Bakir Mustafayev
# Bakir Mustafayev

Bakir Dursun oglu Mustafayev (Azerbaijani: Bəkir Dursun oğlu Mustafayev; 11 February 1898 – 10 December 1978) was an Azerbaijani soldier who served in the Red Army during World War II. Holding the rank of Red Army man he was decorated as a Hero of the Soviet Union. Mustafayev was awarded the title for his actions during the Kerch–Eltigen Operation. During the operation, Mustafayev reportedly killed 40 German soldiers. For his actions, Mustafayev was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union on 16 May 1944. He was discharged after the war and lived in Samarqand District.

## Early life and interwar years

Mustafayev was born on 11 February 1898 in the village of Glazar in what is now Akhaltsikhe Municipality to a peasant family. He worked in agriculture and was chairman of a collective farm.

## World War II

Mustafayev was drafted into the Red Army in August 1941. He fought in combat from March 1942, fighting in the Battle of the Caucasus. Mustafayev became a rifleman in the 5th Rifle Company of the 55th Guards Rifle Division's 164th Guards Rifle Regiment. In fall 1943, he participated in the Kerch-Eltigen Operation. He crossed the strait with the first group of the regiment. On 3 November, during the battle for Height 102 northeast of Kerch, heavy fire stopped the advance. Mustafayev crawled to a bunker on a height and threw grenades, reportedly killing five German soldiers. His unit then reportedly captured the height. In a battle in a trench, Mustafayev reportedly killed four more German soldiers, captured a machine gun and opened fire on German troops. Mustafayev reportedly hoisted a red flag on Height 102. He was wounded, but reportedly did not leave the battlefield. During the fighting on the Kerch Peninsula, Mustafayev reportedly killed 40 German soldiers. He was evacuated the next day. On 16 May 1944, he was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin.

In 1944, Mustafayev joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. He fought in the Crimean Offensive.

## Postwar

After the end of the war, Mustafayev was discharged. He lived and worked in the village of Kaynama in Samarqand District. He died on 10 December 1978.

A street in Kaynama was named after Mustafayev. In April 2008, his Gold Star and other documents were sold in an online auction.

