17.9.1900 - 8.6.1976

Mikhail Katukov commanded the 1^st Guards Tank Army, was Colonel General of armored forces.

He was born on 5 (17) September 1900 in Bolshoe Uvarovo village, today Ozersky district of the Moscow Region. Russian. Participated in the October armed uprising in Petrograd in 1917.

Joined the Army in 1919. A member of the Civil War on the Southern Front. In 1922 he graduated from the Mogilev Infantry courses, in 1927 – courses “The Shot”, in 1935 – advanced courses for the Red Army commanders at the Military Academy of Mechanization and Motorization of the Red Army. He served in armor. Since 1940 commanded the 20^th Armored Division.

Participated in the Great Patriotic War from June 1941 as a commander of the 20^th Armored Division. From September 1941 commanded the 4^th (1^st Guards) Tank Brigade, famous for the defense of Moscow in Volokolamsk highway. In 1942 he commanded the 1^st Tank Corps, distinguished at Voronezh, from September 1942 he commanded the 3^rd Mechanized Corps. From January 1943 – the 1^st Panzer Army (April 1944 – 1^st Guards), which participated in the Battle of Kursk, the liberation of the Ukraine, and the Lvov-Sandomierz operation.

For the successful leadership, and for his personal courage and heroism, Colonel-General of armored forces, Mikhail Katukov was awarded the honorary title of Hero of the Soviet Union, the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal on September 23, 1944.

Later these army parts distinguished themselves in the Vistula-Oder, East Pomeranian and Berlin operations.

For the successful leadership and for his personal courage and heroism Col. Gen. Mikhaill E. Katukov was awarded a second Gold Star medal on April 6, 1945.

After the war he commanded an army, armored and mechanized troops of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany. In 1951 he graduated from the Higher academic courses at the Military Academy of the General Staff. Since 1955 he was inspector general of the General Inspectorate of the USSR Ministry of Defense, since 1957 – Deputy Chief of Combat Training Army. Since 1963 – in the Group of Inspectors General of the USSR Ministry of Defense.

He lived in Moscow. He died on June 8, 1976 and was buried in Moscow at Novodevichy Cemetery.

Marshal of Armored Troops (1959). He was awarded four Orders of Lenin, three Orders of the Red Banner, two 1^st Class Orders of Suvorov, Orders of Kutuzov of the 1^st and 2^nd degree, the 1^st class Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky, the Order of the Red Star, the Order “For Service to the Motherland in the USSR Armed Forces” of the 3^rd degree, medals, and foreign awards.

A bronze bust was installed in Ozery-town. On the house where he lived (Moscow, Leningrad Prospect, 75), a memorial plaque was set, and a museum works. Streets in Moscow and the cities of Mtsensk and Snezhny are named after him, and memorial plaques are also set.