Sassuntsi-Davit Tank Regiment
The 119th Separate Tank Regiment, popularly known as the Sasuntsi-Davit Tank Column (; ) was a decorated Soviet separate tank regiment during the Second World War, consisting primarily of ethnic Armenians. The unit was named after David of Sasun, the hero of the medieval Armenian national epic Daredevils of Sasun. Formation The regiment was formed in Echmiatsin, Armenian SSR in January 1943 and was funded entirely through public subscription. Under the aegis of Archbishop Gevorg VI Chorekjian, diaspora Armenians communities in Cuba, Cyprus, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Transjordan, Lebanon, Syria, the United States, and elsewhere collectively raised US$115,000 in the United States; Can$37,000 in Canada; £L185,000 in Lebanon; £S 276,000 in Syria; £E 14,000 in Egypt; and Rls 2,500,000 in Iran. The Armenian Apostolic Church itself donated gifts in the area totaling around 850,000 Rbls and £1,000 stg. Various fund raising committees were established, the first founded on March 7, 1943 in New York City. The funds were finally distributed under the auspices of the Armenian Apostolic Church residing in Echmiatsin, which were sufficient to outfit the regiment with 21 tanks by February 1944. The regiment was initially equipped with the newer generation T-34-85 tanks, armed with the new D-5T