1 9 3 9 ▁as ▁chief ▁of ▁staff ▁of ▁the ▁ 5 4 1 st ▁R if le ▁Regiment ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 3 6 th ▁R if le ▁Division , ▁serving ▁in ▁the ▁Winter ▁War ▁against ▁Finland ▁in ▁late ▁ 1 9 3 9 ▁and ▁early ▁ 1 9 4 0 . ▁W ounded ▁in ▁combat ▁during ▁the ▁war , ▁Bak lan ov ▁received ▁the ▁Order ▁of ▁the ▁Red ▁B anner ▁in ▁recognition ▁of ▁his ▁actions , ▁his ▁first ▁decor ation . ▁After ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁Winter ▁War , ▁he ▁completed ▁the ▁first ▁course ▁at ▁the ▁F run ze ▁Military ▁Academy , ▁before ▁being ▁appointed ▁chief ▁of ▁staff ▁of ▁the ▁ 6 th ▁Motor ▁R if le ▁Regiment ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 st ▁Moscow ▁Motor ▁R if le ▁Division ▁in ▁December ▁ 1 9 4 0 . ▁Bak lan ov ▁became ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Commun ist ▁Party ▁of ▁the ▁Soviet ▁Union ▁in ▁the ▁same ▁year . ▁ ▁German - S ov iet ▁War ▁ ▁Short ly ▁after ▁Operation ▁Bar bar ossa , ▁the ▁German ▁invasion ▁of ▁the ▁Soviet ▁Union , ▁began , ▁the ▁ 1 st ▁Motor ▁R if le ▁Division ▁was ▁r ushed ▁to ▁the ▁Western ▁Front ▁in ▁late ▁June ▁ 1 9 4 1 . ▁Bak lan ov ▁was ▁soon ▁promoted ▁to ▁command ▁the ▁ 1 7 5 th ▁Motor ▁R if le ▁Regiment ▁of ▁the ▁division , ▁but ▁he ▁was ▁wounded ▁near ▁Or sha ▁during ▁the ▁border ▁batt les . ▁Upon ▁recovery ▁in ▁November ▁he ▁was ▁made