Yakov Kreizer was born on October 22, 1905 in Voronezh, Russian Federation. Kreizer's Jewish parents were granted permission to live outside the Jewish pale of settlement because his grandfather was a cantonist soldier in the Russian imperial army.
Yakov Grigorievich enlisted in the Red Army in 1921, volunteered to the school for infantry officers in Voronezh (1923) and rose to Colonel and commander of 172nd Rifle Division (1939-1940).
His rapid promotion, like that of other senior Soviet officers of his generation, was made possible because Stalin's great purge had decimated the Red Army officers of the Civil War generation. During these years Yakov Grigorievich continued his military education: in 1931 he graduated from the Higher Officer Training School "Vystrel" and in 1941 from the elite Frunze Military Academy. In March 1941 Kreizer was appointed commander of 1st Moscow Motorized Rifle Division.
In 1923-1938 Yakov Grigorievich commanded the rifle subunits, units and divisions. During the Great Patriotic War he was the Commander of the 1st motorized rifle division (20th Army, Western Front). In July 1941, in the districts of the cities of Borisov and Orsha (Minsk and Vitebsk Regions, Republic of Belarus), the Kreyser division, after launching a series of counter-strikes, delayed the enemy’s advance, ensuring the success of local combat operations. From August 1943 until the end of World War II, was the Commander of the 51st Army.
After World War II stayed in command positions in the Armed Forces of the USSR. In 1961 Yakov Grigorievich became a Member of the Central Audit Commission of the CPSU and from 1962 till 1966 - Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
Quotes from others about the person
I. Baghramyan: "... Kraizer from the first days of the war was in battles, commanding various combined-arms unions. The 51st Army, which was handed over to us from the headquarters, Kreyzer had been heading for almost a year and was deservedly considered one of the most experienced and proven commanders in battle. I really liked his perseverance in achieving the goal, optimism and the ability to quickly navigate in a complex environment."
