Colonel Pavel Mateevich Golovlev enlisted in the Red Army in October 1927, just after his 23rd birthday.  He served in the 40th Rifle Regiment from the time of his joining through to August 1938.  Over his eleven years in the Regiment, he held numerous positions, including Company Commander and, after his commissioning,  Regimental Chief of Staff.  In August 1938, he began senior officer training at the Frunze Military Academy in Moscow.

At the outbreak of War on 22 June 1941, he was sent immediately from the Academy to the Front, and by the end of June had become the Deputy Chief of Staff for the 5th Rifle Division near Leningrad.  

Within a month, the Division had lost over 6000 men, two-thirds of its original strength, and had continued to fall back under heavy attacks by the Germans. 

In September 1941, the Division was brought back to defend Moscow, and at that point, Colonel Golovlev was transferred to the 149th Rifle Division, as their Chief of Staff.

The 149th Division had been badly destroyed, and although an attempt was made to re-enforce them in early September (Col. Golovlev was part of that attempt) they were still alarmingly weak.  On 28 September 1941, the Division reported that they had 16 of 108 allotted heavy machine guns, 5 out of 81 50mm mortars, 1 of 18 authorized 120mm mortars, and no 76mm cannon or howitzers.

In early October 1941, the 149th Rifle Division, along with the rest of the 43rd Army, were surrounded by German forces north of Spas-Demyansk.  By the end of the month, they were completely wiped out.

Colonel Golovlev was one of the few survivors who made it out of the Spas-Demyansk pocket, and escaped on foot through enemy-held territory back to Soviet lines.

Upon his return, he was sent back out to the Front, to the 126th Rifle Division, which was being re-enforced on the frontlines after losing over 8000 men in the first two weeks of the War, and had just managed to escape an encirclement in the Vyazma pocket in late September.  By 29 October, the division could muster fewer than 1000 men, from a pre-war strength of over 10,000.  

Additional combat on the frontlines dropped the remaining strength of the Division even further, and in late November, the remaining sub-units were stripped from the Division, leaving the Rifle Regiments in combat, with no supporting units.

The few remnants of the Division were finally removed from combat in the first week of December, and on 13 December 1941, the Division was officially disbanded.  

However, in the intense fighting in early December, Colonel Golovlev had been seriously wounded.  For the next five months, he remained in hospital, recovering from his wounds.

In May 1942, he was sent to the 78th Fortified Region, as the Chief of Staff.  Here, they maintained and expanded their area on the Southern Front, raised militia groups, conducted 'mop up' operations, pushed the Germans out of the large area, and maintained control over newly-liberated terrain.  He served here for one year, until May 1943.

That month, he was transferred to the 118th Rifle Division, which was being formed from the 152nd Rifle Brigade on the Southern Front. They remained on the frontlines during their 'transition', and maintained their push against the Germans.

Once they had completed their transition in early July 1943, Colonel Golovlev was transferred again to the 78th Fortified Region, as the Commander, due to the loss of their previous Commanding officer.  By the end of the month, he was relieved by the 'official' replacement.  

At the end of July, he was transferred to the 2nd Guards Army, as the Deputy Chief of Staff.  Here, he was thrust back into combat when the 2nd Guards Army became the main attack army for the Melitopol Operation.  Before the operation was complete, he was again transferred.

In September 1943, he reported to the 61st Rifle Division, as their Chief of Staff. They had just been transferred from the Caucasus, pursuing the Germans through the Crimea.

While here, Colonel Golovlev was awarded his first award, the Order of the Red Banner: 

"Since Comrade Golovlev has taken the position of Divisional Chief of Staff, the work of the divisional staff has improved, and the staff has started to function efficiently and effectively.  

"During the constant offensive operations in the Division's advance through the heavily fortified enemy lines of defense near Voroshilovka, Vishnevskii, Neidorff, and Oktoberfeld, Comrade Golovlev has demonstrated himself as an effective and determined officer in the execution of orders.  Under any circumstances, he can effectively analyze his available forces and take charge of the mission.

"While advancing on the heavily fortified and well organized enemy defenses in the vicinity of the village Voroshilovka, Comrade Golovlev, constantly on the front line of the Division, lead a joint attack of the 307th and 66th Rifle Regiments.  However, the enemy, first by their strong defense, and then with a heavy counter-attack supported by tanks, managed to stop the advance of the 66th Rifle Regiment.  

"Undaunted, Colonel Golovlev, who was in the forward ranks of the unit, courageously and with quick thinking, moved in the reserves of the 307th Rifle Regiment.  He evaluated the conditions, and then organized and personally lead the Rifle Regiments in a combined attack on the enemy, who at this point was trying desperately to regain their originally held positions, since abandoned by the Regiments advance.

"Comrade Golovlev's well coordinated joint attack of all units and his personal courage and bravery completely broke the enemy's fierce resistance, enabling the the Division to occupy  the city of Vishnevskii, and pushing back the enemy towards the Lubimovkii line of defense. Comrade Golovlev, during the entire period of the Division's attack, especially during the difficult times in the battle, was constantly in the forward units of the Rifle Regiments, solving and executing the orders and missions set out.

"For courage and rigor demonstrated in the battles, Comrade Golovlev well deserves the Governmental Award: Order of the Red Banner."

During the Winter of 1943-44, the 61st Rifle Division pushed forward through to the great bend in the Dnepr River, and in March 1944, was placed in STAVKA reserves.  

While on reserve status, Colonel Golovlev was transferred out of the unit, and in June 1944, reported to the staff of the Lvov Military District, as Chief of the 1st Section, Operations Department.

At the end of the War, in May 1945, he was promoted to Chief of Operations for the Lvov Military District.

Additional photos of Golovlev's Group