Noah Adamia

Noah Adamia (; ; 21 December 1917 – 3 July 1942) was a Soviet sniper and Hero of the Soviet Union who served in the Soviet Maritime Forces during World War II.

He participated in the Sevastopol sniper movement and personally trained about 80 snipers. Adamia is credited with having killed over 200 German soldiers during the Battle of Sevastopol, before he was killed in action a day before the remaining Soviet forces defending the port surrendered.

Early life

Born on 21 December 1917 into a peasant family in the Georgian village of Matkhoji, he attended a high school in Tbilisi. Afterwards Adamia joined the Soviet Navy in 1938 and served in coastal defenses as anti-aircraft gunner. In 1940, he graduated from the Odessa Military Naval School and became platoon commander. "Noah Adamia - a passionate hunter - had a sharp eye and keen ear. He was able to quietly sneak through forests, mountains and bushes in seemingly most inaccessible places. Donning camouflage cloaks, capturing some rounds of bread and a flask of water, Noah went in the morning on one of the heights at the forefront of defense. Every day the sniper chose a new position. Like a hunter stalking the beast, so Adamia crept to close quarters and beat the Nazis from his sniper rifle without a miss."

Awards For his outstanding performance and courage in the fight against Nazism and the actions in June 1942, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet posthumously awarded Adamia with the title Hero of the Soviet Union, the Order of Lenin and the Medal of Valour on 24 July 1942. Due to restrictions on awards for marine servicemen, he was not awarded with higher honors. A street in the city of Sukhumi, Georgia, is named after him.