David Dragunsky

David Dragunsky studied at Saratov Military Command Engineering High School of Missile Forces, M.V. Frunze Military Academy and Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia. Distinctions recorded are Order of Lenin, Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945", Order of the Red Banner and Order of the Red Star.

• Name — David Abramovich Dragunsky • Native Name — Давид Абрамович Драгунский • Born — 15 February 1910 • Died — 12 October 1992 • Birthplace — Svyatsk, Chernigov Governorate, Russian Empire • Place of death — Moscow, Russian Federation • Service Years — 1931 1974 • Rank — Colonel General • Battles — World War II • Awards — Hero of the Soviet Union (twice)

Dragunsky was born on 15 February 1910 to a large Jewish family in Svyatsk; his parents were tailors. After completing school in Novozybkov he became a construction worker. As a member of the Komsomol he was made head of a district council and later sent to rural areas to participate in collectivization. He became a member of the Communist Party in 1931 and was drafted into the military in 1933.

In 1938, he commanded an infantry company during combat operations near Khasan Lake and was awarded an Order of the Red Banner. During World War II, he was in command of a Tank battalion and, in 1943, he became the commander of the 55th Guards Tank Brigade of the 3rd Guards Tank Army. Between 1960 and 1965, he commanded the 7th Guards Army.

He became an ordinary member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1931, a member of the Regimental Party Committee in 1935, and Secretary of the Brigade Committee in 1942. He became a Candidate Member of the Central Committee of the CPSU in 1974 and a full member in 1979. In 1983, he was designated chairman of the newly-formed Anti-Zionist Committee of the Soviet Public by the Ideological Department of the CPSU Central Committee and the KGB.