Ivan Fedorovich Grigoryevsky


   On 10 May 1944 at the British Embassy in Moscow was held a ceremony of awarding with orders and medals, which King George VI awarded in 1943 the soldiers, sergeants, officers and generals of the Red Army, as well as sailors of the Soviet merchant navy, for the courage and valor shown in the performance of command tasks on the Soviet-German front of the fight against Hitler's Germany - the common enemy of the Soviet Union and Britain. One of those who was awarded is Ivan Fedorovich Grigoryevsky and our today's story about him.

Ivan Grigoryevsky

   Ivan Fedorovich was born on 28 December 1901 in Bolshaya Gribanovka village, Voronezh region. He graduated from three classes of rural school. He in the Red Army since 15 June 1919. He took part in the Civil War. In 1923 he graduated from the 49th Grozny Infantry Command Course. From January 1923 to November 1937 he served in the 111th Infantry Regiment. In 1938 he graduated from the advanced command training course "Vystrel". In October 1941 he was appointed Chief of Staff of the 61st Rifle Division (Transcaucasian Front).

Since 29 August 1942 he participated in the Great Patriotic War. From November 1942 to May 1943, Lieutenant Colonel Grigoryevsky studied at the Military Academy in Moscow. On 15 April 1943 he received the rank "Colonel".

On 27 May 1943 Colonel Grigoryevsky was appointed to the post of commander of the 348th Infantry Division (63rd Army, Bryansk Front). During the Battle of Kursk on 12 July the division under the command of Grigoryevsky began an offensive from the area of Zalegoshcha settlement. During July, the division liberated up to a hundred settlements in the Oryol region and on 5 August released the city of Oryol. Colonel Grigoryevsky was awarded with the Order of the Red Banner (order number 35404) for his skilful command of the division during the breakthrough of the enemy defense in the Oryol-Kursk Bulge.

Orders of the Red Banner
Orders of the Red Banner

In August-September, Colonel Grigoryevsky's division liberated the Bryansk and Gomel regions. During the forcing of Desna, Grigoryevsky was wounded, but continued to command the division, which distinguished itself during the liberation of Navli, Trubchevsk and Starodub. During the offensive Ivan Fedorovich Grigoryevsky received the military rank of "Major-General", and for skilful command of the division during the liberation of the Bryansk region was awarded with the Order of Suvorov 2nd degree (order number 305).

Order of Suvorov
Order of Suvorov
Order of Suvorov citation
Award list for the Order of Suvorov

On 10 May 1944 Major-General Grigoryevsky was awarded with the Order of the British Empire (Commander).

Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire Diploma
Order of the British Empire Diploma translation
Order of the British Empire citation
"Red Star" of 11 May 1944

On 28 May 1944 Major-General Grigoryevsky was appointed commander of the 61st Rifle Corps.

On 2 November 1944 Ivan Fedorovich Grigoryevsky was given a rank of "Lieutenant-General".

On 14 January 1945 assault battalions of the 61st rifle corps went on the offensive and on 16 January 1945 entered the town of Radom. Continuing the offensive, the corps forced the rivers Pilica and Warta, liberated the cities Tomaszów and Jarocin. By the end of January, it reached Oder River north of the city of Frankfurt on Oder.

By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR from 6 April 1945, for exemplary performance of combat missions of the command at the front of the fight against the Nazi invaders and the courage and heroism shown in this case, Lieutenant-General Ivan Fedorovich Grigoryevsky was awarded with the title Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin (order number 34525) and the Gold Star Medal (medal number 5192).

Gold Star Medal
Orders of Lenin
Orders of Lenin
Awards Book
Award list for the title Hero of the Soviet Union

In April 1945, the 61st Rifle Corps took part in the Berlin operation. On 16 April, the corps broke through the enemy's defense from the bridgehead north of Frankfurt and during the offensive reached the Spree River near the town of Fürstenwalde.

On 26 April, the 61st Rifle Corps occupied the city of Troyenbritsen, then went to the Elbe River near Magdeburg, where it met with U.S. troops on 1 May. For skilful command of the corps in the Berlin operation Ivan Grigoryevsky was awarded with the Order of Kutuzov 2 degree (order number 2010).

Order of Kutuzov
Order of Kutuzov
Award list for the Order of Kutuzov

Since August 1945, he commanded the 12th Guards Rifle Corps. In January 1947, he was appointed Deputy Commander of the 8th Guards Army in the Group of Soviet troops in Germany.

Ivan Grigoryevsky

From April 1950 to January 1951 he commanded the 22nd Rifle Corps (Transcaucasian Military District). From December 1951 to June 1953 he served as assistant commander of the 1st Separate Red Banner Army. From June 1953 to October 1955 he commanded 87th Rifle Corps (Far Eastern Military District), and from October 1955 to November 1957 served as Deputy Commander of the Northern Military District for Air Defense Forces.

Document
Document

In January 1958, Lieutenant-General Ivan Grigoryevsky has retired. He lived and worked in Kislovodsk. Ivan Fedorovich died on 31 December 1982.

Grave of Ivan Grigoryevsky

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