Golovachev, Aleksandr

Golovachev, Aleksandr Alekseevich 

Born Nov. 27 (Dec. 10), 1909, in the settlement of Liubokhna, now in Briansk Oblast; died Mar. 6, 1945, in the vicinity of Logau, Silesia. Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (Sept. 23, 1944, and Apr. 6, 1945, posthumously). Colonel. Member of the CPSU from 1931.

Golovachev was born into the family of a worker. He joined the Soviet Army in 1929 and graduated from the VTsIK Combined Military School in 1932. At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War of 1941–45 he was chief of staff and commander of a rifle regiment. In August 1942 he became commander of the 52nd (later, the 23rd Guards) Motorized Rifle Brigade. Golovachev took part in the battles to cross the Don and to liberate the Ukraine and in the battle of the Dnieper. He was honored twice with the title of Hero of the Soviet Union: for successfully crossing the Vistula and Oder rivers and for capturing bases of operations on their western banks. Wounded in battle seven times, he was killed in action. Golovachev was awarded the Order of Lenin, three Orders of the Red Banner, two Orders of Suvorov Second Class, the Order of the Red Star, and various medals.