Kupriyanov Emelianovich Pavel was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union posthumously. He is one of the first Heroes of the Soviet Union - the natives of Belarus
Background
Pavel Kupriyanov was born in June 29, 1908 in the village Starintsy (now Polotsk district, Vitebsk
region).
Material poverty of parents forced to work from an early age. At 10 years old student went to the parish school in the village of Smolyak. When he was 18 years he began to work on the railway station Adamovo (Polotsk district).
Career
Since 1929 he served in the Red Army. In the same year he graduated from school junior officers. After a period of active
duty ended, Pavel remained at Superfund and served as a tank commander in the 4th Mechanized Brigade separate Belarusian Military District, based in Kiselevich, near Bobruisk.
In 1936 he took part in the Spanish Civil War. Arrived in Spain in October 13, 1936 on the ship "Komsomol" with the first group of
volunteers in the tank company commander Paul Armand. In October 29 he took part in the world's first tank battle in the village Sesenya (30 km south of Madrid.) Pavel Kupriyanov often participated in the tank attack in the coming days toward
Sesenya - Eskivias - Torreyon de Velasco - Valdemoro. Crew of his T-26 in a few days destroyed 2 tanks, 8 guns, and about 200 soldiers and officers. In November 9 in action near the park Cassa del Campo by a direct hit anti-tank artillery Kupriyanov tank was hit and all the crew was killed. [3]
Kupriyanov Emelianovich Paul was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union posthumously. He is one of the first Heroes of the Soviet Union.