Gleb Baklanov

Gleb Vladimirovich Baklanov
Baklanov, c. 1945
Native name
Глеб Владимирович Бакланов
Born14 August [O.S. 1 August] 1910
Moscow, Russian Empire
Died16 January 1976(1976-01-16) (aged 65)
Moscow, Soviet Union
Buried
Allegiance Soviet Union
Service / branchRed Army
Years of service1932–1967
RankColonel general
Commands299th Rifle Division
13th Guards Rifle Division
34th Guards Rifle Corps
13th Army
Siberian Military District
Northern Group of Forces
Battles / wars
AwardsHero of the Soviet Union
Signature

Gleb Vladimirovich Baklanov (Russian: Глеб Владимирович Бакланов; 14 August [O.S. 1 August] 1910 – 16 January 1976) was a Soviet Army colonel general and a Hero of the Soviet Union.

Born to a wealthy family, Baklanov was drafted into the Red Army and was selected for command positions during the interwar period. He served in staff positions and was wounded during the Winter War while a regimental chief of staff. After the German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, he became a regimental commander but was wounded in fighting in Belarus and did not return to the front until early 1942 as a brigade commander. Baklanov commanded the 299th Rifle Division during the Battle of Stalingrad, being decorated for his actions, and went on to lead the 13th Guards Rifle Division at the Battle of Kursk among other actions. In mid-1944 he was promoted to command a rifle corps, a position in which he ended the war. For his leadership in the capture of Dresden in the final weeks of the war Baklanov was made a Hero of the Soviet Union. He held senior command positions after the end of the war, commanding the 13th Army, the Siberian Military District, and the Northern Group of Forces before his retirement during the Cold War.