Born 28 April 1902 in the village of Grishino near Donetsk. As the Commander of the Soviet 38th Army he played a key role in the defence of Kharkov in 1942. He also excelled at the Battle of Stalingrad. In September 1944 Moskalenko’s 38th Army – which included the Czechoslovak forces – took part in the Carpathian (Dukla) operation. In the spring of 1945 his forces – part of the 4th Ukrainian Front under the command of Marshal Yeremenko – played an important role in the battle to liberate Ostrava. After the war Moskalenko held several major military and political positions. He died on 17 June 1985
