle Corps, 13th Rifle Corps and 31st Special Rifle Corps. In 1958, he became commander of the 4th Army. From 1962 to 1968 he led the Southern Group of Forces. Early life Provalov was born on 11 June 1906 in Babushkino village in Irkutsk Governorate in the family of a miner. He was a cousin of Double Hero of the Soviet Union Afanasy Beloborodov. He graduated from seven grades and worked as a land surveyor. He later became chairman of the village Selsoviet. Interwar Provalov was drafted into the Red Army in September 1928. In 1929, he graduated from the regimental school of the 39th Rifle Division's 117th Rifle Regiment. Provalov became an assistant platoon commander and fought in the Sino-Soviet conflict over the Chinese Eastern Railway between September and November. He was wounded during the fighting. In 1930, he joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Provalov graduated from the Irkutsk Infantry School in 1931. In December of that year, he became a platoon leader in the regiment. He then became a company commander and later commanded the division's separate machine gun company. In 1933, he graduated from the Omsk Military School. In November 1937, Provalov became chief of staff of the 40th Rifle Division's 120th Rifle Regiment. He became the regimental commander in July 1938. Provalov led the regiment in the Battle of Lake Khasan between July and August 1938. The regiment defeated Japanese troops on Zaozyornaya Hill. Provalov was reportedly wounded twice but continued to lead the regiment. On 25 October 1938, Provalov was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin for his leadership. He was also promoted to the rank of Colonel. In April 1939, he was sent to the Frunze Military Academy and graduated from there in 1941. World War II In August 1941, Provalov was sent to Donetsk to form the 383rd Rifle Division. Provalov led the division in the defence of Donetsk but was forced to retreat in October. The division then fought in the Battle of Rostov during November. Provalov was wounded in the fighting. Provalov was