MY DIVISION

In the early days of the Great Patriotic War national divisions were formed. The first Armenian 67th Division of the 11th Army, formed on the initiative of Miasnikyan, went to the front. Then Armenian 390th, 261st, 408th divisions were formed.

In August 1941, in Leninakan 409th Division was formed, which in1942 was renamed “Armenian”. The division commander was Colonel Artashes Vasilian, Commissar – Arshaluys Hayrapetyan, deputy commanders – Colonels Ivan Prokopenko and Stepan Stepanyan, head of the politburo – Liparit Vardanyan. There were 15 thousand soldiers and officers in the division.

In the summer of 1943, our 409th Division conducted heavy fighting for the liberation of Ukraine. In January, 1944 Kirovgrad was freed – the major industrial center of Ukraine, and in February – already the whole of Ukraine. For the liberation of Kirovgrad, the Division was renamed “409th Armenian Kirovgrad” and received the Order of Bogdan Khmelnytsky.

In March 1944, the 409th Armenian division as part of the 7-th and 46-th Armies first came out of the borders of the Soviet Union and stopped the advancement of the enemy in Chisinau. Romania and Moldova were also liberated. On April 4, 1945, the Armenian division as part of the 7-th army liberated capital of Slovakia, Bratislava, after which was renamed “Kirovgrad Bratislava, Bogdan Khmelnitsky decorated Armenian division”.

89th and 409th Armenian divisions were the only of other Armenian divisions that have managed to maintain their combat capability till the Victory Day. They began their battle way from the North Caucasus, and completed in Prague and Berlin.

Honor and glory to all the victims and veterans who valiantly participated in the Great Patriotic and reached the Victory on!

Their feat is immortal!

SARIBEK ASLANYAN
Veteran of 409-th division