Anatoly Abilovich Abilov

Anatoly Abilovich Abilov, 1915-2005, born Fetislyam Abil oglu Abilov, a Crimean Tatar who lived under the name Anatoly for most of his life. He commanded the 130th Guards Rifle Regiment of the 44th Guards Rifle Division. He was nominated for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union twice during the war and refused both times on account of his Crimean Tatar nationality; the title was finally conferred on 5 May 1990, forty-five years after the war, and he retired as a colonel that year. He died in 2005.