Georgy Stepanovich Ivanishchev was born to a peasant family on 2 April 1914 in the village of Grigoryevskaya Pervaya, Orenburg Oblast.

After graduating from the regimental school in September 1937 he served in the divisional separate communications squadron as a squad leader, assistant platoon commander and starshina.

In August 1939 he graduated from the latter and was sent to serve as assistant head of the political department responsible for the Komsomol in the 132nd Rifle Division of the Odessa Military District.

The division was then forming at the Kovrov camps in the Moscow Military District, and was sent to fight in the Battle of Stalingrad in late August, with the 66th Army northwest of the city.

[2] The 126th held positions facing the Mius-Front, a heavily fortified German defensive line that Soviet troops repeatedly attempted to break through unsuccessfully.

For exemplary execution of combat missions and demonstrating valor and courage the division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner on 23 October.

The soldiers and commanders of the 550th Rifle Regiment displayed mass heroism in these battles, repulsing sixteen counterattacks, inflicting significant personnel and equipment losses on the German forces.

[2] After recovering in July Ivanishchev was awaiting assignment with the 3rd Ukrainian Front, and in September became deputy commander of the 20th Guards Rifle Division, which following the Second Jassy–Kishinev offensive was placed in reserve with the 37th Army in Sliven.

Ferried across the Danube near Batina on 26 November, the 20th Guards went on the offensive and advanced 140 kilometers in eleven days, capturing 130 fortified points, including the cities of Pécs, Szigetvár, Kadarkút, and the station of Szentlőrinc.

In December 1955 he was appointed first deputy head of the combat training department of the 4th Guards Mechanized Army in the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany.