Samad Abdullayev

Summary

Samad Hamid oglu Abdullayev (Azerbaijani: Səməd Həmid oğlu Abdullayev; 1920 – 5 November 1943) was an Azerbaijani Red Army Starshina and a posthumous Hero of the Soviet Union. Abdullayev was posthumously awarded the title on 17 November 1943 for his actions during the Kerch–Eltigen Operation, in which he reportedly saved his commander's life on 1 November. He was killed in action four days later.[1]

Samad Hamid oglu Abdullayev
Native name
Səməd Həmid oğlu Abdullayev
Born1920
Qolqəti, Azerbaijan SSR
Died5 November 1943(1943-11-05) (aged 22–23)
near Kerch, Crimea Autonomous Republic, RSFSR, Soviet Union
AllegianceSoviet Union
Service/branchRed Army
Years of service1939–1943
RankStarshina
Unit318th Rifle Division
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsHero of the Soviet Union

Order of Lenin

Medal "For Courage"

Early life edit

Abdullayev was born in 1920 in Qolqəti to a peasant family. In 1937, he graduated from the Agdash Teacher College and worked as a teacher in the Küsnət village in Vartashen District. In 1939, he was drafted into the Red Army.[2] Abdullayev graduated from the sanitary instructor school in Tbilisi.[1]

World War II edit

Abdullayev fought in the Battle of the Caucasus, the Battle of Crimea, and the Battle of Kerch Peninsula. In one action he was wounded and sent to the hospital, but soon returned to his unit. He became a battalion sanitary instructor in the 1339th Rifle Regiment of the 318th Rifle Division with the rank of Starshina.[1][2] On 10 June 1943, he was awarded the Medal "For Courage" for his actions.[3]

He fought in the Kerch-Eltigen Operation. On 1 November 1943, Abdullayev landed on the Kerch peninsula near Eltigen with his unit. Under heavy fire, he reportedly carried wounded off the battlefield, giving them treatment. During an attack, the German troops came close to the positions, Abudullayev reportedly advanced while throwing grenades, causing the German troops to retreat and saving his wounded commander. While defending the wounded, Abdullayev killed more German soldiers. On 5 November, he was killed in action. Abdullayev was buried in the village of Eltigen. On 17 November, he was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin.[1][2][4]

Legacy edit

There is a plaque on Abdullayev's house in Agdash. A secondary school in Qolqəti is named for Abdullayev.[1][2]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e "Samad Abdullayev". Герои страны ("Heroes of the Country") (in Russian).
  2. ^ a b c d Shkadov, Ivan, ed. (1987). Герои Советского Союза: Краткий биографический словарь [Heroes of the Soviet Union: A Brief Biographical Dictionary] (in Russian). Vol. 1 Abaev-Lubitsch. Moscow: Voenizdat. p. 17.
  3. ^ Order No. 7 1339th Rifle Regiment, available online at pamyat-naroda.ru
  4. ^ Hero of the Soviet Union citation, available online at pamyat-naroda.ru