July 26, 1997
The Jewish community “Freud” began the official report of its biography. Its permanent leader until 2007 was Lev Grigoryevich Toytman, an honorary resident of the Jewish Autonomous Region, a veteran of the Great Patriotic War, a gentleman of two orders of glory. It was he who became the initiator of the creation of the Jewish community in Birobidzhan, and in many ways, thanks to his efforts, Freud is one of the “business cards” of the city. The main area of activity of the community is the preservation and development of communal life, Jewish culture and traditions, religious activities, and assistance to the needles of the Jewish Autonomous Region.
Now the community has a unique Judaic Museum, the Yuna-Yewish Culture Children and Youth Center, a charity dining room is working, and interest clubs are gathered.
Since 2007, the chairman of the community was Roman Isaakovich Leder. Since December 2020, the chairman of Freud is Oleg Slobodchuk.
July 26, 1913
On this day, Georgy Dorofeevich Lopatin was born – Hero of the Soviet Union.
Georgy Dorofeevich Lopatin. Photo: Photo: Regional Library
The future hero was born in the village of Samara now of the Oktyabrsky District of the Jewish Autonomous Region in the family of a peasant. He graduated from 6 classes of the Yekaterinin-Nikolsky school in 1929. Since 1930, he worked as a tractor driver, foreman, district mechanic of the Voroshilovskaya machine-tractor station.
Georgy Dorofeevich was drafted into the army on July 23, 1941 by the October military enlistment office.
During the Great Patriotic War in the army – from August 3, 1942. He fought on the South and North Caucasus fronts, in a separate Primorsky army, 1st and 3rd Belarusian, 1st Ukrainian fronts. In 1943 he graduated from the courses of junior lieutenants of the 18th Army.
For the difference in battles in the North Caucasus, he was awarded the Order of the Red Star. For battles in Crimea, he was awarded the second order of the Red Star, for battles in Belarus awarded the Order of the Patriotic War of the 2nd degree. He was awarded the next military rank – the lieutenant.
He distinguished himself in the Belarusian strategic operation during the liberation of the Gomel region.
In the area of crossing across the Bird River, his battalion from the march entered the battle with superior enemy forces. G. D. Lopatin with his platoon advanced forward and a sudden blow created a panic in the enemy’s column moving along the road, as a result of which a cork formed on the road. In this battle, the platoon G. D. Lopatin destroyed 10 enemy vehicles.
The bridge across the river was destroyed, every meter of water was shot by machine -gun and mortar fire. There were not enough shipments for crossing the river. Noticing two boats on the opposite, busy enemy, the shore, G. D. Lopatin, along with the commander of the guard department, senior sergeant V. M. Litvinov on June 27, 1944, swim under enemy fire overcame the river, captured two boats and overtook them to their shore. At night, easel machine guns, armor -piercing with anti -tank rifles and to the infantry platoon were transported at the captured boats. Among the crosses were G. D. Lopatin and V. M. Litvinov.
At the captured bridgehead, the platoon fighters crowded out the enemy from the trenches, fixed and reflected 9 counterattacks, ensuring the crossing of the main forces of the regiment.
By a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of March 24, 1945, for courage and heroism shown in battles with the Nazi invaders, Lopatin Georgy Dorofeevich was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and the Golden Star medal (No. 6347).
Since June 1946, G. D. Lopatin – in reserve. He returned to his native area, began to work in the village of Samara MTS mechanic, then with his family he moved to the village of Blessed Oktyabrsky District. In the fifties, G. D. Lopatin sent to study at the Irkutsk agricultural institute for annual courses. After their end, he became the chief engineer of MTS, and when MTS was disbanded, he was appointed chief engineer of the October state farm. He was awarded the Order of the October Revolution in this position.
Since 1976, G. D. Lopatin – retired, but continued to work until 1980.
On September 4, 2003, G. D. Lopatin died in the village of Amurzet of the Oktyabrsky District of the Jewish Autonomous Region, where he lived with relatives. A memorial plaque was installed on the house where he lived.
The name of the hero is assigned to the school in the village of Blessed. A memorial plaque is installed on the school building.
The name of George Dorofeevich Lopatin is carved on one of the pylons in the Victory Square in Birobidzhan.
