Arkady Yegorovich Chepelev (Russian: Аркадий Егорович Чепелев; 24 January 1915 – 31 July 1985) was a Red Army

Starshina ( rus, старшина, p=stərʂɨˈna, a=Ru-старшина.ogg or in Ukrainian transliteration) is a senior non-commissioned rank or designation in the military forces of some Slavic states, and a historical military designation. In army ...

or sergeant major and Hero of the Soviet Union. He was awarded the title for ferrying weapons and ammunition to troops in the Dnieper bridgehead and repelling counterattacks during the Battle of the Dnieper. Chepelev continued to fight in combat and served with the

167th Rifle Division The 167th Rifle Division was an infantry division of the Red Army of the Soviet Union, formed twice. History First Formation The division was formed at Balashov in the Volga Military District in July 1940, under the command of ''Kombrig'' V ...

during the Lvov–Sandomierz Offensive and

Battle of the Dukla Pass The Battle of the Dukla Pass, also known as the Dukla, Carpatho–Dukla, Rzeszów–Dukla, or Dukla–Prešov offensive, was the battle for control over the Dukla Pass on the border between Poland and Slovakia on the Eastern Front of World ...

, among others. He was demobilized postwar and returned to Voronezh, working as a mechanic in an aircraft factory.

Early life

Chepelev was born on 24 January 1915 in the village of Tamlyk in Voronezh Governorate to a peasant family. After he completed four years of primary school, Chepelev's family moved to Voronezh. Chepelev then worked at a factory there.

World War II

In April 1942, Chepelev was drafted into the Red Army. He was sent to the 180th Separate Sapper Battalion of the

in April 1943. The division fought in the Battle of Kursk. By September 1943, he was a senior sergeant commanding a sapper squad in the battalion. On 12 September, he was awarded the

Order of the Red Star The Order of the Red Star (russian: Орден Красной Звезды, Orden Krasnoy Zvezdy) was a military decoration of the Soviet Union. It was established by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of 6 April 193 ...

. He fought in the Battle of the Dnieper. On 26 September, Chepelev and his squad cleared lanes in German minefields near Vyshhorod, enabling the advance of infantry units. During the subsequent crossing of the Dnieper, Chepelev reportedly made several trips on a raft, ferrying weapons and ammunition to troops on the west bank. Chepelev's squad reportedly built an improvised rowboat and ferried two artillery guns and an infantry battalion across the river. On 3 November, Chepelev helped repulse German counterattacks on the bridgehead. On 10 January 1944, Chepelev was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin. He joined the

Communist Party of the Soviet Union "Hymn of the Bolshevik Party" , headquarters = 4 Staraya Square, Moscow , general_secretary = Vladimir Lenin (first) Mikhail Gorbachev (last) , founded = , banned = , founder = Vladimir Lenin , newspaper ...

in 1944. Chepelev continued to fight with the 167th Rifle Division. In the summer, he fought in the Lvov–Sandomierz Offensive. During the fall, he participated in the

. On 8 December, he was awarded the

Order of the Patriotic War The Order of the Patriotic War (russian: Орден Отечественной войны, Orden Otechestvennoy voiny) is a Soviet military decoration that was awarded to all soldiers in the Soviet armed forces, security troops, and to partisan ...

2nd class. In January 1945, he fought in the Western Carpathian Offensive. During April, he fought in the Moravian-Ostrava Offensive.

Postwar

After the end of the war in 1945, Chepelev demobilized with the rank of sergeant major or Starshina and returned to Voronezh. He worked as a factory mechanic at the Voronezh Aircraft Production Association. On 11 March 1985, he was awarded the

1st class on the 40th anniversary of the end of World War II.TsAMO Anniversary card files, available online a
pamyatnaroda.mil.ru
/ref> Chepelev died on 31 July 1985 and was buried in the city's Southwestern Cemetery.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chepelev, Arkady 1915 births 1985 deaths People from Novousmansky District People from Voronezhsky Uyezd Communist Party of the Soviet Union members Soviet military personnel of World War II Heroes of the Soviet Union Recipients of the Order of Lenin