Mehdi Guliyev

Mehdi Nadir oglu Guliyev (; 15 May 1923 – 25 January 1976) was an Azerbaijani Internal Troops lieutenant colonel and a Hero of the Soviet Union. Guliyev was awarded the title on 17 November 1943 for his actions in the Battle of the Caucasus and the Kerch–Eltigen Operation. During the battle to break through the Blue Line, Guliyev was reported to have repulsed twelve German counterattacks and killed 167 German soldiers with his machine gun. During the Taman Offensive he reportedly destroyed two German machine guns with grenades. In the Kerch–Eltigen Operation, Guliyev reportedly killed about 100 German soldiers with his machine gun. Postwar, Guliyev served in the Internal Troops, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Early life Guliyev was born on 15 May 1923 in Heriknaz to a servant's family. He graduated from ninth grade and trade school. He worked as a bricklayer in Baku and was a Komsomol member.

World War II Guliyev was drafted into the Red Army in May 1942. He became a machine gun commander in the 15th Guards Rifle Regiment of the 2nd Guards Rifle Division.

The division advanced in September. On a new defensive line, the German troops stopped the advance on 15 September. The regiment was unable to dislodge the German troops, and the regiment had to seek cover amidst heavy machine gun fire. Guliyev reportedly spotted three camouflaged machine-gun positions. He moved closer to the pillboxes and killed the crew of one. Taking grenades, he reportedly destroyed the other two pillboxes. The regiment was able to advance after the destruction of the pillboxes. Guliyev received the Order of the Red Star for this engagement. On 16 October Guliyev was awarded a second Order of the Red Star for his actions on 2 October. The division fought in the Kerch-Eltigen Operation in November 1943. On 1 November, the unit landed on the Kerch Peninsula and captured Height 175. German troops made several counterattacks. Guliyev reportedly killed 25 German soldiers with his machine gun on the first day. He reportedly killed a total of about 100 German soldiers during the operation. On 17 November, Guliyev was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin.

In 1944, Guliyev graduated from the Krasnodar Small Arms and Mortar School with the rank of junior lieutenant. Guliyev was sent to a reserve regiment and graduated from the Tbilisi officers' improvement courses in 1945.

Postwar Guliyev left the army in 1946. He became a Communist Party of the Soviet Union member in the same year. He lived in Baku. In 1948, he graduated from the Higher Party School of the Azerbaijan Communist Party Central Committee. He worked in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel. Guliyev died on 25 January 1976 and was buried in Baku.