Georgy Morozov

For the Russian forest ecologist, see Georgy Fedorovich Morozov.
Georgy Andrianovich Morozov
Native name
Георгий Андрианович Морозов
Born24 April 1923
Upryamovo village, Yukhnovsky District, Kaluga Oblast, Soviet Union
Died29 April 1971
Elektrostal, Soviet Union
Service / branchSoviet Airborne Troops
Years of service1941–1945
RankSergeant
Unit2nd Guards Airborne Regiment, 3rd Guards Airborne Division
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsHero of the Soviet Union

Georgy Andrianovich Morozov (Russian: Георгий Андрианович Морозов; 24 April 1923 – 29 April 1971) was a Red Army sergeant and a Hero of the Soviet Union. Morozov was awarded the title for reportedly killing 50 German soldiers during the Battle of the Dnieper and capturing a machine gun. Postwar, he was an overseer at an engineering plant in his home of Elektrostal.[1][2]

Early life

Morozov was born on 24 April 1923 in Uprayamovo Village in Yukhnovsky District of Kaluga Oblast to a peasant family.[3] After finishing seven grades of school, he worked at an engineering plant in Elektrostal.[1][4][5][2]

World War II

Morozov was drafted into the Red Army in June 1941. In 1942, he joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.[4] He fought in the Battle of Demyansk and the Staraya Russa operation in spring 1943. In July, he fought in the Battle of Kursk.[1]

By October 1943, he was a sergeant in a reconnaissance platoon of the 2nd Guards Airborne Regiment of the 3rd Guards Airborne Division.[1] He fought in the Battle of the Dnieper. On 2 October 1943, Morozov's unit was discovered by German troops during a reconnaissance mission in Stracholesje, Chernobyl Raion. Morozov reportedly killed 30 German soldiers.[5] On the night of 8 October, he captured a German machine gun,[2] reportedly killing 20 German soldiers despite being seriously wounded.[4][6] On 10 January 1944, he was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin.[4][1][7]

Morozov continued to fight in combat with the 3rd Guards Airborne. In the fall, he fought in the Zhitomir–Berdichev Offensive. In spring 1944, he participated in the Uman–Botoșani Offensive. During the summer, Morozov fought in the Second Jassy–Kishinev Offensive. In November, the division fought in the Battle of Debrecen. It advanced into Hungary and participated in the Siege of Budapest. In spring 1945, the division repulsed Operation Spring Awakening and entered Austria, taking part in the Vienna Offensive.[1]

Postwar

Morozov was demobilized in 1945.[2] He returned to Elektrostal, becoming an overseer of production in an engineering plant. The plant manufactured equipment for nuclear reactors. Morozov died on 29 April 1971.[1][5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Морозов Георгий Андрианович" [Morozov Georgy Andrianovich]. www.warheroes.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2015-09-17.
  2. ^ a b c d Shkadov, I.N. (1988-01-01). Герои Советского Союза. Т. 2: Любовь – Ящук [Heroes of the Soviet Union: A Brief Biographical Dictionary. V.2 Love-Yashchuk] (in Russian). Moscow: Voenizdat. ISBN 9785203005366.
  3. ^ "Администрация МО сельское поселение "Деревня Упрямово" Юхновского района Калужской области | История" [Administration of rural settlement "Village Upryamovo" Yukhnovsky district of Kaluga Region | History]. www.upryamovo.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  4. ^ a b c d "Морозов Георгий Андрианович" [Morozov Georgy Andrianovich]. pobeda.poklonnayagora.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2015-09-17.
  5. ^ a b c "г. Электросталь" [Elektrostal]. mognb.narod.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  6. ^ Hero of the Soviet Union citation, available online at pamyat-naroda.ru
  7. ^ Указ Президиума Верховного Совета СССР «О присвоении звания Героя Советского Союза генералам, офицерскому, сержантскому и рядовому составу Красной Армии» от 10 января 1944 года // Ведомости Верховного Совета Союза Советских Социалистических Республик : газета. — 1944. — 19 января (№ 3 (263)). — С. 1