Alexander Dmitrievich
Epanchin
1914-1991
Alexander Dmitrievich Epanchin was a Lieutenant General, participant of the Great Patriotic War, the Hero of the Soviet Union. In 1931 he was called up to serve in the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army. In 1934 he finished the Moscow Infantry School. He commanded a platoon and a company in the 52nd Rifle Regiment, then in the 211st Rifle Regiment. Since 1940 he was the commander of the training battalion of the 76th Reserve Rifle Regiment. He was on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War from its very beginning. He participated in the Battle for Moscow. On September 11, 1941, the battalion commander, Captain Epanchin, was wounded in the leg. In November 1941, he and his battalion were encircled north-west of the city of Yakhrom, fought for a day in complete encirclement and shackled large enemy forces, and then managed to escape to his own. In the counteroffensive of the Soviet troops near Moscow, Captain Epanchin commanded the rifle battalion of the 1st Guards Rifle Brigade, and was awarded his first combat award – the Order of the Red Banner for personal leadership of the battle for 3 days during the capture of the village of Petushki, during which 15 counterattacks were repulsed and up to 400 enemy soldiers were killed. He especially distinguished himself during the Rostov operation of 1943. His regiment destroyed up to 500 enemy soldiers in 9 days of the offensive, captured 2 anti-tank guns, 2 food warehouses, 4 ammunition depots, machine guns, rifles, etc. Fulfilling the task of facilitating the exit from the encirclement of the 4th Guards Mechanized Corps, the regiment captured an important position near the village of Matveev Kurgan in the Rostov region on February 18, 1943 and held it until the combat mission was fully completed, repelling continuous attacks by German troops supported by aviation. During this battle at the height of 105.7, the regiment inflicted heavy losses on the enemy in military equipment and manpower. For this feat, he was awarded the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union. After the end of the war, he continued to serve in the Soviet Army. In 1947, he completed officer training courses and commanded the Guards rifle regiment for 2 years. He was on a military-diplomatic job. In 1970 Lieutenant General A.D. Epanchin was dismissed to the reserve.
Address: Moscow, Viktorenko str., 2/1
