Grigory Stelmakh

Grigory Stelmakh (1900 - 31 December 1942) was a Soviet military commander. He held a prominent role in the defeat of German blitzkrieg (Operation Barbarossa) and in the Soviet victory in the battle of Stalingrad.

Stelmakh was born in Mykolaiv, Ukraine into a Jewish family. Like most of his generation, he was captivated by the Bolshevik's promise of a better society. In 1919, Stelmakh volunteered to the Red Army. He fought in the Russian Civil War, was admitted to the school for infantry commanders (1921), and stayed in the army. In 1926 he graduated from the Frunze Military Academy. His rise was rapid: chief of staff of rifle division (1926-1931), Chief of Staff of the Soviet forces in Far East, known as the Special Red Banner Eastern Army (OKDVA) (1932-1935), commander of the 12th rifle division (1935-1938).

Stelmakh was arrested and imprisoned (1938-1940). He was exonerated, released and promoted to Major-General. Due to the Red Army's need to prepare a new generation of senior commanders, Stelmakh, among other skilled Red Army officers, was sent to teach as a senior instructor in the Frunze Military Academy (1940-1941).

Steelmakh fought the German "blitzkrieg" in the north. He joined the battle of Tikhvin as the Chief of Staff of the 4th Field Army. In the midst of the battle Stavka ordered the Commander of the 4th Field Army Kirill Meretskov and Stelmakh to organize a new Volkhov Front. Stelmakh became the Front's Chief of Staff. By December 30, 1941 Meretskov and Stelmakh expelled Leeb's troops back to positions from which they began their Tikhvin offense. After Tikhvin, Stelmakh served as Chief of Staff of Volkhov Group of Forces and the Leningrad Front.

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