Hamazasp Babadzhanian
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Hamazasp Khachaturovich Babadzhanian (Russian: Бабаджанян, Амазасп Хачатурович, Armenian: Համազասպ Բաբաջանյան) (February 18, 1906 — November 1, 1977) — Chief Marshal of the Armored troops of the USSR. (1975), Hero of the Soviet Union (April 26, 1944).
He was born in the family of an Armenian peasant, in the village of Chardakhlu near Yelizavetpol (later Kirovabad, now Gyandzha, Azerbaijan), then part of the Russian Empire. Hovhannes (Ivan) Baghramian, Marshal of the Soviet Union, was born in the same village. Babadzhanian joined the Red Army in 1925. Graduated from the Military-infantry school in 1929 and joined the CPSU in 1928. Participated in the Finno-Soviet War of 1939—1940. In the beginning of the Great Patriotic War he commanded a rifle regiment from June 1941 to April 1942. From September 1942 he was commander of the 3rd Mechanized Brigade (starting from October 1943 Soviet Guards). For the skillful management of the brigade during the retaking of the river Dniester, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. From August 1944 through May 1945 he commanded the guard armored corps. He graduated from the military academy of the general staff in 1948, and was appointed with critical command posts. From 1959 he was commander-in-chief of the forces in the Odessa military district. From 1967 to 1969 chief of the military academy of armored troops in the name of Marshal of the Soviet Union Malinovsky and from May 1969 chief of the tank forces. Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR during the 6th and 7th convocations.
Awarded 3 times with the Order of Lenin, 4 times with the Order of the Red Banner, 2 times with the Order of Suvorov (one of the 1st degree and another of 2nd degree), the Order of Kutuzov of the 1st degree, the Order of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree, 2 times with the Order of the Red Star, 2 Polish Orders, as well as countless medals.
