Babadzhanian, Amazasp

Born Feb. 18, 1906, in the village of Chardakhly, now in Shamkhor Raion, Azerbaijan SSR. Marshal of armored troops (1967); Hero of the Soviet Union (Apr. 26, 1944). Member of the CPSU since 1928.

An Armenian by nationality, Babadzhanian was born into the family of a peasant. In 1925 he enlisted in the Red Army and graduated from the Military Infantry School in 1929. He served in the Soviet-Finnish War (1939–40). In the beginning of the Great Patriotic War he commanded a rifle regiment (June 1941 to April 1942). In September 1942 he assumed command of the 3rd Mechanized Brigade, which in October 1943 became the 20thGuard Brigade. For his able leadership of the brigade during the forced crossing of the Dnestr River, Babadzhanian was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. From August 1944 to May 1945 he commanded a guards tank corps. He graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff in 1948, whereupon he was given responsible command posts. In 1959 he became commander of the troops of the Odessa Military District. From 1967 to 1969, Babadzhanian headed the R. Ia. Malinovskii Military Academy of Armored Troops (named in honor of a marshal of the Soviet Union). In May 1969 he became chief of tank forces. A deputy to the sixth and seventh convocations of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, Babadzhanian was awarded three Orders of Lenin, four Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of Suvorov First and Second Class, the Order of Kutuzov First Class, the Order of the Patriotic War First Class, two Orders of the Red Star, two Polish orders, and various medals.