Date of birth:

October 2nd, 1895 (Bolshaya Roslyakovka/Kaluga Oblast, Russia)

Date of death:

May 23rd, 1963 (Zelenodolsk/Tatarstan, Soviet Union)

Nationality:

Soviet

Dmitry Dmitriyevich Rogachev was born on October 2 1895 in the village of Bolshaya Roslyakovka. In 1915 he joined the Imperial Russian Navy, what would become the RKKF (Red Navy) of the Soviet Union three years later. In 1916 he finished the School for Helmsmen and Signallers. After that, Rogachev was placed as a helmsman on several warships. During the Civil War Rogachev served in several staff and signal functions. After the war he commanded several different warships.

As of November 1926 Rogachev studied at the Frunze Military Academy, which he finished in July 1929. Since 1928 Rogachev was a member of the Communist Party. Slowly he advanced within the ranks of the navy. In 1935 he was decorated with the Order of the Red Star.

As of July 1940 Rogachev commanded the Pinsk Military Flottilla. On May 21 1941 he was promoted Rear-Admiral. With his flottilla Rogachev managed to prevent the crossing of the Dniepr for a long time and took part in the defense of Kiev. When Soviet troops started to retreat from the city, Rogachev ordered to destroy the ships and he and his men fought alongside the army. On September 18 Rear-Admiral Rogachev was heavily wounded, after which he was taken to a hospital. In November 1941 Rogachev assumed command of the 5th River Ships Brigade. From January 1942 to May 1943 he commanded the Volga Military Flottilla. As of end July the flottilla was involved in the Battle of Stalingrad with the task of sweeping mines, laid by german aircraft. The flottilla also escorted convoys and individual ships, offered fire support to ground troops, delivered reinforcements and supplies and it protected the communication lines.

From July 1943 to October 1944 Rogachev commanded the OVSK (Department of Newly Built Ships). During this period he was ordered to transfer 38 ships from the Northern Fleet to the Black Sea Fleet and a number of submarines from the the Black Sea Fleet to the Northern Fleet. This manoeuvre succeeded and was of great importance for both fleets. In October 1944 Rogachev became the commander of the Naval Base Kiev of the Dniepropetrovsk Military Flottilla. In March 1945 Rogachev was again ordered to transfer a number of ships. This time over 70 ships had to be moved from the Polar Area to the Dvinsk-Canal and several unfinished submarines from the Volga to Leningrad. In November this operation was also completed.

After the war Rogachev fulfilled several other functions and was decorated with his third Order of the Red Banner. He was never promoted beyond Rear-Admiral. In May 1956 Rogachev retired. He died on May 23 1963, 67 years old, in Zelenodolsk in Tatarstan.

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• Photo 1: Public Domain
• - Admiraly i generaly Voyenno-Morskogo flota SSSR, V.M. Lurye, Saint-Petersburg, 2001