Konstantin Rakutin

Konstantin Ivanovich Rakutin
Rakutin in 1940
Born	3 June [O.S. 21 May] 1902 Novinki, Muromsky Uyezd, Vladimir Governorate, Russian Empire
Died	7 October 1941(1941-10-07) (aged 39) near Semlyovo, Vyazemsky District, Smolensk Oblast, Soviet Union
Allegiance	Russian SFSR Soviet Union
Service / branch	Red Army Soviet Border Troops
Years of service	1919–1941
Rank	Major general
Commands	31st Army 24th Army
Battles / wars	Russian Civil War Polish–Soviet War World War II †
Awards	Hero of the Soviet Union Order of Lenin Order of the Patriotic War, 1st class Order of the Red Star

Konstantin Ivanovich Rakutin (Russian: Константин Иванович Ракутин; 3 June [O.S. 21 May] 1902 – 7 October 1941) was a Red Army major general who served in World War II.

A veteran of the Russian Civil War and Polish–Soviet War, Rakutin became an officer in the Border Troops during the interwar period, rising to chief of staff of the Leningrad Border District in the late 1930s. He was chief of the Baltic Border District when Operation Barbarossa, and was swiftly appointed commander of the 31st Army. Rakutin led the 24th Army in the costly but successful Yelnya Offensive during Operation Barbarossa, shortly before the Battle of Moscow. During the latter's first days he fell in combat. Rakutin was posthumously awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union for his leadership during the offensive in 1990.