Pvt Guesyn Azhdarov and his PPSh?

[Ekie]

Anybody know of any online information about the exploits of Pvt Guesyn Azhdarov of the 380th Orel Infantry Division and his PPSh during the Great Patriotic War? No hits on google.

[MaDuce]

Transfer to history forum..

[Seoulstriker]

d'oh!

[Ekie]

Was trying to find some info, and remembered there are a lot of Russians here, so figured this was the place to ask, did not give much thought to what forum to stick it in.

Yeah Seoulstriker, I remember the discussion about the ID of that guy, sure don't look Iraqi does he?

[mustamato]

Not Russian, and not PPSh-41, but almost the same kind of gun (well, PPSh
was heavily influenced by the Suomi SMG).

http://guns.connect.fi/gow/rokka.jpg
Viljam Pylkas, a Finnish soldier during ww2...

Was once credited for killing 82 Soviet soldiers during a battle. He was later
made famous (in Finland) as the character Rokka in the book (and movies)
Tuntematon Sotilas = Unknown soldier. The author was a soldier himself during
the war, so it´s truly one of the best war stories ever written.

http://www.bananapress.fi/Army/ArmyK4/y-667.jpg

[StukaJr]

Hehe, perhaps if he wanted to know of a Finnish war hero known for his exploits with a finnish SMG - he wouldn't have asked for a specific conscript serving in a Soviet Divission. :) Just Saying

Not familular with such a hero in russian WWII history so he is obviously a less known case, not taken for a ride in the big propaganda wagon... The only individuals have idealized were the snipers - the rest would be groups of men and those giving their life.

Do you know which battle/region he became known in? Reading accounts of the particular battle would sure mention his name

[Ekie]

Far as battles goes, he fought in the battle at Vyazhi not far from Orel, in July of 1943, and in August of 1943 in Kochety. He was awarded the Order of the Red Banner and the "For Courage" medal. Pvt Guesyn Azhdarov was also awarded the Medal of the British Empire, by the British, of course. Pvt Guesyn Azhdarov's PPSh is also on display at the Artillery museum in St Petersburg.

Like Russia, the US has famous snipers and riflemen, such as Sgt York, but no submachine gunners. I found Pvt Guesyn Azhdarov's exploits to very interesting in that they contrast when compared to traditional marksmenship.

Viljam Pylkas sounds interesting, he was a sub gunner, right?

[Korth]

Anyone here ever use the PPSh submachine gun?

[StukaJr]

That's why I've asked for the specific battle - a book that examines a particular battle, period of time or a region would defenitely have him mentioned if he has distinguished himself.

It's easy to find the mention of "legends" but then a lot of men find ways to distinguish themselves in a lot less glorified positions - in battle of Stalingrad, for example, a russian private (of course, would have to look up his name) mounted his anti-tank rifle to act in anti-aircraft role. He calculated the flight patterns/speed of Stuka bombers and was credited with 2 Ju87B's shot down by the end of the battle.

I'm actually interested in finding out more about this Pvt Guesyn Azhdarov - particulary that he was awarded foreign medal...

EDIT: Actually, the english spelling of his last name is very strange - I would almost spell it Azdarov without an "h". As for his first name - doesn't resemble any slavic name so he could be of non-russian origin or his name was mutilated horribly in translation...

[ßå$tĮТHÏ¿ð]

http://www.pbase.com/image/19545521
theres a dandy picture of one but sorry i got no info to help ya out :|

[mustamato]

Viljam Pylkas sounds interesting, he was a sub gunner, right?

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6794&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=16



What about that finnish soldier who completely on his own downed a whole soviet ski patrol on some 80 men with only a submachine gun?
Think he wasted around 12 magazines doing so, but anyway who was he?

http://guns.connect.fi/gow/rokka.jpg

I think you might be referring to this man, Viljam Pylkas (1912 - 1999). He is not that famous. But the writer Väinö Linna, writer of Tuntematon Soldier (Unknown Soldier) probably based the character Antti Rokka on Pylkas. There is a caption in the book (and in the movies) where Rokka kills a russian ski patrol that tries to outflank their unit. Linna had been a front-line soldier himself and based most of the characters on his fellow comrades, and most of the "action" in the book on what he had experienced.

There was an incident during the war when a Soviet ski patrol of atleast 82 soldiers tried to outflank Pylkas unit. He fired 17 magazines at them, with 40 rounds each (they had room for 50 but were not filled with more than 40 each due to feeding problems otherwise), which makes a total of 680 rounds. 82 of the soldiers were killed. Maybe some of them got away. That makes 8.3 rounds per killed soldier. It should also be noted that he changed the barrel of the submachine gun due to overheating. Quickly changing the barrel in combat (like on a machine gun) was one of the features of the Finnish KP31 submachine gun.

It can also be added that he was a hothead, in the civilian life a farmer. He
didn´t like the officers and they sure as hell didn´t like him. Atleast in the
book there is event where he was going to be court martialed for being rude
against a officer and disobeying orders, but he saved his ass by taking a Soviet
officer as a POW one night. A couple of Soviet soldiers was out on a mission
to kidnap a Finnish soldier so that they could squeeze some information out of
him, but he "couldn´t allow that, he had a court martial he couldn´t miss" :P

[SDC]

I'm not sure if the OP is still looking for information on this fellow, but I'm currently reading/translating Bolotin's "History of Soviet Small Arms and Ammunition", and it gives a short account of the story, to wit: "On July 11, 1943, Gusejn Azhdarov, of the 380th Orel Rifle Division, and a small group of other soldiers were ordered to defend an important position on the western outskirts of the village of Vyazhi (NB. about 320 km south of Moscow). The enemy made 8 attacks with superior forces against this position, but they were repulsed each time by massive Soviet PPSh fire. Massive losses caused the Hitlerite attack to bog down near the village. Azhdarov crept up to one of their positions, and with two anti-tank grenades, was able to eliminate 15 enemy soldiers and officers. In order to prevent Soviet movement, the enemy had installed a machine gun only 50 metres away from the previous position. Azhdarov next crept up to that position, and against unequal odds and using grenades and PPSh fire, he was able to destroy about 50 fascists and the machine gun. The valour of Gusejn Azhdarov’s actions made it possible for his Division to move to the attack on July 12, 1943. In offensive action with the PPSh, this was one of the most heroic sectors of the front.
During the capture of the village of Kochety (NB. slightly north-west of Vyazhi), Azhdarov was part of a night-time tank assault. While the Soviet tanks raced to the rear of the enemy position, he was the first to jump off and assault the enemy trenches, clearing them of Hitlerites with PPSh fire, to allow our infantry to advance.
Before entering the city of Orel, Azhdarov was appointed the standard-bearer of the regiment. He carried it with honour under heavy mortar fire, during the capture of the city on August 5. For his bravery, Azhdarov was awarded the Order of the Red Banner and the "Courage" medal. The British government awarded him the Order of the British Empire. The Shpagin submachine gun that Azhdarov used, serial number GA 6409, is stored at the Military History Museum of Artillery, Engineering, and Communications Troops."
I hope this helps.

[LineDoggie]

Anyone here ever use the PPSh submachine gun?

I have, in Baghdad 2004. Had one with 10 drums in My M1114 as My Backup, heavy, crude but worked well.

[LRPV]

Anyone here ever use the PPSh submachine gun?


Yes, but only on a military range. It is a sweet bit of kit, good calibre, controllable and simple to maintain.