Alexander Moiseyevsky

Alexander Gavrilovich Moiseyevsky (; 18 October 1902 18 March 1971) was a Soviet Army major general and a Hero of the Soviet Union.

Moiseyevsky joined the Red Army in 1919 and fought in the Russian Civil War. Later, he became an officer and political commissar, fighting in the 1929 Sino-Soviet conflict. After the German invasion of the Soviet Union, Moiseyevsky took command of the 303rd Rifle Division in September 1941, leading it in the Yelnya Offensive and the Battle of Moscow, during which it was destroyed in the Spas-Demensk pocket. After reaching Soviet lines and being screened in a NKVD filtration camp, he became deputy commander of the 160th Rifle Division in January 1942. In August, Moiseyevsky took command of the 312th Rifle Division, which he led for the rest of the war. He was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union on 6 April 1945 for his division's breakthrough during the Vistula–Oder Offensive. Moiseyevsky retired from the army in 1954 and lived in Moscow, working at the Ministry of Defence.

Early life and Russian Civil War Moiseyevsky was born on 18 October 1902 in Verniy to a working-class family. His father became a Bolshevik in 1905 and was often in prison. Moiseyevsky later moved to Tomsk, where he graduated from 2nd grade at the Tomsk Gymnasium. He then worked at a candy factory. In 1919, when the 30th Rifle Division entered Tomsk during the Russian Civil War, Moiseyevsky and his father joined the Red Army. Moiseyevsky became a soldier in the 267th Rifle Regiment and was wounded near Krasnoyarsk. Upon recovering he returned to the regiment. In January 1942, Moiseyevsky became deputy commander of the 160th Rifle Division. On 1 September, the division began its advance on Smolensk during the Battle of Smolensk. Moiseyevsky's division broke through along with self-propelled guns and tanks. Soon after, Dorogobuzh was recaptured. On 24 September the 312th crossed the Dnieper and attacked Smolensk from the south. By the next day the town was recaptured. In late 1943 he was promoted to major general. By this time the division had advanced to the Pronya River in the Mogilev Region. On 3 June 1944, he was awarded the Order of Kutuzov, 2nd class. After crossing the Oder, the division fought in the Battle of Berlin as part of the 8th Guards Army. On 30 April, Moiseyevsky was awarded a second Order of Lenin. The division ended the war in the German capital. On 29 May, he received the Order of Suvorov, 2nd class.

Postwar After the war, Moiseyevsky continued to serve in the Soviet Army. On 15 November 1950, he was awarded a fourth Order of the Red Banner. In 1951, he graduated from the Higher Academic Courses at the Military Academy of the General Staff. He retired in 1954 and lived in Moscow. Moiseyevsky worked for a long period at the Ministry of Defence. He died on 18 March 1971 and was buried in the Vagankovo Cemetery.

Awards and honors