Alexey Vasilievich Kurkin (Russian: Алексей Васильевич Куркин; 30 March [O.S.
During the Russian Civil War, Kurkin commanded an armored train on the Southern Front.
The corps fought in the Baltic Operation after the German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, in which it was virtually destroyed.
Kurkin escaped capture and became deputy commander of the 1st Guards Special Rifle Corps.
In January 1943 he became deputy commander of the Armored and Mechanized Forces of the Red Army.