Nikolay Petrovich Fomin (1914-1944) – Major of the Workers 'and Peasants’ Red Army, a participant in the Great Patriotic War, Hero of the Soviet Union (1944). Mordvin-Erzya.

Biography

Nikolai Fomin was born on November 24, 1914 in the village of Bolshoi Surmet (now the Abdulinsky district of the Orenburg region). He graduated from the sixth grade of the school. In October 1936, Fomin was called up to serve in the Workers 'and Peasants’ Red Army. He graduated from the courses for junior lieutenants. Since October 1941 – on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War. In battles he was wounded three times.

By June 1944, Guards Major Nikolai Fomin commanded the 1st Battalion of the 272nd Guards Rifle Regiment of the 90th Guards Rifle Division of the 6th Guards Army of the 1st Baltic Front. Distinguished himself during the liberation of the Vitebsk region of the Byelorussian SSR. On June 22, 1944, Fomin’s battalion broke through the German defenses and stormed the villages of Kartoshi and Pligovka. When one of the companies lost its commander and lay under massive enemy fire, Fomin raised it to attack, capturing 4 artillery pieces, 1 mortar battery and 3 machine guns. On June 28, 1944, Fomin was seriously wounded in battle and died in a medical battalion on July 3, 1944. Buried in the village of Goryany, Polotsk region, Vitebsk region, Belarus.

By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of July 22, 1944, Major Nikolai Fomin was posthumously awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union for „exemplary performance of combat missions of the command on the front against the German invaders and for the courage and heroism shown at the same time". He was also awarded the Order of Lenin and a number of medals.