Semyon Krivoshein
| Semyon Moiseevich Krivoshein | |
|---|---|
| Born |
November 28, 1899 Voronezh, Russian Empire |
| Died | September 16, 1978 (aged 78) Moscow, Soviet Union |
| Allegiance |
 Soviet Union
|
| Service/branch | Red Army |
| Years of service | 1918 — 1953 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Battles/wars |
Russian Civil War World War II |
| Awards |
|
Semyon Moiseevich Krivoshein (Russian: Семён Моисе́евич Кривоше́ин, November 28, 1899, Voronezh, Russian Empire - September 16, 1978, Moscow, Soviet Union) was a Soviet tank commander, who played a vital part in the World War II reform of the Red Army tank forces and in the momentous clash between German and Soviet tanks in the Battle of Kursk.
Krivoshein was born into the well-to-do family of a Jewish artisan shop owner and in 1917 graduated from a gymnasium, a Russian secondary school for the educated elite. In 1918 he enlisted in the Red Army to fight against the Whites in the Russian Civil War, seeing service in the 1st Cavalry Army of Semyon Budyonny.
After the end of the war in 1921, Krivoshein stayed in the army. With the introduction in the Red Army of tank forces, Krivoshein was chosen among most talented cavalry officers to master the new brand of weapon. He was sent to study in the elite Frunze Military Academy, graduated in 1931 and served in the mechanized troops, rising in 1934 to commander of mechanized regiment. In 1936 he volunteered to fight in Spain on the side of the Republicans against nationalist General Francisco Franco, who was supported in Spain's civil war by both Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. Krivoshein received the honor of becoming the first Soviet tank commander in Spain following his arrival alongside a small group of other Soviet volunteers and T-26 light tanks at the Republican port of Cartagena in October 1936.
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