Vasily Minayevich Shugayev | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 9 April 1905 Ptichye, Stavropolsky Uyezd, Stavropol Governorate, Russian Empire |
| Died | 21 November 1976 (aged 71) Kishinev, Soviet Union |
| Allegiance | Soviet Union |
| Service | Red Army (later Soviet Army) |
| Years of service | 1927–1954 |
| Rank | Major general |
| Commands | |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | Hero of the Soviet Union |
Vasily Minayevich Shugayev (Russian: Василий Минаевич Шугаев; 9 April 1905 – 21 November 1976) was a Soviet Army major general and a Hero of the Soviet Union.
Drafted into the Red Army in the late 1920s, Shugayev became a junior officer in cavalry units after enlisted service. After graduating from the Frunze Military Academy's staff department in the late 1930s, he served in staff positions, which he held by the beginning of Operation Barbarossa. After fighting in the Battle of Smolensk and the Battle of Moscow, Shugayev became a regimental commander in the 154th Rifle Division in early 1942. He continued in command of the same regiment when the division was converted into the 47th Guards Rifle Division, leading it during the division's advance into Ukraine from mid-1943. Given command of the division in March 1944, Shugayev was made a Hero of the Soviet Union for his leadership in the Lublin–Brest Offensive in August, but was severely wounded in late August and evacuated. Returning to command of the 47th Guards after nearly two months, he led it for the rest of the war, which it ended in the Battle of Berlin. After graduating from a course at the Voroshilov Higher Military Academy in the late 1940s, he commanded the 180th and 36th Rifle Divisions before his 1954 retirement for health reasons.