Gennady Ivanovich Obaturov

Gennady Ivanovich Obaturov (born 10 January 1915, 28 December 1914 in the Old Style, in the village of Maloe Zarecheno presently Nagorsky District Kirov Region — 29 April 1996, Moscow) — Soviet Commander, Army General.

Born in a peasant family in the village of Maloe Zarecheno, then part of the Marakulinsky Volost in the Slobodsky Uyezd of Vyatsky Province. Russian. His father was mobilized in the army and died in 1916 on the battlefront during World War I. The family counted five children. Following their mother’s death in the early 20s the elder children became responsible for the household and Gennady began working in the field at age 9. In 1930 finished the seven years school for peasant youth. In 1933 finished the Gorky Cooperative Technical School. Worked in Vyatka as production head of the town workers cooperative catering department.

Volunteered for the Red Army in October 1935. Graduated from the Orlov Tank College in 1938. Between 1938—1939 served in the Far East — platoon commander, infantry regiment weapons instructor, infantry regiment deputy head of staff for reconnaissance.

Graduated from the Frunze Military Academy in 1941 after the German-Soviet War had begun, but wasn’t sent to the front. Evacuated together with the academy to Tashkent and appointed there as junior teacher in tactics.

Commissioned to the battle front in May 1942 as armoured brigade deputy head of staff in charge of operations. In the ranks of the 11th Tank Corps took part in the defensive actions on the Bryansk Front. Within a month after being commissioned to the battlefront commanded the armoured offensive replacing the fallen unit commander. The tank was shot in battle, Obaturov himself was heavily injured and burnt inside the tank. Was treated during three month in a hospital in Kemerovo.

In November 1942 appointed deputy commander of an armoured regiment in the 11th Army of the Northwestern Front. Took part in the actions against the German Demyansk Pocket, as well as in the Second Demyansk Offensive in the spring of 1943. Twice wounded at Demyansk.

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