Dmitry Grigoryevich Pavlov (Russian: Дми́трий Григо́рьевич Па́влов; October 23, 1897 – July 22, 1941) was a Soviet general who commanded the key Soviet Western Front during the initial stage of the German invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa) in June 1941. After his forces were heavily defeated within the first few days of the campaign, he was relieved of his command, arrested, charged with military incompetence and executed.