Armenians in World War II: interesting facts
YEREVAN, May 9. /ARKA/. The Armenian people made a significant contribution to the victory over the Nazi Germany in World War II. Every fifth inhabitant of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, which was part of the Soviet Union with about 1.5 million population, left for the frontline.
All in all, about 600 thousand ethnic Armenians took part in the WWII, and more than 300 thousand of them were from the Soviet Armenia and 200,000 from the other Soviet republics.
More than 100 thousand Armenians were enlisted into the armies of the Allied Forces, mostly into the French army as well as almost 20 thousand in the US army.
More than 200 thousand Armenians did not return from the war, which is equal to 1/7th of the population of Armenia.
Armenians were known not only as commanders and fighters of regular troops, but provided great contributions to the ranks of partisans and resistance forces in the Soviet Union and the European countries.
In France, the guerrilla regiment of Alexander Ghazaryan numbered 1,200 Armenians, and the member of the French Resistance Missak Manouchian became the National Hero of France.
Six Armenian national divisions participated in the war, five of which were formed after the outbreak of hostilities. The most famous among them was the 89th Taman division, which participated in the capture of Berlin.
During the years of war, five Armenians became Marshals of the Soviet Union: Ivan (Hovhannes) Baghramyan, Marshal of the Soviet Union, Ivan Isakov (Hovhannes Isaakyan), Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union, Amazasp Babajanyan, Chief Marshal of Armored Forces, Sergey Khudyakov (Armenak Khamferyants), Marshal of Aviation, Sergey Aganov, Marshal of Engineer Troops. Marshal Baghramyan commanded the First Baltic Front, and subsequently, the Third Belorussian Front.
More than 60 Armenian generals carried out command on all fronts of the war, among them - three army commanders and three corps commanders. At the end of the war, 83 army officers had been promoted to the rank of general. .
Over 66 thousand Armenians were awarded with various state decorations for participation in the war. The title of the Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded to 107 soldiers and army officers. Ivan Baghramyan and Nelson Stepanyan were twice awarded the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union.
Twenty-seven Armenians became full Cavaliers of the Order of Glory.-0- .
