Aghashirin Jafarov

Jafarov was drafted into the Red Army in October 1941.^[2] He graduated from courses for machine gunners and served in combat from November 1942 with the 1368th Rifle Regiment of the 416th Rifle Division. Jafarov fought in the Battle of the Caucasus. For his actions he received the Medal for Battle Merit^[1] on 4 May 1943.^[3]

Jafarov fought in the Donbass Strategic Offensive (August 1943). Near Taganrog, his squad repelled several German counterattacks and Jafarov reportedly led one of these. The squad reportedly killed more than a platoon of German soldiers, destroyed two machine guns, captured four machine guns, two light machine guns, and ammunition. On the next day his squad was surrounded. Jafarov reportedly organized a perimeter defense and killed 56 German soldiers. The squad broke out and rejoined the battalion.^[1]

In October 1943, Jafarov fought in the Melitopol Offensive, part of the Battle of the Dnieper. Near Semenivka on the outskirts of Melitopol, he reportedly took a machine gun and four other soldiers at night and moved behind German lines. Early in the morning his machine gun was located and attacked. Wounded three times, Jafarov reportedly continued to fire, killing up to 300 German soldiers. These actions reportedly diverted a number of German troops, enabling the capture of the heights. On 1 November Jafarov was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin.^[1][2][4]

Jafarov continued to serve with the division during the war. He fought in the Battle of Berlin. On 29 May 1945 he received the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd class for his actions.^[5]

Jafarov was discharged with the rank of Starshina. He returned to Balıcallı and was kolkhoz chairman. He served on the village council in Neftchala District and also worked in the office of the Aznefterazvedka drilling trust. Jafarov died on 3 May 1984 and was buried in Neftçala.^[1][2]

A street in Neftçala was named for Jafarov.^[1][2]