Ivan Vasilievich Panfilov was born on December 20, 1892, in Petrovsk, Saratov province, in a family of a minor clerk. He was of Russian nationality. His father, Vasily Zakharovich Panfilov, was a retired military clerk, and his mother was named Alexandra Stepanovna. Due to the early death of his mother, Ivan had to leave school after the third grade and began working in a grocery store in 1905.

In October 1915, Panfilov was drafted into the Russian Imperial Army, where he began service in the training team of the 168th reserve battalion. From March 1917, he fought on the Southwestern Front of World War I as part of the 638th Infantry Oltynsky Regiment. In 1917, he was elected a member of the regimental committee, and in 1918 he was demobilized.

In October 1918, Panfilov voluntarily joined the Red Army and became a platoon commander in the 1st Saratov Infantry Regiment. He participated in suppressing the uprising of the Czechoslovak Corps and from March 1919 served in the 20th Penza Rifle Division. In 1920, he fell ill with typhus, but after recovering, he participated in the Soviet-Polish War, for which he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.

From September 1920, Panfilov fought against banditry in Ukraine. In 1921, he was appointed platoon commander of the 183rd Separate Border Battalion. In December of the same year, he entered the Kyiv Combined Infantry School. After graduating, Panfilov served in the 52nd Yaroslavl Rifle Regiment, and then in the 1st Turkestan Rifle Regiment, where his fate was closely intertwined with Turkestan. He held various positions, including company commander and head of the regimental school.

In December 1932, Panfilov headed the 9th Separate Turkestan Red Banner Mountain Rifle Regiment. In 1937, he was transferred to the headquarters of the Central Asian Military District. In 1938, he was awarded the medal “20 Years of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army” and appointed military commissioner of the Kirghiz SSR.

From July 14, 1941, Panfilov began forming the 316th Rifle Division, recruiting residents of Alma-Ata and Frunze. On October 10, the division engaged the enemy and inflicted significant damage, for which Panfilov was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.

On November 16, the 2nd Tank Division of the Wehrmacht attacked the positions of the 316th Division, including in the Dubosekovo area. The division's units under Panfilov's command fought heavy defensive battles, demonstrating mass heroism. One of the episodes became the basis for the legend of the “28 Panfilov Heroes.” During the battles from November 16 to 20, the division's defense was breached, and it retreated to the Kryukovo area.

Panfilov was killed on November 18, 1941, near Gusenovo, Moscow region, by shrapnel from a German shell. On November 23, the 8th Guards Division was awarded the honorary title of Panfilovskaya.