▁of ▁Mechan ization ▁and ▁Motor ization . ▁ ▁He ▁received ▁the ▁rank ▁of ▁Major ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 6 . ▁In ▁ 1 9 3 7 , ▁he ▁graduated ▁from ▁the ▁Military ▁Academy ▁of ▁Mechan ization ▁and ▁Motor ization ▁and ▁transferred ▁to ▁the ▁tank ▁troops . ▁From ▁December ▁ 1 9 3 7 , ▁he ▁was ▁the ▁chief ▁of ▁staff ▁of ▁the ▁ 9 th ▁Mechan ized ▁Brigade . ▁In ▁ 1 9 3 8 , ▁he ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁colon el . ▁From ▁ 1 9 3 9 , ▁he ▁was ▁head ▁of ▁the ▁Arm ored ▁and ▁Mechan ized ▁Tro ops ▁of ▁the ▁ 5 0 th ▁R if le ▁Corps . ▁He ▁fought ▁in ▁the ▁Winter ▁War ▁with ▁the ▁corps . ▁On ▁ 2 3 ▁January , ▁Rod in ▁reported ly ▁prevent ed ▁a ▁pan ic ▁in ▁the ▁rear ▁area ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 3 8 th ▁R if le ▁Division ▁and ▁organized ▁the ▁rep ulsion ▁of ▁a ▁Finn ish ▁counter att ack . ▁ ▁In ▁July ▁ 1 9 4 0 , ▁he ▁was ▁given ▁command ▁of ▁the ▁ 5 th ▁T ank ▁Regiment ▁of ▁the ▁ 3 rd ▁T ank ▁Division . ▁In ▁December ▁ 1 9 4 0 , ▁he ▁transferred ▁to ▁command ▁the ▁ 2 nd ▁Light ▁T ank ▁Brigade ▁in ▁the ▁L ening rad ▁Military ▁District . ▁In ▁March ▁ 1 9 4 1 , ▁he ▁became ▁deput y ▁commander ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 4 th ▁T ank ▁Division . ▁ ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁