Yakov Kozhevnikov

Yakov Ivanovich Kozhevnikov (; 3 November 1903 – 28 September 1983) was a Soviet Army major general who held division command during World War II.

A veteran of the Winter War, Kozhevnikov commanded a regiment during the Siege of Leningrad. He commanded three different rifle divisions in the Baltic during 1944 and 1945. Postwar, Kozhevnikov ended his career in the early 1950s as a brigade commander.

Early life and prewar service Yakov Ivanovich Kozhevnikov was born on 3 November 1903 in the village of Tanino, Yershichsky Volost, Roslavlsky Uyezd in Smolensk Governorate. His social origin was listed in his service record as working class. Kozhevnikov chose a career in the Red Army and was admitted to the Western Infantry School in Smolensk on 1 October 1924. After the disbandment of the school, he was transferred to the Ivanovo-Voznesensk Infantry School at Oryol in October 1926. On graduation from the latter in August 1927, Kozhevnikov was posted to the Moscow Proletarian Rifle Division as commander of a machine gun platoon of its 2nd Rifle Regiment in Moscow. He became a member of the Communist Party in 1929. Commanding a rifle regiment, he organized the breakthrough of the enemy defenses, carrying out the tasks assigned to the regiment, capturing a large number of trophies and wiping out up to 1,000 Germans. He directly supervised the battle down to the lowest units. He showed himself to be a fearless commander in battle, able to carry out any task. For bravery and skillful organization in the destruction of the enemy he is deserving of the state award of the Order of the Red Banner. The 63rd Guards Rifle Division was rebuilt from 21 January, and on 3 February assigned to the 55th Army to take part in the Krasny Bor operation, in which it captured Krasny Bor. From March to July the division defended the line of Vesely poselok, Farforovaya, Aleksandrovskoye, Porokhovoye, Bolshaya and Malaya Okhta, then fought in the Mga offensive. From 15 September, as part of the 67th Army, the division fought in the attacks in the Sinyavino region. Kozhevnikov was lightly wounded again on 18 September. Colonel Kozhevnikov, in the battles for the liberation of Soviet Latvia from German-Fascist invaders, demonstrated skill in organizing combined arms cooperation, materiel support and leadership of units in offensive fighting. A daring and brave officer. Scorning the danger to his life, Comrade Kozhevnikov often was with the units during the fighting and directed the fighting from there. The division commanded by Colonel Kozhevnikov carried out the tasks assigned by the command during the offensive. For skillful leadership of offensive battles, and personal courage and bravery during these battles, Colonel Kozhevnikov is deserving of the award of the Order of the Red Banner.

In March 1945 Kozhevnikov was transferred to command the 85th Rifle Division, and led it as part of the 22nd and 42nd Armies during offensive and defensive battles in blockade of the Courland Pocket in the Riga region. For his performance in these final battles he received the Order of Alexander Nevsky on 6 June: Colonel Kozhevnikov, commanding a division, managed to ensure the fulfillment of all tasks entrusted to his unit during the period on the defensive. Fulfilling the task to strengthen the forward line, Colonel Kozhevnikov strove to strengthen the defense. He organized reconnaissance work well, as a result of which the dispositions of the opposing enemy were known by the moment combat operations began. He ensured high offensive spirit among the personnel of his unit. All of these actions assisted the successful carrying out of combat missions during the operation of 5 to 8 May 1945.

Postwar After the end of the war, Kozhevnikov continued to command the division, being promoted to major general on 11 July. He was placed at the disposal of the Main Cadre Directorate on 31 October 1945, then sent to the Higher Academic Courses at the Voroshilov Higher Military Academy. Completing the courses, Kozhevnikov was appointed chief of the Infantry Officers' Improvement Courses of the Turkestan Military District in May 1947, which in December were renamed the Combined Officers' Improvement Courses of the district. In April 1950 he became deputy commander of the 1st Guards Rifle Division of the Baltic Military District. From April 1952 he commanded the 16th Separate Guards Rifle Brigade of the East Siberian Military District. In December 1953, when the brigade was reorganized as a mechanized division, Kozhevnikov was relieved of command and placed at the disposal of the Transbaikal Military District commander. He was transferred to the reserve on 17 February 1954, and died in Kiev on 28 September 1983.

Decorations Kozhevnikov was a recipient of the following decorations:

Order of Lenin Order of the Red Banner (2) Order of Kutuzov, 2nd class Order of Suvorov, 3rd class Order of Alexander Nevsky Order of the Patriotic War, 1st class Order of the Red Star Medals