This service dress jacket belonged to the Marshal of the Soviet Union Ivan Konev. Ivan Stepanovich was born in the village of Lodeino, Nikolsky district, Vologda province in 1897. He graduated from a rural school and then a zemstvo school. In 1916, he was drafted into military service. Konev was a soldier of the 2nd heavy artillery brigade in Moscow, then finished a training artillery course and became the junior commander of the 2nd separate artillery battalion. During the Russian Civil War, Konev served as the commissar of the Grozny armored train. In the ranks of the Workers and Peasants' Red Army, he fought on the Eastern and Trans-Baikal fronts.
When the Great Patriotic War began, Ivan Konev, in the rank of Lieutenant General, commanded the 19th Army, which was formed from the North Caucasian Military District. Later he led the Kalininsky, Northwestern, Western, 2nd Ukrainian and 1st Ukrainian fronts. Konev’s troops took part in the battle for Moscow, liberated Ukraine, Poland, Czechoslovakia from the Nazi invaders, and stormed Berlin.
After the end of World War II, Konev commanded the Central Group of Forces on the territory of Austria, was the Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces, and also the 1st Deputy Minister of Defense of the Soviet Union. During his military career, Marshal Konev received a large number of awards, including seven Orders of Lenin, three Orders of the Red Banner, two Orders of Suvorov (1st class) and others. In addition, Konev received two Gold Star medals and the highest commander’s order No. 4 “Victory” on March 30, 1945 for the liberation of Poland and the crossing of the Oder River. Konev took part in the Victory Parade on June 24, 1945. The Marshal passed away in 1973 and was buried in Moscow at the Kremlin wall.
When the Great Patriotic War began, Ivan Konev, in the rank of Lieutenant General, commanded the 19th Army, which was formed from the North Caucasian Military District. Later he led the Kalininsky, Northwestern, Western, 2nd Ukrainian and 1st Ukrainian fronts. Konev’s troops took part in the battle for Moscow, liberated Ukraine, Poland, Czechoslovakia from the Nazi invaders, and stormed Berlin.
On February 20, 1944, Ivan Stepanovich was awarded the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union for the successful Korsun-Shevchenko offensive operation.
The goal of the Korsun-Shevchensk offensive operation of the troops of the 1st and 2nd Ukrainian fronts, carried out on January 24 — February 17, 1944, was the destruction of the Wehrmacht group of the same name. The operation was part of a strategic Soviet offensive in the Right-Bank Ukraine.
After the end of World War II, Konev commanded the Central Group of Forces on the territory of Austria, was the Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces, and also the 1st Deputy Minister of Defense of the Soviet Union. During his military career, Marshal Konev received a large number of awards, including seven Orders of Lenin, three Orders of the Red Banner, two Orders of Suvorov (1st class) and others. In addition, Konev received two Gold Star medals and the highest commander’s order No. 4 “Victory” on March 30, 1945 for the liberation of Poland and the crossing of the Oder River. Konev took part in the Victory Parade on June 24, 1945. The Marshal passed away in 1973 and was buried in Moscow at the Kremlin wall.
