Gurgen Dalibaltayan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gurgen Dalibaltayan
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Gurgen Dalibaltayan
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| Born | 5 June 1926 Ninotsminda, Javakheti, Georgian SSR, Transcaucasian SFSR, USSR |
| Died | 1 September 2015 (aged 89) Yerevan, Armenia |
| Allegiance |  Soviet Union Armenia |
| Service/ |
 Soviet Army Armed Forces of Armenia |
| Years of service | 1947–2015 |
| Rank | Colonel-General |
| Commands held | 34th Infantry Regiment 60th Infantry Division 242nd Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | First Nagorno-Karabakh War Battle of Shusha |
| Awards | see below |
Gurgen Harutyun Dalibaltayan (Armenian: Գուրգեն Հարությունի Դալիբալթայան; 5 June 1926 – 1 September 2015) was an important Armenian military leader. He was the Chief of General Staff for the Armenian Armed Forces. This was during the 1992 Battle of Shusha.
He is famous for creating a clever plan to capture the city of Shusha. This city was very well-protected. His strategy involved fake attacks on nearby villages. This made the defenders of Shusha leave their positions. Meanwhile, another commander, Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan, surrounded the city. This cut off any help from reaching the city.
Many people thought his plan was impossible. Military rules usually say you need three times more soldiers than the enemy to win such a battle. But Gurgen Dalibaltayan's forces were actually outnumbered.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Gurgen Dalibaltayan was born on June 5, 1926. His hometown was Bogdanovka, which is now called Ninotsminda. This town is in Georgia, close to the border with Armenia.
He went to the Secondary School of Gorelovka from 1934 to 1944. After finishing school, he studied at the Tbilisi School of Infantry for three years. Then, he joined the Soviet Army.
Military Career
Serving in the Soviet Army
Dalibaltayan held many different leadership roles. He served in places like Echmiadzin and Yerevan in Armenia. He also served in other cities across the Soviet Armed Forces.
From 1969 to 1975, he led the 242nd Infantry Division. This division was part of the Siberian Military District. Later, from 1975 to 1980, he was a Deputy Chief of Staff. This role was for the Southern Group of Forces in Budapest.
He also took advanced courses for military leaders. These were at the Military Academy of the General Staff of the USSR. He attended these courses in 1976 and 1978. His last job in the Soviet Army began in 1987. He was the Deputy Commander for combat training in the North Caucasus Military District. He left the Soviet Armed Forces in 1991, just before the Soviet Union broke apart.
Leading the Armenian Army
After leaving the Soviet Army, Dalibaltayan joined the Armed Forces of Armenia. In 1991, he became the Chief of Staff of the Defence Committee. This committee was part of the Council of Ministers of Armenia.
In the same year, he was promoted to Chief of the General Staff of Armenia. He also became the first Deputy Defence Minister of Armenia. Dalibaltayan was a key leader during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War.
The Battle of Shusha Strategy
Gurgen Dalibaltayan was the commander of Armenian forces during the Battle of Shusha. He worked with Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan on this important battle. The Azeri Army had many advantages. They had more and better military equipment. They also had more soldiers and held the higher ground.
Shusha was in a very strong position, making it easy to defend. A direct attack by Armenian forces seemed impossible. Military experts say that to successfully attack a strong position, you need at least 3 to 4 times more soldiers than the enemy. The Armenian forces did not have that many soldiers.
Instead, Dalibaltayan and Ter-Tadevosyan came up with a different plan. They decided to launch several fake attacks. These attacks were aimed at villages near Shusha. The goal was to make the defenders of Shusha leave their positions to help these villages.
While this was happening, Armenian forces would surround Shusha. This would cut off the city from any more help or supplies. The plan worked, and the city was captured. This victory was a major turning point in the war for Armenia.
The day Shusha was captured, May 9, 1992, is celebrated in Armenia. It is called Victory Day. This date also happens to be the end of the Great Patriotic War during World War II.
After the war, Dalibaltayan continued to serve his country. From 1993 to 2007, he was an Advisor to the President of Armenia. He was also the chief military inspector. After 2007, he became the Senior Advisor to the Minister of Defense.
Personal Life
Gurgen Dalibaltayan was married to Shushanik Dalibaltayan. They had two children. Their daughter, Varduhi, was born in 1952. Their son, Varazdat, was born in 1954.
He was also an honorary citizen of Yerevan. Gurgen Dalibaltayan passed away on September 1, 2015, at the age of 89.
Awards and Honors
- Order of the Red Banner
- Order of the Red Star
- Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR, 3rd class
Order of the Combat Cross, 1st degree (1998)- Medal "For Services to the Fatherland"
- Medal "For Distinguished Service", 1st class
- Medal "For Distinguished Service", 2nd class
- Order of Nerses the Gracious
Order of the Combat Cross, 1st degree (2000)- National Hero of Armenia (2021, posthumously)
See also
In Spanish: Gurgen Dalibaltayan para niños
