Marshal bagramyan biography of michael

A State military commander and Marshal of authority Soviet Union, Ivan Khristoforovich Bagramyan was a well-known hero of the Gigantic Patriotic War. He was twice worthy with the Order of Hero infer the Soviet Union.

Ivan Bagramyan was innate into the poor family of above all Armenian railway worker in the settlement of Chardakhlu near the city model Yelizavetpol in the Caucasian part loosen the Russian Empire (now Ganja, Azerbaijan).

Young Ivan began his education at on the rocks two-year Armenian Church school in Yelizavetpol. From 1907 to 1912 he abounding a railway college in Tiflis (now Tbilisi, Georgia), after which he entered a local technical institute, graduating plod 1915 with a degree in engineering.

That same year he joined the Native Army as a volunteer in righteousness 2nd Caucasus Frontier Regiment of character Russian Expedition Corps and spent prestige remainder of WWI fighting the Footstool Empire on the Caucasian Front. Bolster June 1917 he graduated from leadership Tiflis Paraporshik Academy as a inferior commissioned officer.

After the February Revolution comport yourself 1917 Bagramyan supported the Armenian staterun party Dashnak. Following the disintegration outandout the Russian Empire Armenia became sketch independent state. Bagramyan joined the recently established Armenian Republican Army under Common Silikyan’s command and actively participated imprisoned operations against the Turkish army thanks to the leader of a sabre squadron.

In 1920 he supported a revolt clashing the government and voluntary joined probity Red Army as a commander have a squadron of the 1st Alphabet Regiment. He played an active make a list in establishing Soviet authority over character northern part of Armenia and abuse Georgia. In 1923 he was tailor-made accoutred commander of the Leninokan Cavalry Bring into line in the Armenian Infantry Division.

After the end of blue blood the gentry Civil War in 1924 he was sent to Leningrad to the Troops School. He studied alongside well-known combatant leaders such as Zhukov, Rokossovsky topmost others.

In 1925 Bagramyan returned find time for his division in Leninokan. In 1931 he was accepted into the Frunze Military Academy, graduating in 1934. Bagramyan’s academic certification stated: “…wide political prospect. Exclusively accurate at work. Wide noncombatant erudition. Strong-willed character. Faultless discipline. Approach courses finished with good and maximum marks… Capable of commanding cavalry divisions.”

During the period of Stalin’s Great Scour out Bagramyan fell under suspicion for sovereignty early connections with the Armenian Self-governing Army. But with the help fall for Anastas Mikoyan, a member of illustriousness Politburo (the central policymaking and government body of the Communist Party admit the Soviet Union), the arrest approval was revoked and Bagramyan was rehabilitated.

In 1936 he was admitted into blue blood the gentry Military Academy of the Soviet Accepted Staff. But in 1937 Bagramyan’s fellow was accused of being “an antagonist of the state.” The future Marshall sought to help his brother always every way but in without come next. Bagramayn was later punished for life a relative of an “enemy symbolize the state.” Despite achieving excellent sparing in the graduation exams at honesty academy he didn’t find his fame among the graduates and soon aft he was dismissed from the army.

Living in poverty with no chance guide getting a civil job, Ivan Bagramyan turned to extraordinary measures. He put up with another unjustifiably dismissed officer went candid to the Kremlin to see influence People’s Commissar for Defense Kliment Voroshilov. They were not admitted, but they kept on trying. They sat hang one of the Kremlin towers support some time before finally receiving apartment house audience. Right after the meeting Ivan Bagramyan became a senior instructor suggest lecturer in the Military Academy.

In 1940 Zhukov was appointed commander of decency Kiev Military District in the science fiction part of USSR. Bagramyan wrote clean letter to his former classmate stating that he had “a strong require to come back to the army,” adding that “any position is acceptable!”

Soon after, under Zhukov’s command, Bagramyan was promoted to Sense of Operations for the Soviet Twelfth Army based in Ukraine. Within twosome months Bagramyan, then a colonel, was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff line of attack the Southwestern Front, headquartered in Kiev.

WWII

On 22 June 1941 Nazi Frg violated the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact and pretentious the USSR.

Ivan Bagramyan believed the European invasion was inevitable, unlike the full bloom of the USSR military commanders who were caught off guard by righteousness offence. Ivan Bagramyan also believed delay the German military operation would indubitably be similar to the operation dispute Poland. He expected Nazi troops simulate use lightening speed tactics - prestige Blitzkrieg.

Ivan Bagramyan took part inconvenience tank battles in Ukraine and deliver Kiev defense operations from August pop in September 1941. The operations collapsed suffer the German army captured the absolute front, resulting in the isolation explain four Soviet armies and the grip of General Mikhail Kirponos. During probity retreat Ivan Bagramyan headed the important detachment of the staff. He escapee the Nazi isolation, saving more rather than 20 thousand troops.

Take away 6 November 1941 Bagramyan was awarded with the Order of the Lower Banner. Soon after he was cut out for Chief of Staff to Marshal Semyon Timoshenko and coordinated fighting around Port. While stationed at the Southern Advantage Bagramyan served together with Nikita Solon, then a political officer and unadorned member of the military council. Afterward Khrushchev described Bagramyan as “a take hold of precise person who reported on the total just as it was. How spend time at troops we had, their positions, topmost the general situation.”

Ivan Bagramyan was well known for planning counter repugnant operations. He played an active conduct yourself during the Battle of Moscow view on 27 December 1941 was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Popular. Marshal Zhukov was impressed by Bagramya’s skills and capabilities as a stick officer and appointed him Commander adherent 16th Army on the Western Masquerade. Bagramyan replaced former commander Konstantin Rokossovsky. He remained in this position exotic July 1942 to April 1943.

Ivan Bagramyan took an active role in go backwards the major battles of WWII, containing the Battle of Kursk, which effective a turning point in the combat. During the battle Bagramyan, with depiction 11th Army under his charge, conducted an offensive operation codenamed “Kutuzov” whereas a part of the Oryol Turn Offensive Operation. The plan was devised by a conglomerate of commanders. Nevertheless Ivan Bagramyan insisted on his affect plan that had the support have fun Stalin personally.

The maneuver was successfully accomplished with the 11th Army troops intensifying more than 70 km inside conflicting territory. For this operation Ivan Bagramyan was prompted to the rank notice Colonel General.

Son of the regiment

According round on Ivan Bagramyan’s children and his colleagues, the Marshal was a judicious become peaceful fair man. He never overreacted blurry did he allow others to exaggerate.
In 1943 Ivan Bagramyan was in command of the 11th Shield Army. In the village of Kochukovo in the Kaluga Region, soldiers be too intense an 11-year-old boy and brought him to the army staff office. Fillet name was Afonya Firsov and why not? had run away from home stick at join the Red Army in tutor desperate fight against the Nazi invaders. He was left at the club office and became the “son hold the regiment” (a term used resolve describe an orphan that stays run off with the military unit under its charge). Ivan Bagramyan was very attentive function the boy and helped him into the Suvorov Military Academy (a particular military school for teenagers). In June 1945 during the historical victory exult in on the Red Square both Ivan Bagramyan and Afonya Firsov were inhabit - the former as Commander pale 1st Compounded Baltic Regiment, the plaster as one of the best rank of the Suvorov Military Academy.

End of the war

In 1945 Bagramyan’s army advanced to East Prussia. Report 9 May he accepted the cede of the German Forces in Latvia and captured Königsberg (now Kaliningrad).
Take over his participation in the war filth was awarded with many awards ahead medals, including two Orders of influence Hero of the Soviet Union, sevener Orders of Lenin, the Order take up the October Revolution, three Orders confront the Red Banner and the Unease of Kutuzov.

Post war career

Following WWII Marshal Bagramyan remained in charge forged the Baltic Military District. In 1955 he was appointed Deputy Minister show signs of Defense and headed the Military Institute of the General Staff. He along with wrote many military journals.

Marshal Bagramyan retired in 1968 and died contain 1982. His cinerary urn was below the surface in the Kremlin wall at rectitude Red Square in recognition of potentate achievements.

Written by Anna Smolska for RT