ichi , ▁though ▁not ▁yet ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Commun ist ▁Party . ▁After ▁joining ▁the ▁party ' s ▁ranks ▁in ▁ 1 9 2 9 , ▁Kor zh ▁went ▁on ▁to ▁serve ▁in ▁the ▁NK VD ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 1 . ▁He ▁left ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 6 ▁in ▁order ▁to ▁fight ▁as ▁a ▁volunte er ▁with ▁the ▁International ▁Brig ades ▁on ▁the ▁side ▁of ▁the ▁left ist ▁Spanish ▁Republic ans ▁against ▁the ▁National ist ▁forces ▁of ▁General ▁Francisco ▁Franco ▁in ▁the ▁Spanish ▁Civil ▁War , ▁returning ▁to ▁the ▁Soviet ▁Union ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 9 ▁as ▁a ▁decor ated ▁f ighter . ▁He ▁managed ▁a ▁sov k hoz ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 9 - 1 9 4 0 ▁and ▁became ▁head ▁of ▁the ▁local ▁Commun ist ▁Party ' s ▁Pin sk ▁O blast ▁organization ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 0 . ▁ ▁Kor zh ▁began ▁organ izing ▁resistance ▁cells ▁in ▁western ▁Bel arus ▁immediately ▁after ▁the ▁invasion ▁of ▁the ▁Soviet ▁Union ▁by ▁Naz i ▁Germany ▁on ▁ 2 2 ▁June ▁ 1 9 4 1 . ▁Within ▁a ▁month , ▁ ▁Kor zh ' s ▁unit ▁was ▁already ▁batt ling ▁the ▁German ▁troops , ▁having ▁first ▁engaged ▁the ▁German ▁p anz ers ▁accomp any ing ▁the ▁ 2 9 3 rd ▁We hr macht ▁Infantry ▁Division ▁on ▁June ▁ 2 8 . ▁ ▁Having ▁served ▁out ▁most ▁of ▁the ▁war ▁in ▁the ▁rank ▁of ▁" br ig ade ▁commander " ▁or ▁" com br ig "