A Russian, Ivan Pavlovich Rosly was born on 28 June 1902 in the village of Petrovskaya Buda, Oryol Governorate.

Rosly was transferred to the Soviet Far East to become chief of staff of the 105th Rifle Division of the Special Red Banner Far Eastern Army.

In late August the division was disbanded, and Major General Rosly appointed deputy commander of the 11th Guards Rifle Corps of the 9th Army of the Northern Group of Forces of the Transcaucasus Front.

The corps was especially distinguished in the repulse of the German offensive towards Mozdоk and in the disruption of the attempt to break through to the oil region of the Caucasus.

In December, Rosly was appointed deputy commander of the 58th Army, which conducted defensive battles on the line of Mozdok and Verkhny Kurp.

He led the army in the successful operations to destroy German troops in the North Caucasus and liberation of the cities of Maykop and Krasnodar.

In May he returned to his old post of deputy commander of the 58th Army, now defending the coast of the Sea of Azov as part of the North Caucasus Front.

Graduating from the courses in April 1948, Rosyli was placed at the disposal of the Main Personnel Directorate and in August appointed assistant commander of the 11th Guards Army of the Baltic Military District.