General Vogel's field

Jan Janovich Fogel, better known as Ivan Ivanovich, was a commander of the 120th Guards Rifle Division and a Guards Major General. He was born in 1898 on the farm Dures in Latvia.

He began his service in the Russian army in February 1917, and later, from November, he served in the Red Guard detachment. In April 1918 he joined the Red Army, then continued his service in the VChK, actively participating in the Civil War.

In March 1922 he joined the Red Army and served in the 1st Cavalry Army of the North Caucasus Military District. He successfully graduated from the Engels Military and Political Courses and Frunze Military Academy in 1933.

Since November 1933, Vogel commanded the 38th Rifle Division. In November 1937 he was appointed head of the Red Army Combat Training Department. Unfortunately, on February 11, 1938 he was unjustifiably repressed, dismissed from the army and accused of committing a counter-revolutionary crime.

On May 9, 1941, he was acquitted and released by the Military Tribunal of the North Caucasus Military District. However, Vogel was not reinstated in the Red Army, and he was enlisted in the reserve. Only in October 1941 he was fully rehabilitated and appointed head of the military department of the Odessa Institute of Water Transport Engineers.

In July 1943 he took command of the 120th Guards Rifle Division on the Belorussian Front. He participated in the forcing of the Dnieper, liberation of the city of Rogachev and the Belarusian strategic offensive operation.

On July 8, 1944 in the battle for the town of Novogrudok Jan Janovich Vogel was wounded and died on July 13 in the village of Dyatlovo, Grodno region.

Retired Colonel Anatoly Salamatov told about Fogel's last battle: "Major-General Fogel, commander of the 120th Guards Rifle Division, was in the front ranks of one of the Guards Rifle Regiments during the pursuit of the retreating enemy. He took a position near the village of Malyushichi and observed the situation through binoculars, standing on one knee. Suddenly a shot sounded - the bullet pierced the arm of a major from the regimental headquarters, and then entered the knee of General Vogel".

By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on April 10, 1945, Guards Major-General Yan Yanovich Fogel was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for skillful command of the regiment, courage and heroism.

A memorial was opened near the village of Malyushichi, Korelichi district, and a field was named in honor of the valiant general.

Sources: polymia.by