Background
DOVATOR, Lev was born on February 20, 1903 in village Khotino, Beshenkovichi Rayon, Vitebsk Province. Son of a peasant.
military commander major-general
DOVATOR, Lev was born on February 20, 1903 in village Khotino, Beshenkovichi Rayon, Vitebsk Province. Son of a peasant.
In 1925 he graduated from the chemical courses in Moscow.
At the start of the German invasion of the Soviet Union, he was posted as Chief of Staff of the Red Army's 36th Cavalry Division. He soon became the commander of a cavalry group, and in August - September 1941 this cavalry group executed the most daring raid through the rear areas of the German army in the area of Smolensk. During the battle of Moscow, Dovator was the commander of 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps, which fended off the enemy advancement at Volokolamsk. He was killed in action near the outskirts of Ruza. He was reportedly cut down by machine-gun fire while crawling towards a forward position to get a better look. Dovator was posthumously given the tile Hero of the Soviet Union two days after this. (Upon hearing of his death, Marshal Georgi Zhukov is said to have lamented that it was a grievous loss.