Institute of History and Archaeology, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Yekaterinburg, Russia

Vas. V. Zapariy, Cand. Hist., Associate Prof., Senior Researcher, e-mail: pantera.zap@gmail.com

The consolidation and development of the scientific and technological potential of the USSR’s tank industry during the Great Patriotic War rightfully became one of the pillars of the military victory of the Soviet nation. A significant contribution to the Victory was achieved by soviet metallurgical engineers, who managed to organize quickly the production of tank armor, turrets and hulls in the critical conditions of evacuation. This article reveals the destiny of outstanding, but less known in our days, soviet engineer Dmitry Badyagin, who, held the position of chief metallurgist of Uralmash from 1941 to 1943, made a significant contribution to the improvement and development of technological processes for the tank armor production. Under his leadership, Uralmash turned into the largest armored hull plant of the People's Commissariat of the Tank Industry and actively fought to improve the quality of high and medium tempered tank armor. The publication examines the key organizational and technical achievements of Dmitry Badyagin in terms of organization of metallurgical production at Uralmash for the demands of frontline in 1941-1944.

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