Nestor Dmitryevich Kozin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Native name | Нестор Дмитриевич Козин |
| Born | 28 October 1902 Burkovo-Pokrovskoye village, Kainskaya Uyezd, Tomsk Governorate, Russian Empire |
| Died | 11 September 1992 Barnaul, Russia |
| Allegiance |  Soviet Union |
| Service | Soviet Army |
| Years of service | 1924–1954 |
| Rank | Major general |
| Commands | |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Hero of the Soviet Union |
Nestor Dmitryevich Kozin (Russian: Нестор Дмитриевич Козин;[1] 28 October 1902 – 11 September 1992) was a Soviet Army major general. After being drafted into the Red Army in 1924, Kozin became an officer and from 1939 was a battalion commander in the 107th Rifle Division. Kozin fought in the Yelnya Offensive after the 107th was moved west and became a regimental commander in the 100th Rifle Division in August 1941. After the end of the Yelnya Offensive in early September, Kozin was awarded the Order of Lenin for his leadership and the 100th Rifle Division became the 1st Guards Rifle Division. He then fought in the Battle of Moscow and in April 1942 was appointed commander of the 8th Motor Rifle Division NKVD. The division became the 63rd Rifle Division in June and fought in Operation Uranus. Kozin received the Order of Suvorov 2nd class and the division became the 52nd Guards Rifle Division for its actions in the offensive. The division continued to fight at Stalingrad and Kozin was wounded in January 1943. After recovery, he was sent to study at the Military Academy of the General Staff, where he remained until given command of the 13th Guards Airborne Division in April 1944. During August and September, Kozin led the 189th Rifle Division during the Tartu Offensive. In September, he returned to command of the 52nd Guards Rifle Division and led it during the Baltic Offensive, Vistula–Oder Offensive, East Pomeranian Offensive and Berlin Offensive. For his leadership of the division, Kozin was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union on 29 May. After the war, he continued to serve in the army and retired in 1954. He lived in Barnaul and died in 1992.
- ^ In the Brief Biographical Dictionary of Heroes of the Soviet Union, Kozin's first name was incorrectly spelled as "Nester". This error has been repeated by several other sources.