Ivan Bagramyan (2 Dec. 1897 - 21 Sep. 1982)
When Germany invaded Russia in 1941, Bagramyan was prepared, believing an invasion to be inevitable. Since 1939, he had been working on a plan to counterattack. This plan would later collapse when Germany did invade due to general disorder in the ranks. Bagramyan was involved with the defence of Ukraine, though eventually managed to escape when the Germans encircled the front line.
He later played a large part in the battle of Moscow in 1941-2 and later in the recapture of Kharkov. Further attacks by the Red Army led to catastrophic losses, for which Bagramyan was removed from his position as commander, although some historians believe he was a scapegoat for the mismanagement of troops.
Bagramayan would later command the 16th Army, and later the 11th Army during the battle of Kursk. In 1943, he became commander of the First Baltic Front, with the offensive through Belarus and the other Baltic states through until 1944. In 1945, Bagramyan’s command captured Kaliningrad (then known as Königsberg. In May, Bagramyan accepted German surrender from forces in Latvia. For his efforts in the war, he was given the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
For more information on Ivan Bagramyan:
(Armenian) Khaleyan, Tervand M. Բաղրամյան, ՀովհաննեսԽաչատուրի (Bagramyan, Hohvannes Khachaturi). Armenian Soviet Encyclopaedia. (Yerevan: Armenian Academy of Sciences), 1976.
Walker, Christopher J. Armenia: Survival of a Nation (London: Routeldge), 1990.
Wegner, Bernd ed. From Peace to War: Germany, Soviet Russia and the World, 1939 – 1941 (Providence, RI: Berghahn Books), 1997.
"Ivan Bagramyan", on http://militera.lib.ru/memo/russian/bagramyan2/index.html [last accessed 27/03/2012].
He later played a large part in the battle of Moscow in 1941-2 and later in the recapture of Kharkov. Further attacks by the Red Army led to catastrophic losses, for which Bagramyan was removed from his position as commander, although some historians believe he was a scapegoat for the mismanagement of troops.
Bagramayan would later command the 16th Army, and later the 11th Army during the battle of Kursk. In 1943, he became commander of the First Baltic Front, with the offensive through Belarus and the other Baltic states through until 1944. In 1945, Bagramyan’s command captured Kaliningrad (then known as Königsberg. In May, Bagramyan accepted German surrender from forces in Latvia. For his efforts in the war, he was given the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
For more information on Ivan Bagramyan:
(Armenian) Khaleyan, Tervand M. Բաղրամյան, ՀովհաննեսԽաչատուրի (Bagramyan, Hohvannes Khachaturi). Armenian Soviet Encyclopaedia. (Yerevan: Armenian Academy of Sciences), 1976.
Walker, Christopher J. Armenia: Survival of a Nation (London: Routeldge), 1990.
Wegner, Bernd ed. From Peace to War: Germany, Soviet Russia and the World, 1939 – 1941 (Providence, RI: Berghahn Books), 1997.
"Ivan Bagramyan", on http://militera.lib.ru/memo/russian/bagramyan2/index.html [last accessed 27/03/2012].