Grigoriy Zavgorodny
Date of Birth: 09.11.1914
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Content:
- Grigory Demidovich Zavgorodny: A Hero of the Soviet Union
- Military Training and Early Career
- World War II and Combat Career
- Heroism at the Dnieper River
- Post-War Career and Legacy
- Awards and Recognition
Grigory Demidovich Zavgorodny: A Hero of the Soviet Union
Background and Early LifeGrigory Demidovich Zavgorodny was born on November 9, 1914, in the village of Novonikolaevka, now part of the Rostov Region. He hailed from a working-class family and completed seven grades of education. After graduation, he worked in a collective farm.
Military Training and Early Career
In 1934, Zavgorodny completed a course in milling. He served in the Red Army from 1936 to 1937, graduating from the regimental artillery school of the North Caucasian Military District. He was then discharged into the reserves. From 1938 to 1939, he trained as an electrician and attended a railway technical school in Krasnodar. In 1939, he completed a course for improving the skills of reserve officers and became a junior lieutenant. Afterward, he worked as a station attendant in Belorechenskaya.
World War II and Combat Career
Zavgorodny was drafted back into the army on June 24, 1941. He served in the 268th Reserve Artillery Regiment and joined the frontlines in February 1942. During the Great Patriotic War, he commanded a fire platoon and an artillery battery. Zavgorodny fought on various fronts, including the Crimean, North Caucasus, Southern, South-Eastern, Stalingrad, Don, Bryansk, Central, Belorussian, 1st and 2nd Belorussian fronts. He became a member of the Communist Party in 1943.
Heroism at the Dnieper River
As the commander of an artillery battery, Captain Zavgorodny distinguished himself in the battles for the Dnieper River. On September 29, 1943, his battery provided fire support to the capture of a bridgehead on the right bank of the river near the village of Mysy. Under his leadership, the battery successfully crossed the river on makeshift rafts and assisted in holding the bridgehead.
Post-War Career and Legacy
After the war, Zavgorodny graduated from the Higher Officer's Artillery School in Leningrad. He served as deputy commander of an artillery division in Germany and later as commander of a division in the Western Siberian Military District. Grigory Demidovich Zavgorodny passed away suddenly from a heart attack on December 12, 1955. He was initially buried in Novosibirsk but was later reinterred in Saky in March 1956. A monument was erected at his gravesite.
Awards and Recognition
For his exemplary performance in combat and his outstanding courage, Grigory Demidovich Zavgorodny was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union on January 15, 1944. He also received the Order of Lenin, the Gold Star medal, the Order of the Red Banner, two Orders of the Patriotic War, two Orders of the Red Star, and various other medals.