Melnikov Paul Alekseevich

     Paul Melnikov was born on August 15, 1922 in the village of Deryabkino, Belgorod region. He joined the Red Army in 1940, later he graduated from the Automobile and Motorcycle Military Academy and then he graduated the First Tank Academy in the city of Gorky.

     He fought in the 12th Guards tank brigade of the legendary 4th order of Lenin, Red Banner Kantemirov Tank Guards Corps. He served as Commander of T-34-76 and T-34-85 tanks (the best WW2 tank), and in 1944 was transferred to the position of Commander of SU-85 self-propelled gun. He participated in the battle of Kursk, in the liberation of Kursk and Belgorod regions, in the Zhytomyr-Berdichev offensive. He distinguished himself in the battles for the cities of Zhytomyr and Ternopol.

     After the liberation of Ternopol, among the best soldiers of the Corps in August 1944, he was posted to the Military Academy of Armored and Mechanized troops named after I. V. Stalin at the faculty of engineering in Moscow. As part of the combined battalion of the Military Academy, he took part in the Victory Parade on June 24, 1945 on Red Square.

     After graduating from the Military Academy in 1949, he was posted to the Military Research Institute for testing tanks, stationed in Kubinka near Moscow. From 1961 to 1970, he served in the Department of Missile Forces of the USSR Defense Ministry. Since 1970, in the reserve, and then retired. After leaving the reserve, he worked at the factory, and for the fortieth anniversary of the Victory, he organized a hall of military glory at the factory, which he was the Director of until 1991.

     For many years, he has been actively involved in the Patriotic education of young people and in the work of veteran organizations - the Council of veterans of the Lefortovo subdistrict, Southern Administrative district of Moscow and the Council of veterans of the 4th Guards Kantemirov Tank Corps.

     Paul Melnikov was awarded the order of Alexander Nevsky, Patriotic War order second degree,  Red Star order (twice), medals: "For Military Merit", "for the Victory over Germany", "Veteran Of the Armed Forces of the USSR" and many others.