Israfil Mammadov

Israfil Maharram oglu Mamedov
Born 30 May 1919
Chaparly, Shamkir, Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
Died 1 May 1946(1946-05-01) (aged 26)
Yalta, Crimean ASSR, Russian SFSR
Allegiance  Soviet Union
Service/branch Red Army
Years of service 1939–43
Rank Lieutenant
Unit 180th Rifle Division
Battles/wars World War II
Awards

Israfil Maharram oglu Mamedov (or Mammadov, Azerbaijani: İsrafil Məhərrəm oğlu Məmmədov, Azeri Cyrillic: Исрафил Məhəррəм oғлу Мəммəдов, Russian: Исрафил Магеррам оглы Мамедов; 30 May 1919 – 5 May 1946) was an Azeri Red Army lieutenant and a Hero of the Soviet Union. He was the assistant commander of a platoon of the Soviet 42nd Rifle Regiment during World War II. He was the first Azerbaijani to be awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, on 11 December 1941. Mamedov was awarded the title for reportedly killing 70 German soldiers and three officers.

Early life

Mamedov was born on 16 March 1919 in Chaparly to a peasant family. He graduated from the Kirovabad Industrial College. He worked at a textile mill. Mamedov volunteered for the Red Army in 1939.[1][2]

World War II

Samad Vurgun and Israfil Mammadov. Ganja, 1941

Mamedov received the rank of Senior Sergeant and fought in military operations on the Northwestern Front as an assistant platoon leader in the 42nd Rifle Regiment of the 180th Rifle Division. He joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1941. Mamedov fought in battles around Novgorod. He led 20 soldiers in defending the command post and communication line near Pustynka settlement in the Novgorod Oblast. His troops were cut off from the main Soviet forces. After the artillery preparation the Germans commenced a new attack, assuming that the Soviet forces were weakened. Understanding their strategy, Mamedov ordered his troops to hold fire, allowing the enemy to get within 10–15 meters. After three German assaults, he launched a counter-attack with bayonets. The Germans lost over 300 soldiers and retreated. Mamedov personally killed approximately 70 enemy troops, including three officers. For his actions, Mamedov was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin on 11 December 1941[2] from Pavel Kurochkin.[3] He was the first Azeri to receive the title.[1]

Postwar

In 1943, Mamedov was medically retired. He lived in Kirovabad, working in the Azerbaijan Komsomol Central Committee. He died on 1 May 1946 in a military hospital in Yalta[4] and was buried in Kirovabad.[1][2]

Personal life

Mammadov married Yevdokia Ivanovna and had two daughters, Galina and Svetlana.[4]

Legacy

A street in Ganja was named after Mamedov, and a museum and monument were built in the same place. A school in Ganja was named after him, as well as a school in Chaparly.[1][2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Israfil Mammadov". Герои страны ("Heroes of the Country") (in Russian).
  2. 1 2 3 4 Shkadov, Ivan, ed. (1988). Герои Советского Союза: Краткий биографический словарь [Heroes of the Soviet Union: A Brief Biographical Dictionary] (in Russian). 2 Lyubov-Yashchuk. Moscow: Voenizdat. p. 31. ISBN 5203005362.
  3. Imanov, Vugar (7 May 2010). "К 65-летию Великой Победы! Герой Советского Союза Исрафил Магеррам оглы Мамедов - битва за Москву" [The 65th anniversary of the Great Victory! Hero of Soviet Union Israfil Maharram oglu Mammadov – the battle for Moscow]. Trend News Agency (in Russian). Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  4. 1 2 Isayev, Ahmed (8 May 2011). "İsrafildən ibrət alın" [Israfil instructed]. Azerbaijan (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 14 August 2016.
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