Vasily Sergeyevich Arkhipov | |
---|---|
Born | 29 December [O.S. 16 December] 1906 Tyuntnyary village, Perm Governorate, Russian Empire |
Died | 13 June 1985 (aged 78) Moscow, USSR |
Buried | |
Allegiance | Soviet Union |
Service | Red Army (Soviet Army from 1946) |
Years of service | 1928–1971 |
Rank | Colonel general |
Commands | |
Battles / wars | |
Awards | Hero of the Soviet Union (twice) |
Vasily Sergeyevich Arkhipov (Russian: Василий Сергеевич Архипов; 29 December [O.S. 16 December] 1906 – 13 June 1985) was an officer in the tank troops of the Red Army who was twice awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union for his actions in the Winter War and World War II. He rose to the rank of colonel general during the Cold War.
For his leadership of a tank company of the 112th Tank Battalion of the 35th Light Tank Brigade in the Winter War, Arkhipov was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. Arkhipov commanded the 53rd Guards Tank Brigade from the summer of 1943 and was awarded his second Gold Star for his leadership of the brigade in the Vistula-Oder Offensive. Postwar, Arkhipov commanded the 6th Guards Tank Division, the armored forces of the Turkestan Military District, and the 1st Guards Army. He ended his career as an adviser to the National People's Army of postwar East Germany.