▁On ▁October , ▁he ▁was ▁made ▁an ▁assistant ▁to ▁the ▁Ins pect or - General ▁of ▁the ▁Arm ored ▁Autom ob iles ▁Director ate . ▁ ▁At ▁November ▁ 1 9 4 2 , ▁Pan ov ▁was ▁sent ▁to ▁Tamb ov , ▁where ▁the ▁ 2 nd ▁Gu ards ▁Army ▁was ▁forming , ▁and ▁assigned ▁to ▁command ▁its ▁Arm ored ▁and ▁Mechan ized ▁form ations . ▁On ▁ 1 5 ▁December , ▁the ▁Army ▁was ▁sent ▁to ▁St aling rad , ▁hal ting ▁von ▁Man stein ' s ▁assault ▁and ▁playing ▁a ▁p iv otal ▁role ▁in ▁Operation ▁Little ▁Sat urn . ▁ ▁On ▁ 2 6 ▁April ▁ 1 9 4 3 , ▁Pan ov ▁replaced ▁the ▁ 1 st ▁Gu ards ▁Don ▁T ank ▁Corps ' s ▁commander , ▁who ▁was ▁killed . ▁He ▁att ained ▁the ▁rank ▁of ▁Major ▁General ▁on ▁ 7 ▁June ▁ 1 9 4 3 . ▁Under ▁his ▁leadership , ▁the ▁corps ▁took ▁part ▁in ▁Operation ▁K ut uz ov , ▁the ▁Lower ▁D nie per ▁Off ensive ▁and ▁the ▁G om el - Re ch its a ▁Off ensive , ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁Don , ▁Central ▁and ▁Bel or uss ian ▁Front s . ▁ ▁During ▁Operation ▁B agr ation , ▁the ▁Corps ▁crossed ▁the ▁Pol esia ▁mar sh es ▁in ▁har sh ▁conditions , ▁spe ar head ing ▁the ▁Bob ru y sk ▁Off ensive . ▁On ▁ 2 ▁July ▁ 1 9 4 4 , ▁it ▁met ▁with ▁ 2 nd ▁Gu