General Vatutin, Nikolai F. 

 

(1901)-(1944). He was born in 1901 in Kursk's region. Son of a subofficer of the zarist cavalry joined the Red Army in 1920. He studies in the school of Poltava's infantry, in the most top military school of Kiev, in the Academy Frunze and, finally, in the high school of Vorochilov's war. Before the war he is a commander of the military region of Kiev and destined to the Central General Staff. After the beginning of the German invasion he was leading the 21 º Army and 5 º Army armoured in the moment of the Soviet counter-offensive of November 1942.

After obtaining Paulus's capitulation, he directs the operations in the Donetzs zone. In the summer of 1943, he orders the first Ukrainian front. There recovers Kiev of the German control directed for von Manstein. In December conquest Jitomir and enters Rovno and other several important cities. In March 1944, he is seriously hurt and to leave the control, he dies a little time later as consequence of the received wounds.

During the Battle of Stalingrad he was leading the Soviet Troops in the South-west Front.