Lev Dovator

In August 1941, he was entrusted to lead a separate cavalry group, formed from several cavalry regiments. Under the command of L.M. Dovator, a large cavalry unit for the first time made a raid into the enemy rear from August 14 to September 2, 1941, striking at communications, destroying the headquarters, transport, warehouses and manpower of the Nazis.

The advanced parts of the corps were already in the area of the village of Palashkino (Ruzsky district of the Moscow region), where there were large forces of the Nazis. Opposite the village, under the steep bank of the river, L.M. Dovator placed the field headquarters of the corps and, having decided to personally inspect the location of the enemy’s defenses before the attack, climbed to the opposite bank of the river. The Nazis, noticing a crowd of people, hit from a machine gun. Major-General Dovator was killed on the spot... In a stubborn and fierce battle, the Cossacks surrounded the village of Palashkino and defeated an important enemy defense center.