AZİ ASLANOV

Hazi Aslanov (Azerbaijani: Həzi Əhəd oğlu Aslanov, Һəзи Əһəд оғлу Асланов; Russian: Ази Агадович (also Агад оглы, Ахадович, Ахад оглы) Асланов; commonly described as Azi Aslanov and A. A. Aslanov, 22 January 1910 – 25 January 1945) was an Azerbaijani major-general of the Soviet armoured troops during World War II. He was awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union title twice. The second Hero title was posthumously awarded in 1991, by Mikhail Gorbachev, at the constant recommendations by Heydar Aliyev.

Aslanov chose a military career and entered the Transcaucasian Military Preparatory School in Baku as a cadet in October 1924. After graduating from the school, he was transferred to the Borosoglebsk-Leningrad Cavalry School in August 1929 to receive command training. Upon his graduation in June 1931, Aslanov was posted to the Ukrainian Military District, where he began active service as a platoon commander in the 15th Cavalry Regiment of the 3rd Cavalry Division, stationed at Berdichev. Aslanov's cavalry service proved brief, and in August he was transferred to command a platoon of the 2nd Cavalry Corps's 12th Armored Car Battalion, beginning his career in the Red Army's emerging armored forces. Aslanov was transferred for the second time that year on 12 December to command a platoon in the Vehicle Repair Workshops at Kharkov.

Aslanov was transferred to the Separate Tank Company of the 2nd Caucasian Rifle Division in June 1933, where he commanded a platoon.[8] He later rose to the posts of assistant company commander for equipment and company commander with the divisional Separate Tank Company.Promoted to senior lieutenant in 1936, he was accepted to the Communist Party in 1937.


In May 1938, Aslanov was appointed chief of the school of the Separate Tank Battalion of the division, which had been renamed the 60th Rifle Division. The tank battalion had been expanded from the pre-existing tank company.Promoted to captain in February 1939, his next assignment was as an assistant battalion commander for training and combat units with the 3rd Training Motor Transport Regiment at Kiev.In this role, he took part in the Soviet invasion of Poland with the forces advancing into western Ukraine and the breakthrough of the Mannerheim Line during the fighting on the Karelian Isthmus in the Winter War. In August 1940, he was transferred to command the Motor Transport Battalion of the 10th Motor Rifle Regiment of the Kiev Special Military District's newly formed 10th Tank Division. Aslanov was promoted to major in November 1940.


Aslanov was appointed deputy commander of the 55th Tank Brigade in February, but did not join the unit until May. Through this delay he avoided the destruction of the brigade in the Battle of the Kerch Peninsula. The 55th Tank Brigade was assigned to the 28th Tank Corps and took part in the Battle of Stalingrad. The brigade was reorganized as the 55th Separate Tank Regiment in October, reassigned to the 4th Mechanized Corps, and Aslanov, by then a lieutenant colonel, appointed its commander.


Aslanov led the regiment, in the Soviet counteroffensive at Stalingrad, and was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union on 22 December. For its performance, his regiment became the 41st Guards Tank Regiment on 26 December, while the corps became the 3rd Guards Mechanized Corps. The regiment was reorganized as the 35th Guards Tank Brigade on 20 April 1943, and Aslanov continued in command.