25.12.1904 - 20.02.1995

Joseph Gusakovsky was Commander of the 44^th Guards Tank Brigade of the 1^st Guards Tank Army, Guards Colonel.

He was born on December 25, 1904 in the village of Vorodkovo (today Krichevsky district of Mogilev region, Belarus) in a peasant family. Belarusian. A member of the CPSU (B) / CPSU since 1931.

He joined the Red Army in 1928. Graduated from Cavalry School in 1931, in 1932 - armored courses and in 1937 - high school (externally) in the city of Maikop. He served in command and staff positions.

Took part in the Great Patriotic War from June 1941. Was Staff Chief of the 147^th Tank Regiment of the 103^rd Motorized Division, a tank brigade; and from September 1943 until the end of the war he commanded the 112^th Tank Brigade (later - 44^th Guards Brigade). He took part in offensive operations at Yelnya (1941), in the Battle of Moscow (1941-1943), Battle of Kursk (1943), in the liberation of the Ukraine and Poland (1944-1945), and Capture of Berlin (1945). On February 21, 1944 Brigade Commander Gusakovsky promoted to Colonel of armored forces.

By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet on September 23, 1944, for his skillful administration and personal heroism in battles to destroy the enemy in the Lvov-Sandomierz operation of the 1^st Ukrainian Front, Guards Colonel Joseph Gusakovsky was awarded an honorable title of Hero of the Soviet Union, the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal (№ 4584).

By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet on April 6, 1945 for organizing a team crossing the river Pilitsa and participation in capturing the Polish city of Lovich in January 1945 during the Vistula-Oder operation of the 1^st Byelorussian Front, Guards Col. Joseph Gusakovsky was awarded the second Gold Star medal (№ 32).

The 44^th Guards Tank Brigade of Guards Col. Gusakovsky was awarded six medals for distinguished service.

After the war, having graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff in 1948, Gusakovsky commanded a tank division from 1948 to 1951, and then until 1953 he was assistant commander of the Military District of armored and mechanized forces, and from 1953 to 1958 he served in other senior positions. In 1958-1959 he was Deputy Commander of the Military District.

From 1959 to 1963, Colonel-General Gusakovsky was Commander of the Baltic Military District, and in 1963-1970 - Head of Staff of the Ministry of Defense. In 1968, Gusakovsky was promoted to General of the Army. Since 1970, he was military adviser to the Group of Inspectors General of the Ministry of Defence. He was elected a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the 6^th - 7^th convocations.

A prominent Soviet military leader Gusakovsky died on February 20, 1995. Buried in Moscow at Novodevichy Cemetery.

He was awarded four Orders of Lenin, the Order of the October Revolution, four Orders of the Red Banner, two Orders of the Patriotic War of the 1^st degree, two Orders of the Red Star, the Order “For Service to the Motherland in the USSR Armed Forces” of the 3^rd degree, medals and foreign orders.

bronze bust of twice Hero of the Soviet Union Joseph Gusakovsky was installed in Mogilev.