Vasilij Shalvovich Kvachantiradze
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Vasily Shalvovich Kvachantiradze ( ka, ვასილ შალვას ძე კვაჭანტირაძე, rus, Василий Шалвович Квачантирадзе; 2 (15) January 1907 – 9 February 1950) was a top
Soviet sniper Snipers of the Soviet Union played an important role mainly on the Eastern Front of World War II, apart from other preceding and subsequent conflicts. In World War II, Soviet snipers used the 7.62×54mmR rifle cartridge with light, heavy, armour- ...
during World War II. He is credited with confirmed kills numbering at least 215 officers and soldiers of the German Wehrmacht during the Vitebsk-Orsha Offensive and around 534 confirmed kills total during the war.


Early life

Kvachantiradze was born on January 2 (15) 1907 in the village Konchkati, Georgia, then part of the Russian Empire. Vasily grew up within a peasant family and spent his youth working and assisting on the farm of his parents until he became a member of the Communist Party of Georgia in 1939. He also briefly served in the Red Army from 1932 to 1933.


World War II

When the war broke out Kvachantiradze was drafted again in 1941 by the regional military commissariat and deployed as sniper in the Soviet 650th Rifle Regiment, 138th Rifle Division. He proved himself during the
Battle of Stalingrad The Battle of Stalingrad (23 August 19422 February 1943) was a major battle on the Eastern Front of World War II where Nazi Germany and its allies unsuccessfully fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad (later re ...
where he killed 60 enemy soldiers with his sniper rifle. In August 1942 Vasily got wounded for the first time and after his return, was transferred to the
179th Rifle Division The 179th Vitebsk Red Banner Rifle Division was an infantry division of the Soviet Union's Red Army during World War II. World War II Formation Established at Vilnius on 17 August 1940 as part of the 29th Lithuanian Territorial Rifle Corps ...
, then part of the Soviet 43rd Army. By October 1942 he had amounted a total of 81 kills, for which 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 ...
. During the defensive battles around Prechistensky and Slobodskoy districts, Kvachantiradze fought in the 259th Rifle Regiment, 138th Rifle Division, where he went out on missions daily and was awarded with the Order of the Red Banner for 113 confirmed kills. By June 1944 Vasily Kvachantiradze in the rank of
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 ...
, had already suffered five battle wounds and with a personal score of 221, was regarded the best sniper of the 43rd Army. For his success, he was nominated for the title Hero of the Soviet Union. Kvachantiradze distuingished himself again in 1944 during the liberation of Vitebsk, Belarus, part of the East Prussian Offensive. He killed 44 enemy soldiers during an attempted breakthrough of German troops around
Shumilino Shumilino (russian: Шумилино) or Shumilina ( be, Шуміліна, Šumilina) is an urban-type settlement in Shumilina District, Vitebsk Region, Belarus. It is located northwest of Vitebsk Vitebsk or Viciebsk (russian: Витебск, ...
and is credited with 215 kills in the period from June to December 1944, which brought the total tally at that time to around 436 enemy soldiers and officers. In the battle at Shumilino Vasily's detachment was encircled by counterattacks and temporarily cut off from the rest of their regiment. The sniper reportedly managed to improvise traps and ambushes without exposing their position a single time. Due to continuous harassment and resistance, the Germans were not able to secure the area, which was considered important for creating a defensive line. A combined Soviet infantry and mechanized assault eventually broke through and defeated them. Vasily Kvachantiradze also worked with
Kuzma Danilovich Smolensky Kuzma may refer to: Locations * Kuzma, Kuzma, a settlement in the Municipality of Kuzma, Slovenia * Municipality of Kuzma, a municipality in Slovenia People *Kuzma, a Slavic given name derived from Cosmas ** Kuzma Minin, Russian merchant and hero ...
and under
Fyodor Okhlopkov Fyodor Matveyevich Okhlopkov (russian: Фёдор Матве́евич Охло́пков; 3 March 1908 – 28 May 1968) was a Soviet sniper during World War II credited with 429 kills. Nominated for the title Hero of the Soviet Union in 1944 afte ...
, two other eminent Soviet snipers. Together with Smolensky he was involved in training an additional 50 snipers for the war efforts. With Okhlopkov they became the deadliest sniper team in the Soviet Union with a total of 644 kills. During the entire period from 1941 to 1945, Kvachantiradze personally scored a total of 534 kills, Smolensky 414 and Okhlopkov 429. On March 24, 1945, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet decided to bestow upon him the title "Hero of the Soviet Union" with Gold Star Medal and a second Order of Lenin.


Awards

For his formidable efforts during the war, Kvachantiradze was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union, Order of Lenin twice gold star medal, Order of the Red Banner twice,
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 ...
twice and 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 ...
.


Postwar

Kvachantiradze left the army in 1945 and became a head of a Kolkhoz as well as deputy Supreme Soviet of Soviet Georgia. Vasilij Shalvovich Kvachantiradze died on February 9, 1950, at the age of 43.


See also

*
Noah Adamia Noah Petrovich Adamia ( ka, ნოე ადამია, Noe Adamia, russian: Ной Петрович Адамия; 21 December 1917 – 3 July 1942) was a Georgians, Georgian Snipers of the Soviet Union, Soviet sniper of the Naval Infantry (Rus ...
*
Snipers of the Soviet Union Snipers of the Soviet Union played an important role mainly on the Eastern Front of World War II, apart from other preceding and subsequent conflicts. In World War II, Soviet snipers used the 7.62×54mmR rifle cartridge with light, heavy, armour- ...


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kvachantiradze, Vasilij Shalvovich Soviet military personnel of World War II People of World War II from Georgia (country) 1907 births 1950 deaths Soviet military snipers People from Guria Heroes of the Soviet Union Recipients of the Order of Lenin Recipients of the Order of the Red Banner