 |
Grigoriy AyrapetyanParticipant of the Polish campaign of the Red Army, Hero of the Soviet Union, lieutenant colonel
Date of Birth: 09.08.1914
Country:  Armenia |
Content:
- Early Life and Military Service
- Polish Campaign and Soviet-Finnish War
- Heroism and Award
- Great Patriotic War
- Post-War Career
Early Life and Military Service
Grigory Mikhaylovich Ayrapetyan was born on August 9 (22), 1914, in the village of Mingrelsk, now in the Mardakert region of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. He was born into a peasant family and was an Armenian.
Ayrapetyan attended seven years of school and worked on a collective farm before being drafted into the Red Army in 1936. He completed his compulsory military service and chose to remain in the army. In 1939, he graduated from junior lieutenant courses.
Polish Campaign and Soviet-Finnish War
Ayrapetyan participated in the Soviet annexation of Western Ukraine in 1939. During the Soviet-Finnish War (1939-1940), he commanded a rifle platoon in the 756th Rifle Regiment.
On February 11, 1940, Ayrapetyan's platoon was the only one in his regiment to capture the enemy's first trench line. In fierce hand-to-hand combat, he personally killed over 20 Finnish soldiers and officers. He also led a successful blockade of enemy firing points.
Heroism and Award
On February 12, while repelling the fifth Finnish counterattack of the day, Ayrapetyan was severely wounded. He regained consciousness only on February 17 in a field hospital.
For his exceptional bravery and leadership, Ayrapetyan was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union on April 7, 1940. He was also awarded the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star Medal.
Great Patriotic War
At the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War in August 1941, Ayrapetyan was serving as a platoon commander in the Leningrad Infantry School. He participated in battles on the Luga Line and was wounded. After recovering, he served in the school in Berezniki.
In 1942, Ayrapetyan commanded the 8th Separate Mountain Rifle Battalion. He and his troops participated in the defense of the Caucasus and assisted in mountain crossings for other Soviet units. From December 1942, he fought with the 233rd Rifle Division on the Kuban River.
In August 1943, Ayrapetyan became a battalion commander in the 814th Rifle Regiment of the 409th Armenian Rifle Division. He fought in the liberation of Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania, crossing the Dnieper, Dniester, and Bug rivers.
Post-War Career
After the war, Ayrapetyan attended the Frunze Military Academy and served as a senior inspector and deputy commander of a rifle regiment. From 1951, he served in the Transcaucasian Military District.
In 1955, Ayrapetyan became a lecturer at the Yerevan Polytechnic Institute's military department. He retired from the military in 1959 and lived in Yerevan until his death on March 14, 1998.
