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Yakov Pavlov

1917 – 1981

Hero of the Soviet Union

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About Yakov Pavlov

Lived 1917 – 1981 (aged 63). Yakov Pavlov was a Russian politician and military personnel.

Yakov Fedotovich Pavlov (; 17 October 191728 September 1981) was a Soviet Red Army soldier who became a Hero of the Soviet Union for his role in defending the eponymous "Pavlov's House" during the Battle of Stalingrad.

Early life Pavlov was born in 1917 to a peasant family in the small village of Krestovaya in northwestern Russia (present-day Novgorod Oblast).

Military career Pavlov joined the Red Army in 1938. During World War II, he fought on the Southwestern, Stalingrad, 3rd Ukrainian and 2nd Belorussian fronts. Pavlov was a commander of a machine-gun unit, an artilleryman, and a commander of a reconnaissance unit with the rank of senior sergeant.

During the Battle of Stalingrad, on the night of 27 September 1942, Pavlov's platoon recaptured a four-story residential building from the German Army, and defended it against continual attack by the Germans until relieved by advancing Soviet forces two months later. Vasily Chuikov, commanding general of the Soviet forces in Stalingrad, claimed that the Germans lost more men trying to take Pavlov's House than they did taking Paris.

Post-war life The building and its defense went down in history as "Pavlov's House" (Дом Павлова). For his actions in Stalingrad, he was awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union, the Order of Lenin, the Order of the October Revolution, two Orders of the Red Star and numerous other medals. Post-war, he joined the Communist Party. He was elected three times as Deputy to the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.

Death

Pavlov died on 28 September 1981, most likely due to injuries he received during his military career, and was buried in Novgorod.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
Higher Party School at the Central Committee of the CPSU
Positions held
Member of parliament
Awards
Order of Lenin; Hero of the Soviet Union; Order of the October Revolution; Gold Star medal; Order of the Red Star; Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945"; Medal "For Courage"; Medal "Veteran of Labour"; Medal "For the Defence of Stalingrad"; Jubilee Medal "In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin"; Jubilee Medal "Twenty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945"; Jubilee Medal "Thirty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945"
Also known as
Yakov Fedotovich Pavlov

People in Yakov Pavlov's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Yakov Pavlov's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Yakov Pavlov?

Hero of the Soviet Union (1917-1981)

When was Yakov Pavlov born?

Yakov Pavlov was born on 4 October 1917 in Valdaysky District.

When did Yakov Pavlov die?

Yakov Pavlov died on 29 September 1981 in Veliky Novgorod.

What was Yakov Pavlov's occupation?

Yakov Pavlov was a politician and military personnel.

What nationality was Yakov Pavlov?

Yakov Pavlov was Russian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Yakov Pavlov

· Wikidata: Q1637167

· DBpedia: Yakov Pavlov

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Yakov Pavlov. https://biography.guide/yakov-pavlov/

MLA: "Yakov Pavlov." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/yakov-pavlov/.

Chicago: "Yakov Pavlov." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/yakov-pavlov/.

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