Ivan Nikitich Konev was born on 5 January 1899 in Sheshminskaya Krepost village[1][2] in Samara Governorate to a peasant family.

Konev served as the assistant chief of the district food requisition unit.

In September, he became an assistant company commander in the 240th Rifle Regiment on the Eastern Front.

He participated in the fighting against Alexander Kolchak's forces and became an assistant clerk on the regimental staff.

In 1920, he was transferred to the Western Front and participated in the Polish–Soviet War as the commander of the 101st Staging Company.

[5] In June 1921, Konev was appointed assistant company commander in the Higher Military School of Siberia.

In January 1922, he became head of the quartermaster department and later the commander of the 24th Infantry School at Omsk.

From February to July 1937, he was head of the 2nd staff department of the 1st Motorized Chemical Division [ru].

[5] During July 1939, Konev served with the 57th Special Rifle Corps at the Battles of Khalkhin Gol.

In September 1940, Konev transferred to the Siberian Military District and became chief of staff of the 91st Rifle Division.

On 16 July, the division went on the offensive during Operation Kutuzov and reportedly killed 9,600 German soldiers, knocking out 33 tanks.

On 20 August, the 3rd Guards Airborne broke through the defensive line northwest of Iași ("Jassy").

On 13 September 1944, Konev was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin for "courage and heroism displayed in the command of his division".

In early April, the division reached Austria and captured Fürstenfeld in the Vienna Offensive.

Konev transferred to become deputy commander of the 14th Guards Rifle Corps in April 1952.