Twice Hero of the Soviet Union who held Mamayev Kurgan at Stalingrad
Without hesitation, Pavlito dashed under heavy fire toward the lead tank, jumped onto its armor, and pounded on the hatch, shouting for the column to turn. When he returned, his greatcoat bore over a dozen bullet and shrapnel holes — but he was unscathed.
Born into a landless peasant family and apprenticed as a cobbler after his father's death, Rodimtsev joined the Red Army in 1927 and rose rapidly through its ranks. In 1936 he volunteered for Spain, fighting as 'Captain Pavlito' on the Republican side in the defense of Madrid and at Jarama and Guadalajara, courage that earned him his first Hero of the Soviet Union. In September 1942 his 13th Guards Rifle Division crossed the Volga under relentless fire and retook Mamayev Kurgan, the hill dominating Stalingrad, a feat Marshal Zhukov credited with turning the battle. He went on to command the 32nd Guards Rifle Corps through Kursk, the Vistula-Oder operation, Berlin, and Prague, receiving a second Gold Star in June 1945.
Career Timeline
- 1927–1929Red Army soldier, 28th Rifle Convoy Battalion, OGPU
- 1929–1932Cadet, VTsIK United Military School (cavalry)
- 1932–1936Platoon and squadron commander, 61st Cavalry Regiment
- 1936–1937Spanish Civil War — 'Captain Pavlito' (Republican military adviser)
- 1937–1938Commander, 61st Cavalry Regiment
- 1938–1939Student, Frunze Military Academy
- 1939–1940Assistant commander, 36th Cavalry Division (Poland campaign, Winter War)
- 1941Commander, 5th Airborne Brigade (defense of Kiev)
- 1941–1942Commander, 87th Rifle Division → 13th Guards Rifle Division
- 1942–1943Commander, 13th Guards Rifle Division — Battle of Stalingrad, Mamayev Kurgan
- 1943–1945Commander, 32nd Guards Rifle Corps (Kursk, Dnieper, Berlin, Prague)
- 1947–1951Commander, 11th Guards Rifle Corps
- 1951–1953Assistant commander, East Siberian Military District
- 1953–1956Chief military adviser and attaché in Albania
- 1956–19601st Deputy commander, Northern Military District
- 1960–1966Commander, 1st Guards Army (Kiev Military District)
- 1966–1977Military consultant, Group of Inspectors General, MOD