single time. Due to continuous harassment and resistance, the Germans were not able to secure the area, which was considered important for creating a defensive line. A combined Soviet infantry and mechanized assault eventually broke through and defeated them. Vasily Kvachantiradze also worked with Kuzma Danilovich Smolensky and under Fyodor Okhlopkov, two other eminent Soviet snipers. Together with Smolensky he was involved in training an additional 50 snipers for the war efforts. With Okhlopkov they became the deadliest sniper team in the Soviet Union with a total of 644 kills. During the entire period from 1941 to 1945, Kvachantiradze personally scored a total of 534 kills, Smolensky 414 and Okhlopkov 429. On March 24, 1945, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet decided to bestow upon him the title "Hero of the Soviet Union" with Gold Star Medal and a second Order of Lenin. Awards For his formidable efforts during the war, Kvachantiradze was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union, Order of Lenin twice gold star medal, Order of the Red Banner twice, Order of the Patriotic War twice and the Order of the Red Star. Postwar Kvachantiradze left the army in 1945 and became a head of a Kolkhoz as well as deputy Supreme Soviet of Soviet Georgia. Vasilij Shalvovich Kvachantiradze died on February 9, 1950, at the age of 43. See also Noah Adamia Snipers of the Soviet Union References Soviet military personnel of World War II People of World War II from Georgia (country) 1907 births 1950 deaths Soviet military snipers People from Guria Heroes of the Soviet Union Recipients of the Order of Lenin Recipients of the Order of the Red Banner