Filipp Cherokmanov

Filipp Mikhailovich Cherokmanov (Russian: Филипп Михайлович Черокманов; 16 November 1899 – 8 June 1978) was a Soviet Army lieutenant general and Hero of the Soviet Union. Cherokmanov joined the Red Army during the Russian Civil War. During the interwar period, Cherokmanov became an officer and commanded the 148th Rifle Division from 1939. He led the division through the Battle of Smolensk and the Battle of Moscow. In February 1942 he became commander of the 6th Guards Rifle Division and was promoted to major general. During the summer of 1943, he became the commander of the 27th Rifle Corps. Cherokmanov was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union for his leadership during the Battle of the Dnieper. He led the corps through the rest of the war, including in the Berlin Offensive. Postwar, Cherokmanov commanded the 29th Guards Rifle Corps, 3rd Army and 7th Guards Army. After becoming deputy commander of the Turkestan Military District, Cherokmanov retired in 1957.

Early life and Russian Civil War Cherokmanov was born on 18 November 1899 in the village of Marovka in what is now the Issinsky District of Penza Oblast to a peasant family. He worked as a laborer. Cherokmanov became a shepherd working for the Rozhnovsky landowning family in the village of Solovtsova. and served in the Volsky Separate Battalion. In 1920, he graduated from the regimental school of the 22nd Rifle Regiment of the Volga Military District. After recovering from his wounds in August, Cherokmanov crossed the front line. On 25 December, it captured Livny. On 10 February 1942, Cherokmanov was transferred to command the 6th Guards Rifle Division. He was awarded the Order of the Red Banner on 18 February. On 3 May, he was promoted to Major General. In May 1943, the division was transferred to Ponyri, at the northern end of the Kursk bulge. Just before the beginning of Operation Zitadelle on 5 July, Cherokmanov was promoted to command the 27th Rifle Corps on 27 June. Cherokmanov commanded the corps during its defense of the Ponyri area. and the Order of Lenin for his leadership during the offensive. The corps then fought in the Berlin Offensive and ended the war on the Elbe. Cherokmanov was awarded the Order of Suvorov 1st class on 29 May for his leadership during the offensive.

Postwar Cherokmanov continued to command the 27th Rifle Corps until March 1947. In March 1948, he graduated from higher academic courses at the Military Academy of the General Staff. He then became commander of the 29th Guards Rifle Corps. On 15 November 1950, he was awarded a third Order of the Red Banner. In February 1951, Cherokmanov became commander of the 3rd Shock Army. In November, he became commander of the 7th Guards Army in the Transcaucasian Military District. In July 1955, Cherokmanov became deputy commander of the Transcaucasian Military District. He retired in August 1957 and lived in Voronezh. In 1972, he became an honorary citizen of Yelets. He died on 8 June 1978 and was buried at the city's Kominternovskoye Cemetery.