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Issa Alexandrovich Pliyev (also spelled as Pliev; ; ; — 6 February 1979) was a Soviet military commander. Pliyev rose to become the premier cavalry general of the Soviet Army. He became an Army General (1962), twice Hero of the Soviet Union (16 April 1944 and 8 September 1945), Hero of the Mongolian People's Republic (1971).

During World War II, Pliyev commanded several mechanized cavalry units, ranging from regiments to army corps. The military historians David Glantz and Jonathan House described Pliyev as a "great practitioner of cavalry operations in adverse terrain". However, Pliyev became known in the West largely for his involvement in the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Early life and career

Issa Pliyev started his military career in the Red Army in 1922, graduating from the Leningrad Cavalry School in 1926, from the Frunze Military Academy in 1933 and from the Soviet General Staff Academy. He joined the Communist party in 1926.

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He ended the war in command of the Soviet-Mongolian Cavalry-Mechanized Group of the Transbaikal Front in Manchuria, fighting against the Japanese Kwantung Army.

On 27 April 1962, Pliyev was promoted to Army General. In June his troops took part in suppressing Novocherkassk Riots.

  • Harrel, John (2019). Soviet Cavalry Operations During The Second World War: The Genesis Of The Operational Manoeuvre Group. Pen & Sword Military.

Cited sources