Alexei Fofanov

Alexei Ivanovich Fofanov (Алексей Иванович Фофанов; 15 May 1915 – 4 September 1986) was a Soviet major and Hero of the Soviet Union. He was commander of a tank company of the 344th Tank Battalion of the 91st Tank Brigade of the 3rd Guards Tank Army of the 1st Ukrainian Front, senior lieutenant.

Life
Alexei Ivanovich Fofanov was born to the famous epic storyteller Ivan Terentyevich Fofanov. In 1934-1936 he studied at the Petrozavodsk Cooperative Technical School and worked as an assistant to the chief accountant of the regional consumer union in Pudozh.

In 1937, Fofanov he was drafted into the Red Army and served in tank forces. In 1939, he graduated from the school for junior commanders. Fofanov served in the Winter War. In 1941, became a member of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks).

From June 1941, on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War, Fofanov participated in defensive battles in Ukraine, the battle of Moscow, the crossing of the Dnieper, and the Second Battle of Kiev. On 7 November 1943, a tank company under Fofanov's command was the first to break into the city of Fastov. During the battle, his tank destroyed five anti-tank guns, four machine guns, and captured three anti-aircraft guns, a T-6 Tiger tank, and three enemy vehicles.

Fofanov was nominated for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for skillful company command, personal heroism, and courage. By a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated 10 January 1944, for "exemplary performance of combat missions of the command on the front of the fight against the Nazi invaders and the courage and heroism shown," he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal.

After the war, Fofanov worked in the internal affairs and state security agencies of the Karelo-Finnish Soviet Socialist Republic.

From 1958, Fofanov lived in the city of Kiev. In 1960, he retired with the rank of major.

Alexei Fofanov died on 4 September 1986 in Kyiv and was buried at Lesnoye Cemetery.

Legacy
Fofanov's portrait and name are carved in the Gallery of Heroes of the Soviet Union - natives of Karelia in Petrozavodsk. In the city of Fastov, a street was named in honor of Fofanov.