Alexander Luchinsky

The son of an army officer, Luchinsky was educated at a cadet corps and joined the Red Army during the Russian Civil War. He served as a cavalry platoon commander and served in Central Asia during the 1920s and 1930s, holding command and staff positions. After returning from a stint in China during the Second Sino-Japanese War, Luchinsky became commander of the 83rd Mountain Rifle Division, which he led in the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran and the Battle of the Caucasus. He commanded the 3rd Mountain Rifle Corps in 1943 and early 1944, and was wounded in the Crimean Offensive. After recovering, Luchinsky rose to command the 28th Army, which he led in Operation Bagration, the East Prussian Offensive, and the Berlin Offensive, being made a Hero of the Soviet Union for his performance in the East Prussian Offensive. After the end of the war in Europe, Luchinsky commanded the 36th Army in the Soviet invasion of Manchuria. Postwar, he led army and military district commands, ending his career as first deputy chief inspector of the Ministry of Defense. Luchinsky was born on 23 March 1900 in Kiev, the son of an Imperial Russian Army officer, and studied at the Volsk Cadet Corps from September 1912.