"Master of strategic surprises": grandson of USSR Marshal Ivan Bagramyan became a guest of the National Centre RUSSIA podcast

The National Centre RUSSIA continues a new project – a series of podcasts "Tell Me About Victory," dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War and heroes whose feats have forever remained in the memory of generations. 

In the third episode, the podcast guest was Ivan Bagramyan – grandson of USSR Marshal, twice Hero of the Soviet Union Ivan Khristoforovich Bagramyan. The military commander led several armies and fronts during the Great Patriotic War. 

"May 9 is the most important holiday in our family. For Marshal Ivan Bagramyan, the war did not end on this day, but a week later, because active resistance continued in East Prussia. My grandfather was called a 'master of strategic surprises' because he made unexpected strikes against the enemy and redeployed troops," Ivan Bagramyan noted. 

In the summer of 1941, a most difficult operation was taking place on the South-western front, when Bagramyan was entrusted with leading the advanced detachment of the headquarters column. During that operation, his plane landed on a mined airfield. He miraculously survived and led out more than 10 thousand people. 

"My grandfather considered the storming of the fortress city of Koenigsberg the most difficult battle. He was not afraid to oppose the leadership, and as a result of his decisions, thousands of soldiers' lives were saved," Ivan Bagramyan mentioned. 

In addition to what happened during wartime, the Marshal's grandson talked about his grandfather meeting his grandmother and about family traditions.