Pyotr Filatov

Pyotr Mikhailovich Filatov (Russian: Пётр Михайлович Филатов; 18 August 1893 – 14 July 1941) was a Red Army lieutenant general.

Shortly before the beginning of Operation Barbarossa in June 1941, he became commander of the 13th Army in Belarus, which suffered heavy losses in the opening weeks of the war.

After taking command of the 26th Rifle Division in November 1925, Filatov became chief of the Vladivostok Infantry School in February 1927, then studied at the special faculty of the Frunze Military Academy.

[2] A few weeks before the beginning of Operation Barbarossa, on 26 May 1941, Filatov was appointed commander of the new 13th Army of the Western Special Military District in Belarus,[1] then a headquarters without assigned troops.

Filatov led the army in the Battle of Białystok–Minsk as it suffered heavy losses attempting to halt the German advance.

After the encirclement of Minsk, Filatov led the army east to defend the line of Borisov, Smolevichi, and the Ptich.