Yakov Pavlov

Yakov Fedotovich Pavlov (Russian: Я́ков Федо́тович Па́влов; 4 October 1917 – 29 September 1981) was a Soviet Red Army soldier who became a Hero of the Soviet Union for his role in defending the eponymous "Pavlov's House" during the Battle of Stalingrad.[1]

Not to be confused with Ivan Dmitriyevich Pavlov, another veteran of the Battle of Stalingrad.
Yakov Fedotovich Pavlov
Born4 October 1917
Krestovaya, Russian Republic
Died29 September 1981(1981-09-29) (aged 63)
Novgorod, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Allegiance Soviet Union
Years of service1938–46
RankStarshina
Unit13th Guards Rifle Division
Battles/warsGreat Patriotic War
AwardsHero of the Soviet Union
Order of Lenin
Order of the October Revolution
Orders of the Red Star
Numerous other medals
Other workThree-time Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian SFSR

Biography

Born in 1917 to a peasant family in the small village of Krestovaya in northwestern Russia (present-day Novgorod Oblast), Pavlov joined the Red Army in 1938. During World War II, he fought on the Southwestern, Stalingrad, 3rd Ukrainian and 2nd Belorussian fronts. Pavlov was a commander of a machine gun unit, an artilleryman, and a commander of a reconnaissance unit with the rank of senior sergeant.

During the Battle of Stalingrad, on the night of September 27, 1942, Pavlov's platoon recaptured a four-story residential building from the German Army, and defended it against continual attack by the Germans until relieved by advancing Soviet forces two months later. Vasily Chuikov, commanding general of the Soviet forces in Stalingrad, later joked that the Germans lost more men trying to take Pavlov's House than they did taking Paris.[2][3][4]

The building and its defense went down in history as "Pavlov's House" (Дом Павлова).[5] For his actions in Stalingrad, he was awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union, the Order of Lenin, the Order of the October Revolution, two Orders of the Red Star and numerous other medals.

Post-war, he joined the Communist Party. He was elected three times as Deputy to the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.

Pavlov died on 29 September 1981, and was buried in Novgorod.

Pavlov VR, a virtual reality first person shooter game, is named after Yakov Pavlov.

References
  1. "Павлов Яков Федотович". warheroes.ru. Retrieved 2015-07-30.
  2. Chuikov, Vasily. Сражение века (in Russian). Retrieved 2013-05-30. Эта небольшая группа, обороняя один дом, уничтожила вражеских солдат больше, чем гитлеровцы потеряли при взятии Парижа.
  3. World History. Т. Х. М., 1965, page. 43
  4. «European Cultural Benefits» Archived 2009-10-03 at the Wayback Machine in Russian
  5. Adam, Wilhelm; Ruhle, Otto (2015). With Paulus at Stalingrad. Translated by Tony Le Tissier. Pen and Sword Books Ltd. p. 89. ISBN 9781473833869.
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