KOPYLOV IVAN PAVLOVICH
major a participant World War II Hero of the Soviet Union (05.31.1945)
He was born on January 1, 1920 in the village of Solovyovo, now Zyryanovsky District, East Kazakhstan Region, in the family of a rural blacksmith. He graduated from the Tashkent Accounting and Economic College. In the Soviet Army since 1939. In 1941 he graduated from the Podolsk Artillery School.
Participated in World War II since July 1941. Took part in the Defense of Moscow. Division commander of the 666th artillery regiment (222nd rifle division, 33rd army, 1st Belorussian front).
On February 2, 1945, the commander of the division of the 666th artillery regiment, Major Kopylov, as part of an assault group, crossed the Oder River near the village of Vogelsang south of Frankfurt. For several days, the Kopylov division courageously reflected the numerous counterattacks of the Nazis. The enemy suffered significant damage in manpower and equipment. The bridgehead was retained despite heavy casualties. On April 16, an offensive against Berlin was began from this bridgehead.
By a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated May 31, 1945 “For skillful command of a battalion, exemplary performance of command missions at the front of the struggle against Nazi invaders and shown courage and heroism”, major Ivan Pavlovich Kopylov was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.
In 1952 he graduated from the Military Artillery Academy.
Since 1973, colonel Kopylov in stock. He lived and worked in Odessa.
He died on October 6, 1982.