gamavor Posted August 24, 2003 Report Share Posted August 24, 2003 (edited) Here I would like to mention, the destiny of an other 'Diasporan', so particular Legend, that is hardly known outside Artzakh, even less outside Armenia. Kristapor Ivanian, born in the 1920's, in Tiflis, then the biggest Armenian Town of the Transcaucasus.... He was born in a family of generals, serving the Czars for more than a century, and his father being a Hero of the Russian Army during the liberation of Western Armenia, Garin, Gars... For this reason, merged into the Russianised Nobility of Tiflis, then the capital of the Russian Regime in the Transcaucasus, was Russian speaking exclusively. He knew virtually nothing of Armenia... Kristapor entered the Military cavalry academy in Tiflis, naturally, according to old family traditions... Still young, he was remarked for his abilities, and sent to St. Petersburg/Leningrad artillery academy... WWII began, and the young Ivanian, still a cadet, was sent to the front..... He ended as a commander of the Red Army Artillery units before Berlin!! He was God knows how many times Hero of the USSR. After the war, he served in different army HQ, became the commander of the USSR artillery and missile academies, commander of missiles in Ukraine... Till the late 70s, when as a hero of the Soviet Union, he had the right to retire with biggest Honors, with a Dacha in St Petersburg. He was married to a Russian, and his sons and daughter were totally merged to the then Nomenclature of Moscow,... In 1988, he was already an old man, in his 70's, classified as 'history' by all, forgotten by all... He heard of Artzakh vaguely, or so, as any 'Grandpa' in Leningrad. Till summer 92, when things went very bad for Artzakh. The Turks captured 45% of the territory, and were close to 10km north east of Stepanakert. Desperate, Vasken Sarkssian made a speech on Armenian and Russian TV, calling all Armenian officers, no matter their location, to save the country... In Leningrad, by chance, the Ivanian couple, in their dacha were looking the news.... The old General, stood up, and said to his old wife, that maybe he should go too, who knows, he might still be useful,,?? Her wife laughed at him, saying, 'old man, you are sick, unable to stand 30 minutes on foot, (he had a prostate adenoma), with no respiration, what you think those people would do from you?' An hour later, he said, taking his jacket on his shoulder, as usual, at 19:00, 'wife I'm going to buy my cigarettes'... As he was out, his wife caller their son, in a Moscow office, saying: 'you know, your father is going too old, know what, he said he was willing to fight..., maybe we must see a doctor?' General Kristapor Ivanian, 72 years old, hero of the USSR, gone to buy cigarettes, was reported missing in Leningrad.... Next day, at the evening, in all the chaos and brouhaha of a small building, in Central Yerevan, where convoys were sent to Stepanakert, an old man, with 2cm glasses, a tiny brown, hand made jacket on his back , asked to be registered as a Volunteer, in Russian!!! The women behind the desk was lost, she asked him to wait next room... At the end of the day, by chance an officer came to give instructions. He asked if there was still problems?? The women ended the list: 'Commander, there is an old fool next by, he's wainting for hours, and still refuses to leave...' The officer, impressed by the age, went to persuade the old man. He still refused to leave...., asking the commander to call his General! No matter the arguments, he still began to shout loudly, ordering in Russian: 'call your general and tell him that Kristapor Ivanovitch Ivanian is a volunteer for Artzakh'!!! there was an other officer next stage, who came in and asked: 'Are you the K. Ivanian of the Artillery books? i studied in the academy, on your theory books!!!' Next Morning, the old men was in the office of the President of the republic, with the minister of Defense..., all were full of emotion, and general Ivanian was appointed as military aid of the President, supervising the Armenian Army...' Things were going from bad to worse, and the old man was angry with the President, for giving him 'office work'... One morning, he was reported missing... The same evening, there was a massive attack on Hadrut front, things were going into chaos, orders were given to evacuate.... in all that hell, when in a panic mood, the last field canon was being taken back, an old man appeared in front of the track, on the Highway to Fizuli. Took the mortars and asked to help him... The boys were annoyed. They had orders to retreat, but this Strong head old man was refusing to leave'... no matter all their talk, finally, in respect to his big age, they decided to stop for some minutes, and help the old fool... General Kristapor Ivanian, ex-Hero of the USSR, ex-Theoretician of Soviet Artillery Academies, ex-Aid of the President of the Armenian Republic, turned into a simple artillery officer, ordering, shouting in Russian.... And the enemy was stopped! Soon the Turkish fire was less and less accurate, less and less intensive.... Soon the little field cannon of the 'Missing' regiment registered new, captured material, Grad missiles.... Kristapor Ivanian, member and adviser of the NKR HQ, was assigned to create, from zero, NKR army's military academy, in a destroyed village, now named after him IVANOVKA. While fighting on 4 fronts, the NKR began forming new, 17-18 year old tank and artillery officers..., next to the front-line. One day the boys were in classes, learning in books, and next day, when situation tense, they were in practice, liberating Aghdam or Fizuli... War ended, for the first time after 1041, Ani's fall, an Armenian Army liberated lands... Gen Ivanian, called home, ex-Leningrad now St. Petersburg, to inform his whereabouts.... The Government of the NKR, offered a big dacha, next to the Presidential palace to his 75 years Heroe, now Second in Command of its Army.... The Russian wife installed in Stepanakert, but the old general refused comfort.. While he asked his wife to cultivate vegetables and poultry in their garden, to avoid expenses for the state, he went to live in his Division's HQ, near the front-line..., turning Home, Stepanakert, once a month only.... Gen Ivanian was Given the most difficult section of the front, the mountains and forests of Chahoumian and Mardakert.... He was used to sleep 3-4 hours a day, the rest touring his positions... He was atheist as the original communists, knew virtually no Armenian, established soviet style discipline in his troops, imposed law and order, has build bunkers and garnisons, with soviet style harshness (the builders were given short terms, with at the end, the obligation to give best quality bunkers, if not, may God help them...)... He was feared as 'Stalin' in all Mardakert, at 75, sick with uretreal and cancer problems, but checked all by his eyes... He knew nothing of 'comfort/luxury'. lived in the same places as his officers, his men.... ate virtually the same as they did 'loligov tzevazegh' a day, a piece of bread and a cop of tea...( in 96, things were not as good as now for food). I had the honor to share his officer quarter bank for a short period, and I can't forget that old, severe, Russian speaking, but so emotional and good-heart man, sharing the cold, humid, icy morning ceremonial garrison 'nakhajachs' with 20-30 year old men.... I can't forget the first day I was introduced to him. that 'Stalin' man, tears in his eyes, because he saw a young Diasporan, 'present to give a hand' to thoose forgotten 'SAVAGES'... Let alone the comic, while 2 different Diasporan's serving the same nation, were obliged to communicate with hands, or a Artsakhian parpar translator... He had 2 Artzakhian horses, he used to tour the mountain forest positions 2 or tree times a week..., and believe me its easier to say than to do, in such hard terrain, mines everywhere, and the enemy 100-150m away.... He served till his last day of life, past 75, to secure security for his old people.... http://www.geocities.com/master8885/Forces...es/Ivanian.html Edited August 24, 2003 by gamavor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted August 24, 2003 Report Share Posted August 24, 2003 GAmavor jan Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamavor Posted September 17, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2004 (edited) Someone should make a movie about General Kristapor Ivanian! Edited September 17, 2004 by gamavor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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