Yakov Ivanovich Kozhevnikov (Russian: Яков Иванович Кожевников; 3 November 1903 – 28 September 1983) was a Soviet Army major general who held division command during World War II.
Yakov Ivanovich Kozhevnikov was born on 3 November 1903 in the village of Tanino, Yershichsky Volost, Roslavlsky Uyezd in Smolensk Governorate.
[3] After Operation Barbarossa began, Kozhevnikov continued serving in his previous position, as the Hanko garrison came under siege from Finnish troops.
For his performance in the defense of Hanko, Kozhevnikov was recommended by brigade commander Major General Nikolai Simoniak for the Order of the Red Banner, which Kozhevnikov was awarded on 20 December:[2] Being commander of a rifle regiment newly organized from construction battalions, he managed to train the regiment to carry out combat duties during wartime conditions.
Under relentless enemy shelling, he personally supervised the construction of defensive regions and fearlessly inspired soldiers and commanders to finish the work with speed and quality.
During the evacuation of units from the Hanko peninsula he showed exemplary steadfastness and courage, remaining with the covering force until the last man departed.
He led the regiment in the Sinyavino offensive of August and September, in which the division fought to capture and expand a bridgehead on the eastern bank of the Tosna.
[3] For his performance in this operation, then-Colonel Kozhevnikov was recommended by Simoniak for a second Order of the Red Banner, but this was downgraded to the Order of Suvorov, 3rd class, which he received on 30 January:[7] Commanding a rifle regiment, he organized the breakthrough of the enemy defenses, carrying out the tasks assigned to the regiment, capturing a large number of trophies and wiping out up to 1,000 Germans.
From March to July the division defended the line of Vesely poselok, Farforovaya, Aleksandrovskoye, Porokhovoye, Bolshaya and Malaya Okhta, then fought in the Mga offensive.
On 11 February the division transferred to the 2nd Shock Army and until the end of the month took part in intense fighting in forest and swamp terrain in the Narva offensive.
Breaking through the German defenses, the division reached the region of the lakes north of Auce, where it was assigned to the 130th Rifle Corps of the 22nd Army.
[3] For his performance in the Riga offensive, Kozhevnikov was recommend for a second Order of the Red Banner by corps commander Major General Afanasy Gryaznov, which he received months later on 29 June 1945:[5] Colonel Kozhevnikov, in the battles for the liberation of Soviet Latvia from German-Fascist invaders, demonstrated skill in organizing combined arms cooperation, materiel support and leadership of units in offensive fighting.
In March 1945 Kozhevnikov was transferred to command the 85th Rifle Division, and led it as part of the 22nd and 42nd Armies during offensive and defensive battles in blockade of the Courland Pocket in the Riga region.
[3] For his performance in these final battles he received the Order of Alexander Nevsky on 6 June:[8] Colonel Kozhevnikov, commanding a division, managed to ensure the fulfillment of all tasks entrusted to his unit during the period on the defensive.