Konstantin Dmitrievich Malakhov was born in 1902 in the far reaches of Kazakhstan. His father was but a simple farmer, and Konstantin likewise learned to work the soil. His formal education was minimal at best, but when he was old enough to join the Revolution at the age of 18, he left home to depart on the first day of the rest of his life.
In February 1920, because of his devotion to Bolshevism, he was nominated to become a Komsomol Represenative in the city of Pavlodar. Four months later, setting an example, he volunteered for service with the 1st Regiment, Western Siberia Volunteer Brigade. As young revolutionaries, they were immediately sent west, to the Vrangelskii Front, where they fought bravely against the Vrangel Army.
While on the Front, he was transferred to the Separate Mountain Cavalry Battery, of the 9th Cavalry Brigade. Here he served until March 1921, when they had completed the ‘liquidation’ of the Vrangel Army. That month, he returned home and was promoted to the position of Head of Political Education for Pavlodar District Komsomol Committee.
In April 1922, he again rose through the ranks of the District Komsomol, become the Committee Secretary. By March 1923, he had been again promoted to Secretary of the Komsomol Committee for the Bukhtarminskii District, and in February 1924 again rose, this time to the job as Secretary of the Semipalatinsk City Komsomol Committee.
However, all was not peaceful within the new nation, so in May 1924, he was recalled to the 9th Cavalry Brigade, and was sent to Voroshilov, where they wiped out the rebellious factions.
While on the Front, he was given a combat promotion to Commander of a field-gun, and became part of the active ‘official’ Red Army.
With his extensive background in Party politics, he became an instructor of Bolshevism for the 9th Cavalry Brigade in November 1925, and was commissioned as an officer. One year later, in November 1926, he was promoted to Political Officer for the 87th Cavalry Regiment.
By August 1927, he had risen to become the Commissar for the 29th Cavalry Artillery Division. While serving with the 29th Division, he participated in the battles against the Chinese militarists on the Chinese-Far East Railway, serving under Revolutionary Hero Blukher.
In March 1932, after four years of service with the 29th Cavalry Artillery Division, he became the Senior Instructor of Political Work of the 8th Cavalry Division. From here, he became the Senior Instructor at the Political Administration of the OKDVA in Khabarovsk in October 1933.
In September 1937, he was transferred to the Far Eastern Military Region, as the Senior Inspector of Political Activities for all Soviet military construction units in the Far East. In March 1939, he was transferred to Moscow, where he then served as the Deputy Chief of Organization for the Main Military Construction Administration. In February 1940, he became the Head of Orgaizational Planning for the Military Construction Administration.
By January 1941, he had gone back to his ‘roots’, becoming the Deputy Political Leader for the Military Construction Administration. Four months later, in April 1941, he was promoted to become the Political Leader for the entire Military Construction Administration of the Soviet Union.
With the beginning of the Second World War on the Eastern Front on 22 June 1941, he was sent to the Front, and in July became the Military Commissar for Military Field Construction Forces. Here he remained until November, when he became the Commissar of the 2nd Sapper Army.
While on the frontlines with the 2nd Sapper Army, he was awarded his first award, the Order of the Red Star. Its citation:
"Before the War against German Fascism, Comrade Malakhov, Konstantin Dmitrievich worked with the military construction of the Far East until 1939. From 1939 to 1941, he worked in the Central Headquarters of Red Army, doing political work. Since June 1941, he has been on the North-Western Front as the Military Commissar of the Military Construction Administration, taking part in the construction on all lines in the North-Western direction.
"Comrade Malakhov is an active participant in the political support of the construction work on the front lines, the total mobilization of sapper units and in the commanding of other actions on the front. His energy, personal example, and devotion to the Party of Lenin-Stalin and the Motherland has greatly inspired all commanders, engineers and political workers to sacrifice themselves for the total victory of the Red Army.
"Since November 1941, Comrade Malakhov has been serving as the Commissar of the 2nd Sapper Army. His work has greatly assisted in the total mobilization, the political training of the Army units, and has prepared new cadres of political workers for the crushing defeat of the German invaders.
"He deserves to be awarded the Order of the Red Star."
In March 1942, he was transferred to become the Military Commissar of the Reserves of the 32nd Army, fighting on the Karelskii Front. At this time, the 32nd Army had just been completely rebuilt, after suffering complete annihilation in the Vyazma Pocket, five months prior.
In 1943, they fought through Karelia, fighting both the Finns and the Germans just south of the Arctic Circle. June 1944 found them north of Lake Onega, starting the campaign to drive the Finns out of the War. In July 1944, Colonel Malakhov was transferred to the 17th Guards Rifle Division of the 39th Army on the 3rd Belorussian Front, just barely missing the obliteration of two of the 32nd Army’s divisions at the hands of the Finns.
The 17th Guards Rifle Division had been in heavy combat since early 1943, and by the time Malakhov arrived, was fighting through the southern Baltic States. He was assigned here as the Divisional Commissar, the previous Commissar undoubtedly having been a casualty in the heavy fighting.
Here, in August 1944, he was awarded his second award, the Order of the Red Banner:
"During his service in the Red Army, Colonel Malakhov K. D. has demonstrated himself as a politically developed, cultured and experienced Party political worker. In his 19 years of service, he has worked in numerous positions in political leadership, sixteen of them in formations, units, political departments and of the Far Eastern Separate Red Banner Army.
"He has gained a vast experience in Party political work and knows how to employ it to strengthen military discipline and fighting efficiency among Army personnel.
"He is devoted to the Party of Lenin-Stalin and to the Socialist Motherland.
"For his long and exemplary service in the Red Army, he deserves the Governmental Award: Order of the Red Banner."
Continuing to fight through the Baltics, Colonel Malakhov was awarded his second Order of the Red Banner in October 1944:
"During the Division’s offensive operations from 6 October 1944 through 26 October 1944, Comrade Malakhov carried out a major political work among the Divisional personnel, which significantly assisted in the fulfillment of our military mission.
"In the breakthrough of the heavily fortified enemy defensive line from 6 through 12 October 1944 near the village of Kolchun, Rossiniskii District, Litovskaya SSR, his well-organized political work uplifted the morale of the soldiers and officers, and assisted in the offensive fighting.
"The personnel of the Division demonstrated exceptional courage and bravery. During the fighting, Comrade Malakhov regularly visited the frontline units and assisted in the carrying out of military missions.
"For the excellent organization of Party political work in the Division, for improving the morale of the Divisional personnel while in heavy combat, Comrade Malakhov deserves the Governmental Award: Order of the Red Banner."
The Division pushed forward, taking part in the Vistula Oder Operation, the sacking of the city of Koeningsburg, and at the end of the War in May 1945, were in Eastern Prussia. The next month, the entire 39th Army, to include the 17th Guards Dukhovshinskoi, Red Banner, Order of Suvorov Rifle Division, was shipped east to the Transbaikal Front, on the Manchurian border, to prepare for the war against Japan.
When war was declared against the Japanese by the Soviets in August 1945, the 17th swept into Manchuria, destroying the Japanese Kwantung Army within days.
At the conclusion of the Second World War, Colonel Malakhov was awarded his third Order of the Red Banner:
"During the period of preparation for the military operations of the Division against the Japanese aggressor, Comrade Malakhov conducted a large body of Party work, directed toward the precise fulfillment of the military mission of the soldiers and officers of the Division.
"During the Division’s 700 kilometer march crossing the Khinganskii range prior to 20 August 1945, Comrade Malahkov sent his soldiers to all divisional subunits, personally controlling their work, which significantly eased the hardships of the march. Comrade Malahkov has also done much to organize regular food, forage, fuel and ammunition supplies to the men.
"In the battles near Yauzayava-Yaguila on 14 and 15 August 1945, the Division’s personnel demonstrated exceptional courage and bravery, defeating the enemy.
"For the successful fulfillment of the military mission in the battles against the Japanese aggressor, and for his demonstration of courage and self-sacrifice, Comrade Malakhov deserves to be awarded the Order of the Red Banner."
In late 1945, the Division took up occupational duties at Port Arthur, and in early 1947, were transferred to occupational duties in Chinhsien, China.
Colonel Malakov was transferred back to Moscow in July 1947, and took senior leadership courses at the Frunze Military Academy. While here, he was awarded the Order of Lenin in September 1948:
"At the Highest Course for Rifle Division Commanders, he has demonstrated himself very well. All of his previous fitness reports have been exceptional. He takes his studies very seriously. At work, he is assiduous and industrious. He is a cultured, disciplined officer and has a well-earned prestige among other students. He takes an active part in the Party politics of the Course.
"For long and irreproachable service in the Red Army, he deserves the Governmental Award: the Order of Lenin"
In November 1948, he left the Academy, and took the position of Commissar for the Military Administration of Transportation for the Moscow-Ryazan Railroad, stationed in Moscow.
Here, he was awarded his final award, his
fourth Order of the Red Banner:
"During his service in the Soviet Army, Colonel Malakhov, K. D. has gained
much experience in political work, and has also mastered the specifics of Party
political work in the VOSO. He continually strives to improve his ideological
and political level. He has successfully completed, by correspondence, his
course from the Frunze Military Academy. His latest fitness report concluded
that he ‘exceeds the requirements for his current position, and should be
appointed Chief of the Divisional Political Section.’
"In his daily life, he is modest, ideologically consistent, and morally stable. He is devoted to the Communist Party and the Socialist Motherland.
"For his long and irreproachable service in the Soviet Army, he deserves the Governmental Award: Order of the Red Banner."
In May 1955, after 31 years, 8 months of service to the Soviet Motherland, Colonel Konstantin Dmitrievich Malakhov retired.
Additional photos of Malakhov's Group
