Ivan Otmakhov

Early life Otmakhov was born on 31 October 1923 in the village of Vedosnur in Sernursky District, Mari Autonomous Oblast to a peasant family. He was taken to Baley with his parents in 1928 and graduated from sixth grade. Otmakhov then worked at the gold fields and at the mine at the station of Priiskovaya.

World War II In March 1942, Otamkhov was drafted into the Red Army. Between August 1942 and April 1943, he fought in a unit on the Southwestern Front. Otmakhov then entered courses for junior lieutenants, graduating in November. He was sent to the front as a rifle platoon commander in the 5th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade. In 1944, he joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. During the Nikopol–Krivoi Rog Offensive on 3 February 1944, Otmakhov led his platoon in the attack. He took a machine gun and opened fire on German troops. Together with his platoon, he was among the first to break into the German defenses. During this action, Otmakhov reportedly killed up to 10 German soldiers. For this action, he was awarded the Order of the Red Star on 7 July. Otmakhov transferred to become a platoon commander in the 342nd Rifle Regiment of the 136th Rifle Division in March 1944. During the Lvov–Sandomierz Offensive on 15 July, his platoon repulsed 5 tank-supported counterattacks. Otmakhov then reportedly led his platoon into an attack on the Lemushev village (now in Horokhiv Raion), which the platoon captured. Otmakhov only left the battlefield when he was severely wounded.…Citește mai mult

Legacy A worker's settlement in Baley was named after Otmakhov. There is also a monument dedicated to him in Vedosnur.

Ivan Grigoryevich Otmakhov (Russian: Иван Григорьевич Отмахов; 31 October 1923 – 23 April 1945) was a Red Army lieutenant and posthumous Hero of the Soviet Union. Otmakhov was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin for his actions during the Battle of Danzig in March 1945.