The war demanded from the people the greatest exertion of forces and huge sacrifices on a national scale, revealed the staunchness and courage of the Soviet people, the ability to sacrifice in the name of freedom and independence of the Motherland. During the war years heroism became widespread, became the norm of behavior Soviet people... Thousands of soldiers and officers immortalized their names in defense Brest Fortress, Odessa, Sevastopol, Kiev, Leningrad, Novorossiysk, in the battle of Moscow, Stalingrad, Kursk, in the North Caucasus, Dnieper, in the foothills of the Carpathians, during the storming of Berlin and in other battles.
For heroic deeds in the Great Patriotic War, more than 11 thousand people were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union (some - posthumously), of which 104 - twice, three - three times (G.K. Zhukov, I.N. Kozhedub and A.I. Pokryshkin ). The first during the war years this title were awarded Soviet pilots MP Zhukov, SI Zdorovtsev and PT Kharitonov, ramming fascist planes on the outskirts of Leningrad.
In total in wartime ground forces more than eight thousand heroes were brought up, including 1800 artillerymen, 1142 tankmen, 650 soldiers of engineering troops, over 290 signalmen, 93 air defense soldiers, 52 soldiers of the military rear, 44 medics; in the Air Force - over 2,400 people; in the Navy - over 500 people; partisans, underground fighters and Soviet intelligence officers - about 400; border guards - over 150 people.
Among the Heroes of the Soviet Union are representatives of most of the nations and nationalities of the USSR
Among the servicemen awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, privates, sergeants, foremen - over 35%, officers - about 60%, generals, admirals, marshals - over 380 people. There are 87 women among the Heroes of the Soviet Union during the war. The first to receive this title was Z.A. Kosmodemyanskaya (posthumously).
About 35% of the Heroes of the Soviet Union at the time of awarding the title were under the age of 30, 28% were between 30 and 40 years old, and 9% were over 40 years old.
Four Heroes of the Soviet Union: artilleryman A. V. Aleshin, pilot I. G. Drachenko, commander of a rifle platoon P. Kh. Dubinda, artilleryman N. I. Kuznetsov - were also awarded the Orders of Glory of all three degrees for military exploits. Full gentlemen More than 2,500 people, including 4 women, have received the Order of Glory of three degrees. During the war, over 38 million orders and medals were awarded to the defenders of the Motherland for courage and heroism. The Motherland highly appreciated the labor feat of the Soviet people in the rear. During the war years, 201 people were awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, about 200 thousand were awarded orders and medals.
Viktor Vasilievich Talalikhin
Born September 18, 1918 in the village. Teplovka of the Volsky district of the Saratov region. Russian. After graduating from a factory school, he worked at the Moscow meat-packing plant, at the same time studied at the flying club. Graduated from Borisoglebokoye Military Aviation School of Pilots. Took part in Soviet-Finnish war 1939 - 1940. He flew 47 sorties, shot down 4 Finnish aircraft, for which he was awarded the Order of the Red Star (1940).
In the battles of the Great Patriotic War since June 1941. He flew over 60 combat missions. In the summer and autumn of 1941, he fought near Moscow. For military distinction he was awarded the Orders of the Red Banner (1941) and the Order of Lenin.
The title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal to Viktor Vasilyevich Talalikhin was awarded by the Decree of the Presidium The Supreme Council USSR on August 8, 1941 for the first night ramming of an enemy bomber in the history of aviation.
Soon Talalikhin was appointed squadron commander, he was awarded the rank of lieutenant. The glorious pilot took part in many air battles near Moscow, shot down five more enemy aircraft personally and one in the group. He died a heroic death in an unequal battle with fascist fighters on October 27, 1941.
Buried V.V. Talalikhin with military honors for Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow. By order of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR of August 30, 1948, he was forever enlisted in the lists of the first squadron of the fighter aviation regiment, in which he fought the enemy near Moscow.
Streets in Kaliningrad, Volgograd, Borisoglebsk, Voronezh region and other cities, a sea vessel, GPTU No. 100 in Moscow, and a number of schools were named after Talalikhin. On the 43rd kilometer of the Varshavskoe highway, over which an unprecedented night duel took place, an obelisk was erected. A monument is erected in Podolsk, in Moscow - a bust of the Hero.
Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub
(1920–1991), Air Marshal (1985), Hero of the Soviet Union (1944 - twice; 1945). During the Great Patriotic War in fighter aviation, squadron commander, deputy regiment commander, conducted 120 air battles; shot down 62 aircraft.
Three times Hero of the Soviet Union Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub on La-7 shot down 17 enemy aircraft (including the Me-262 jet fighter) out of 62 he shot down during the war on La-brand fighters. One of the most memorable battles Kozhedub fought on February 19, 1945 (sometimes the date is February 24).
On this day, he flew out on a free hunt, paired with Dmitry Titarenko. On the traverse of the Oder, the pilots noticed a plane approaching quickly from the direction of Frankfupt an der Oder. The plane flew along the riverbed at an altitude of 3500 m at a speed much higher than the La-7 could develop. It was the Me-262. Kozhedub instantly made a decision. The Me-262 pilot relied on the high-speed qualities of his car and did not control the airspace in the rear hemisphere and below. Kozhedub attacked from below on a head-to-head course, hoping to hit the jet in the belly. However, before Kozhedub, Titarenko opened fire. Much to Kozhedub's surprise, the premature firing of the wingman was beneficial.
The German turned to the left, towards Kozhedub, the latter could only catch the Messerschmitt in the sight and press the trigger. Me-262 turned into a fireball. Non-commissioned officer Kurt-Lange from 1./KG(J)-54 was in the cockpit of the Me 262.
In the evening of April 17, 1945, Kozhedub and Titarenko performed the fourth combat sortie of the day to the Berlin area. Immediately after crossing the front line north of Berlin, the hunters discovered large group FW-190 with hanging bombs. Kozhedub began to climb to attack and reported to the command post about the establishment of contact with a group of forty Focke-Wulwof with suspended bombs. The German pilots clearly saw how a pair of Soviet fighters went into the clouds and did not expect them to reappear. However, hunters appeared.
From behind, from the top, Kozhedub in the first attack knocked down the leading four of the Fokkers, closing the group. The hunters tried to give the enemy the impression of being in the air significant amount Soviet fighters. Kozhedub threw his La-7 right into the midst of enemy aircraft, turning Lavochkin left and right, the ace fired in short bursts from the cannons. The Germans succumbed to the trick - the Focke-Wulfs began to free them from bombs that interfere with an air battle. However, the Luftwaffe pilots soon established the presence of only two La-7s in the air and, taking advantage of the numerical advantage, took the guardsmen into circulation. One FW-190 managed to get into the tail of Kozhedub's fighter, but Titarenko opened fire before the German pilot - the Focke-Wulf exploded in the air.
By this time, help arrived - a La-7 group from the 176th regiment, Titarenko and Kozhedub were able to get out of the battle on the last remnants of fuel. On the way back, Kozhedub saw a single FW-190, still trying to drop bombs on Soviet troops... Ace dived and shot down an enemy plane. This was the last, 62nd, German aircraft shot down by the best Allied fighter pilot.
Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub also distinguished himself in the battle for Kursk Bulge.
Kozhedub's total bill does not include at least two aircraft - American P-51 Mustang fighters. In one of the battles in April, Kozhedub tried to drive away German fighters from the American Flying Fortress with cannon fire. The US Air Force escort fighters misunderstood the intentions of the La-7 pilot and opened barrage from a long distance. Kozhedub, apparently, also mistook the Mustangs for Messers, escaped from under the fire in a coup and, in turn, attacked the “enemy”.
He damaged one "Mustang" (the plane, smoking, left the battle and, having flown a little, fell, the pilot jumped out with a parachute), the second P-51 exploded in the air. Only after a successful attack, Kozhedub noticed the white stars of the US Air Force on the wings and fuselages of the aircraft he shot down. After landing, the regiment commander, Colonel Chupikov, advised Kozhedub to keep quiet about the incident and gave him the developed film of the photo-gun. The existence of a film with footage of the burning Mustangs became known only after the death of the legendary pilot. Detailed biography of the hero on the website: www.warheroes.ru "Unknown heroes"
Alexey Petrovich Maresyev
Maresyev Alexey Petrovich fighter pilot, deputy squadron commander of the 63rd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, Guard Senior Lieutenant.
Born on May 20, 1916 in the city of Kamyshin Volgograd region in the family of a worker. Russian. At the age of three, he was left without a father, who died shortly after returning from the First World War. After finishing 8th grade high school Alexey entered the FZU, where he received the specialty of a locksmith. Then he applied to the Moscow Aviation Institute, but instead of the institute on the Komsomol ticket he went to build Komsomolsk-on-Amur. There he sawed through the forest in the taiga, built barracks, and then the first residential quarters. At the same time he studied at the flying club. Drafted into the Soviet army in 1937. He served in the 12th Aviation Border Detachment. But, according to Maresyev himself, he did not fly, but "put tails" in the airplanes. He really took off already at the Batay Military Aviation School of Pilots, from which he graduated in 1940. He served as an instructor-pilot in it.
He made his first sortie on August 23, 1941 in the Krivoy Rog region. Lieutenant Maresyev opened the battle score at the beginning of 1942 - he shot down a Ju-52. By the end of March 1942, he brought the number of downed Nazi aircraft to four. On April 4, in an air battle over the Demyansk bridgehead (Novgorod region), Maresyev's fighter was shot down. He attempted to land on the ice of a frozen lake, but released the landing gear early. The plane began to lose altitude quickly and fell into the forest.
Maresyev crawled to his own. He froze his feet and had to be amputated. However, the pilot decided not to give up. When he got prostheses, he trained long and hard and got permission to return to duty. He learned to fly anew in the 11 reserve air brigade in Ivanovo.
In June 1943, Maresyev returned to service. He fought at the Kursk Bulge as part of the 63rd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, was deputy squadron commander. In August 1943, Alexei Maresyev, during one battle, shot down three enemy FW-190 fighters at once.
On August 24, 1943, by the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the Guard Senior Lieutenant Maresyev was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Later he fought in the Baltic States, became the navigator of the regiment. In 1944 he joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. In total, he flew 86 sorties, shot down 11 enemy aircraft: 4 before injury and seven with amputated legs. In June 1944, Major Maresyev of the Guard became an inspector-pilot of the Air Force Higher Educational Institutions Directorate. Boris Polevoy's book "The Story of a Real Man" is dedicated to the legendary fate of Alexei Petrovich Maresyev.
In July 1946, Maresyev was honorably dismissed from the Air Force. In 1952 he graduated from the Higher Party School under the Central Committee of the CPSU, in 1956 - graduate school of the Academy social sciences at the Central Committee of the CPSU, received the title of candidate of historical sciences. In the same year he became the executive secretary of the Soviet Committee of War Veterans, in 1983 - the first deputy chairman of the committee. In this position, he worked until the last day of his life.
Retired Colonel A.P. Maresyev was awarded two Orders of Lenin, Orders of the October Revolution, Red Banner, Patriotic War 1 degree, two Orders of the Red Banner of Labor, Orders of Friendship of Peoples, Red Star, Badge of Honor, "For Services to the Fatherland" 3 degrees, medals, foreign orders. He was an honorary soldier of a military unit, an honorary citizen of the cities of Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Kamyshin, Oryol. Named after him minor planet Solar system, public fund, youth patriotic clubs. Was elected as a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Author of the book "On the Kursk Bulge" (Moscow, 1960).
Even during the war, Boris Polevoy's book "The Story of a Real Man" was published, the prototype of the protagonist of which was Maresyev (the author changed only one letter in his surname). In 1948, the film of the same name was shot based on the book on Mosfilm by director Alexander Stolper. Maresyev was even offered to play himself the main role, but he refused and this role was played by a professional actor Pavel Kadochnikov.
He died suddenly on May 18, 2001. He was buried in Moscow at the Novodevichy cemetery. On May 18, 2001, a gala evening was planned at the Theater of the Russian Army on the occasion of Maresyev's 85th birthday, but an hour before the start, Alexei Petrovich had a heart attack. He was taken to the intensive care unit of one of the Moscow clinics, where he died without regaining consciousness. The gala evening did take place, but it began with a minute of silence.
Krasnoperov Sergey Leonidovich
Krasnoperov Sergey Leonidovich was born on July 23, 1923 in the village of Pokrovka, Chernushinsky district. In May 1941 he volunteered for the Soviet Army. He studied for a year at the Balashov Aviation School of Pilots. In November 1942, attack pilot Sergei Krasnoperov arrived at the 765th Attack Aviation Regiment, and in January 1943 he was appointed deputy squadron commander of the 502nd Attack Aviation Regiment of the 214th Attack Aviation Division of the North Caucasian Front. In this regiment in June 1943 he joined the ranks of the party. For military distinction he was awarded the Orders of the Red Banner, Red Star, Patriotic War, 2nd degree.
The title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded on February 4, 1944. Killed in action on June 24, 1944. "March 14, 1943. Attack pilot Sergei Krasnoperov makes two flights one after the other to attack the port of Temrkzh. Leading six" silts ", he set fire to a boat near the port of the port. On the second flight, an enemy shell hit the engine. It seemed to Krasnoperov, the sun eclipsed the sun and immediately disappeared into thick black smoke. Krasnoperov turned off the ignition, cut off the gasoline and tried to lead the plane to the front line. However, after a few minutes it became clear that it would not be possible to save the plane. And under the wing there was a continuous swamp. Only one way out. : to land. ”As soon as the burning car touched the fuselage of the marsh bumps, the pilot barely had time to jump out of it and just run away to the side, an explosion rumbled.
A few days later Krasnoperov was again in the air, and a short entry appeared in the combat log of the flight commander of the 502nd Assault Aviation Regiment, Junior Lieutenant Sergei Leonidovich Krasnoperov: "03/23/43". Two sorties destroyed the convoy in the area of the station. Crimean. Destroyed cars - 1, created hotbeds of fire - 2. "On April 4, Krasnoperov stormed manpower and fire weapons in the area of height 204.3 meters. In the next sortie, he stormed artillery and firing points in the area of the Krymskaya station. At the same time, he destroyed two tanks, one gun and a mortar.
One day, a junior lieutenant was assigned a free flight in pairs. He was the presenter. Covertly, at low level flight, a pair of "silts" penetrated deep into the rear of the enemy. We noticed cars on the road and attacked them. They discovered an accumulation of troops - and suddenly brought down destructive fire on the heads of the Nazis. The Germans unloaded ammunition and weapons from the self-propelled barge. Combat approach - the barge took off into the air. The regiment commander, Lieutenant Colonel Smirnov, wrote about Sergei Krasnoperov: “Such heroic deeds of Comrade Krasnoperov are repeated in every combat mission... The pilots of his flight became masters of the assault business. The link is close-knit and takes the leading place. The command always assigns the most difficult and responsible tasks to him. With his heroic deeds, he created military glory for himself, enjoys a well-deserved military prestige among the personnel of the regiment. "And in fact, Sergei was only 19 years old, and for his exploits he was already awarded the Order of the Red Star. He was only 20 years old, and his chest was adorned Gold Star of the Hero.
Seventy-four sorties were flown by Sergei Krasnoperov in the days of battles on Taman Peninsula... As one of the best, he was trusted 20 times to lead a group of "silts" to attack, and he always carried out a combat mission. He personally destroyed 6 tanks, 70 vehicles, 35 wagons with cargo, 10 guns, 3 mortars, 5 anti-aircraft artillery points, 7 machine guns, 3 tractors, 5 bunkers, an ammunition depot, sunk a boat, a self-propelled barge, destroyed two crossings across the Kuban.
Matrosov Alexander Matveevich
Matrosov Alexander Matveyevich - rifleman of the 2nd battalion of the 91st separate rifle brigade (22nd army, Kalinin front), private. Born on February 5, 1924 in the city of Yekaterinoslav (now Dnepropetrovsk). Russian. Member of the Komsomol. Lost his parents early. For 5 years he was brought up in the Ivanovo orphanage (Ulyanovsk region). Then he was brought up in the Ufa children's labor colony. At the end of the 7th grade, he stayed to work in the colony as an assistant teacher. In the Red Army since September 1942. In October 1942 he entered the Krasnokholmsk Infantry School, but soon most of the cadets were sent to the Kalinin Front.
In the army since November 1942. He served in the 2nd battalion of the 91st separate rifle brigade. For some time the brigade was in reserve. Then she was transferred near Pskov to the area of Bolshoy Lomovaty Bor. Directly from the march, the brigade entered the battle.
On February 27, 1943, the 2nd battalion received the task of attacking a strong point in the area of the village of Chernushki (Loknyansky district of the Pskov region). As soon as our soldiers passed the forest and reached the edge, they came under heavy enemy machine-gun fire - three enemy machine guns in bunkers covered the approaches to the village. One machine gun was suppressed by an assault group of machine gunners and armor-piercing soldiers. The second bunker was destroyed by another group of armor piercers. But the machine gun from the third bunker continued to fire at the entire hollow in front of the village. Attempts to silence him were unsuccessful. Then Private A.M. Matrosov crawled towards the bunker. He got to the flank of the embrasure and threw two grenades. The machine gun fell silent. But as soon as the fighters rose to attack, the machine gun came to life again. Then Matrosov got up, jerked to the bunker and closed the embrasure with his body. At the cost of his life, he contributed to the execution of the combat mission of the unit.
A few days later, the name of Matrosov became known throughout the country. The feat of Matrosov was used by a journalist who happened to be at the unit for a patriotic article. At the same time, the regiment commander learned about the feat from the newspapers. Moreover, the date of the hero's death was postponed to February 23, timed the feat to the day of the Soviet Army. Despite the fact that Matrosov was not the first to commit such an act of self-sacrifice, it was his name that was used to glorify heroism Soviet soldiers... Subsequently, over 300 people performed the same feat, but this was no longer widely reported. His feat became a symbol of courage and military valor, fearlessness and love for the Motherland.
The title of Hero of the Soviet Union, Alexander Matveevich Matrosov, was posthumously awarded on June 19, 1943. Buried in the city of Velikiye Luki. On September 8, 1943, by order of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR, the name of Matrosov was assigned to the 254th Guards Rifle Regiment, he himself was forever enlisted (one of the first in the Soviet Army) in the lists of the 1st company of this unit. Monuments to the Hero are installed in Ufa, Velikiye Luki, Ulyanovsk and others. The museum of the Komsomol glory of the city of Velikiye Luki, streets, schools, pioneer squads, motor ships, collective and state farms bore his name.
Ivan Vasilievich Panfilov
In the battles near Volokolamsk, the 316th Infantry Division of General I.V. Panfilov. Reflecting continuous enemy attacks for 6 days, they knocked out 80 tanks and destroyed several hundred soldiers and officers. The enemy's attempts to seize the Volokolamsk region and open the way to Moscow from the west failed. For heroic actions, this unit was awarded the Order of the Red Banner and transformed into the 8th Guards, and its commander, General I.V. Panfilov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. He was not lucky enough to witness the complete defeat of the enemy near Moscow: on November 18, near the village of Gusenevo, he died a heroic death.
Ivan Vasilyevich Panfilov, Guards Major General, Commander of the 8th Guards Rifle Red Banner (former 316th) Division, was born on January 1, 1893 in the city of Petrovsk, Saratov Region. Russian. Member of the CPSU since 1920. From the age of 12 he worked for hire, in 1915 he was drafted into the tsarist army. In the same year he was sent to the Russian-German front. He joined the Red Army voluntarily in 1918. Was enlisted in the 1st Saratov Infantry Regiment of the 25th Chapayev Division. He took part in the civil war, fought against Dutov, Kolchak, Denikin and the White Poles. After the war, he graduated from the two-year Kiev United Infantry School and was assigned to the Central Asian Military District. He took part in the fight against the Basmachi.
The Great Patriotic War found Major General Panfilov at the post of military commissar of the Kyrgyz Republic. Having formed the 316th Infantry Division, went with it to the front and in October - November 1941 fought near Moscow. For military distinctions he was awarded two Orders of the Red Banner (1921, 1929) and the medal "XX Years of the Red Army".
The title of Hero of the Soviet Union to Ivan Vasilyevich Panfilov was awarded posthumously on April 12, 1942 for his skillful leadership of the division's units in battles on the outskirts of Moscow and his personal courage and heroism.
In the first half of October 1941, the 316th Division arrived in the 16th Army and took up defensive positions on a wide front on the approaches to Volokolamsk. General Panfilov for the first time widely used a system of deeply echeloned artillery anti-tank defense, created and skillfully used mobile obstacle detachments in battle. Thanks to this, the strength of our troops increased significantly, and all attempts of the 5th German Army Corps to break through the defenses were unsuccessful. For seven days, the division, together with the cadet regiment S.I. Mladentseva and loyal anti-tank artillery units successfully repulsed enemy attacks.
Attaching great importance to the capture of Volokolamsk, the Hitlerite command threw another motorized corps into the area. Only under pressure from superior enemy forces were the division's units forced to leave Volokolamsk at the end of October and take up defenses east of the city.
On November 16, fascist troops launched a second "general" offensive against Moscow. Near Volokolamsk, a fierce battle boiled over again. On this day, 28 Panfilov soldiers under the command of political instructor V.G. Klochkov repulsed the attack of enemy tanks, and held the occupied line. The enemy tanks also failed to break through in the direction of the villages of Mykanino and Strokovo. General Panfilov's division firmly held its positions, its soldiers fought to the death.
For exemplary performance of combat missions of the command, mass heroism of personnel, the 316th division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner on November 17, 1941, and the next day it was transformed into the 8th Guards Rifle Division.
Nikolay Frantsevich Gastello
Nikolai Frantsevich was born on May 6, 1908 in Moscow, in a working class family. Graduated from 5 classes. He worked as a mechanic at the Murom steam locomotive repair plant of construction machines. In the Soviet Army in May 1932. In 1933 he graduated from the Luhansk military school of pilots in bomber units. In 1939 he took part in the battles on the river. Khalkhin - Goal and the Soviet-Finnish War 1939-1940 In the active army since June 1941, the squadron commander of the 207th Long-Range Bomber Aviation Regiment (42nd Bomb Aviation Division, 3rd Bomber Aviation Corps DBA) Captain Gastello performed on June 26, 1941 the next mission on a mission. His bomber was hit and caught fire. He directed the burning plane towards the accumulation of enemy troops. The enemy suffered heavy losses from the explosion of the bomber. For the accomplished feat on July 26, 1941, he was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Gastello's name is forever listed military units... At the place of the feat on the Minsk-Vilnius highway, a memorial monument was erected in Moscow.
Zoya Anatolyevna Kosmodemyanskaya ("Tanya")
Zoya Anatolyevna ["Tanya" (09/13/1923 - 11/29/1941)] - Soviet partisan, Hero of the Soviet Union was born in Osino-Gai Gavrilovsky district Tambov region in the family of an employee. In 1930 the family moved to Moscow. She graduated from the 9th grade of school number 201. In October 1941, the Komsomol member Kosmodemyanskaya voluntarily joined a special partisan detachment, acting on the instructions of the headquarters of the Western Front in the Mozhaisk direction.
Twice she was sent to the rear of the enemy. At the end of November 1941, while performing the second combat mission in the area of the village of Petrishchevo (Russian district of the Moscow region), she was captured by the Nazis. In spite of brutal torture, did not issue military secrets, did not give her name.
On November 29, she was hanged by the Nazis. Her devotion to the Motherland, courage and dedication became an inspiring example in the fight against the enemy. On February 6, 1942, he was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Manshuk Zhiengalievna Mametova
Manshuk Mametova was born in 1922 in the Urdinsky district of the West Kazakhstan region. Manshuk's parents died early, and the five-year-old girl was adopted by her aunt Amina Mametova. Manshuk spent his childhood in Almaty.
When the Great Patriotic War began, Manshuk studied in medical institute and at the same time worked in the secretariat of the Council of People's Commissars of the republic. In August 1942, she voluntarily joined the ranks of the Red Army and went to the front. In the unit where Manshuk arrived, she was left as a clerk at the headquarters. But the young patriot decided to become a front line fighter, and a month later senior sergeant Mametova was transferred to the rifle battalion of the 21st Guards Rifle Division.
Short, but bright, like a flared star, was her life. Manshuk died in the battle for the honor and freedom of her native country, when she was twenty-one and she had just joined the party. The short combat path of the glorious daughter of the Kazakh people ended with an immortal feat she accomplished at the walls of the ancient Russian city of Nevel.
On October 16, 1943, the battalion in which Manshuk Mametova served was ordered to repulse the enemy's counterattack. As soon as the Nazis tried to repel the attack, the machine gun of senior sergeant Mametova started working. The Nazis rolled back, leaving hundreds of corpses behind. Several violent attacks from the Nazis had already drowned at the foot of the hill. Suddenly, the girl noticed that two neighboring machine guns were silent - the machine gunners were killed. Then Manshuk, quickly crawling from one firing point to another, began to fire at the advancing enemies from three machine guns.
The enemy transferred mortar fire to the position of the resourceful girl. A close burst of a heavy mine knocked over the machine gun, behind which Manshuk was lying. Wounded in the head, the machine-gunner lost consciousness for some time, but the triumphant cries of the approaching Nazis forced her to wake up. Instantly getting over to the neighboring machine gun, Manshuk whipped a lead shower along the chains of the fascist warriors. And again the attack of the enemy was choked. This ensured the successful advance of our units, but the girl from distant Urda remained lying on the hillside. Her fingers froze on the Maxim trigger.
On March 1, 1944, by a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, Senior Sergeant Manshuk Zhiengalievna Mametova was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Aliya Moldagulova
Aliya Moldagulova was born on April 20, 1924 in the Bulak village of the Khobdinsky region of the Aktobe region. After the death of her parents, she was brought up by her uncle Aubakir Moldagulov. With his family she moved from city to city. She studied at the 9th secondary school in Leningrad. In the fall of 1942, Aliya Moldagulova joined the army and was sent to a sniper school. In May 1943, Aliya submitted a report to the school command with a request to send to the front. Aliya ended up in the 3rd company of the 4th battalion of the 54th rifle brigade under the command of Major Moiseyev.
By the beginning of October, Aliya Moldagulova had 32 killed fascists on her account.
In December 1943, Moiseyev's battalion was ordered to drive the enemy out of the village of Kazachikha. Capturing this settlement the Soviet command hoped to cut the railway line along which the Nazis transferred reinforcements. The Nazis fiercely resisted, skillfully using the benefits of the terrain. The slightest advance of our companies came at a high cost, and yet slowly but steadily our fighters approached the enemy's fortifications. Suddenly a lone figure appeared ahead of the advancing chains.
Suddenly a lone figure appeared ahead of the advancing chains. The Nazis noticed the brave warrior and opened fire from machine guns. Seizing the moment when the fire weakened, the soldier rose to his full height and carried the entire battalion with him.
After a fierce battle, our soldiers captured the height. The daredevil lingered in the trench for a while. His pale face showed traces of pain, and strands of black hair emerged from under his hat with earflaps. It was Aliya Moldagulova. She destroyed 10 fascists in this battle. The wound was light, and the girl remained in the ranks.
In an effort to restore the situation, the enemy rushed to counterattack. On January 14, 1944, a group of enemy soldiers managed to break into our trenches. Got stuck hand-to-hand combat... Aliya with well-aimed bursts of a machine gun mowed down the fascists. Suddenly she instinctively felt the danger behind her. She turned sharply, but it was too late: the German officer fired first. By collecting last strength Aliya raised her machine gun and the Hitlerite officer fell to the cold ground ...
Comrades carried the wounded Aliya from the battlefield. The fighters wanted to believe in a miracle, they offered blood to save the girl. But the wound was fatal.
On June 4, 1944, corporal Aliya Moldagulova was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Sevastyanov Alexey Tikhonovich
Sevastyanov Aleksey Tikhonovich, flight commander of the 26th Fighter Aviation Regiment (7th Fighter Aviation Corps, Leningrad Air Defense Zone), junior lieutenant. Born on February 16, 1917 in the village of Kholm, now in the Likhoslavl region of the Tver (Kalinin) region. Russian. Graduated from the Kalinin Railway Car Building College. In the Red Army since 1936. In 1939 he graduated from the Kachin military aviation school.
Member of the Great Patriotic War since June 1941. In total, during the war years, junior lieutenant Sevastyanov A.T. made more than 100 sorties, shot down 2 enemy aircraft in person (one of them with a ram), 2 in a group and an observation balloon.
The title of Hero of the Soviet Union Alexei Tikhonovich Sevastyanov was awarded posthumously on June 6, 1942.
On November 4, 1941, junior lieutenant Sevastyanov patrolled on an Il-153 aircraft on the outskirts of Leningrad. At about 22.00, an enemy air raid on the city began. Despite the fire of anti-aircraft artillery, one He-111 bomber managed to break through to Leningrad. Sevastyanov attacked the enemy, but missed. He went on the attack for the second time and opened fire from close range, but again past. Sevastyanov attacked for the third time. Coming close, he pressed the trigger, but no shots followed - he ran out of cartridges. In order not to miss the enemy, he decided to go to the ram. Approaching the Heinkel from behind, he chopped off the tail unit with a screw. Then he left the damaged fighter and landed by parachute. The bomber fell in the area of the Tauride Garden. The crew members who had escaped by parachute were taken prisoner. The fallen Sevastyanov fighter was found in Baskov Lane and restored by specialists from the 1st Rembase.
April 23, 1942 Sevastyanov A.T. died in an unequal air battle, defending the "Road of Life" across Ladoga (shot down 2.5 km from the village of Rakhya, Vsevolozhsky District; a monument is erected in this place). Buried in Leningrad at the Chesme cemetery. Forever enlisted in the lists of the military unit. A street in St. Petersburg, a House of Culture in the village of Pervitino, Likhoslavl District, are named after him. Dedicated to his feat documentary"Heroes don't die."
Matveev Vladimir Ivanovich
Matveev Vladimir Ivanovich Squadron commander of the 154th Fighter Aviation Regiment (39th Fighter Aviation Division, Northern Front) - captain. Born October 27, 1911 in St. Petersburg in a working class family. Russian Member of the CPSU (b) since 1938. Graduated from 5 classes. He worked as a mechanic at the Krasny Oktyabr factory. In the Red Army since 1930. In 1931 he graduated from the Leningrad military-theoretical school of pilots, in 1933 - from the Borisoglebsk military aviation school of pilots. Member of the Soviet-Finnish War of 1939-1940.
With the beginning of the Great Patriotic War at the front. Captain Matveev V.I. On July 8, 1941, when repelling an enemy air raid on Leningrad, having used up all the ammunition, he used a ram: with the end of the plane of his MiG-3, he cut off the tail of a fascist aircraft. An enemy plane crashed near the village of Malyutino. He landed safely at his airfield. The title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal to Vladimir Ivanovich Matveev was awarded on July 22, 1941.
Killed in an air battle on January 1, 1942, covering the "Road of Life" along Ladoga. Buried in Leningrad.
Polyakov, Sergei Nikolaevich
Sergei Polyakov was born in 1908 in Moscow, into a working class family. He graduated from 7 classes of junior high school. In 1930 he joined the Red Army, graduated from the military aviation school. Participant civil war in Spain 1936-1939. In air battles, he shot down 5 Frankist planes. Member of the Soviet - Finnish War of 1939-1940. On the fronts of the Great Patriotic War from the first day. The commander of the 174th assault aviation regiment, Mayor S.N.
On December 23, 1941, he died while performing another combat mission. On February 10, 1943, Sergei Nikolayevich Polyakov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union (posthumously) for his courage and bravery in battles with enemies. During the period of service he was awarded the Orders of Lenin, the Red Banner (twice), the Red Star, and medals. He was buried in the Agalatovo village of the Vsevolozhsky district of the Leningrad region.
Muravitsky Luka Zakharovich
Luka Muravitsky was born on December 31, 1916 in the village of Dolgoe, now the Soligorsk district of the Minsk region, in a peasant family. He graduated from 6 classes and a school of FZU. He worked on the subway in Moscow. Graduated from the Aeroclub. In the Soviet Army since 1937. Graduated from the Borisoglebsk Military Pilot School in 1939.
Member of the Great Patriotic War since July 1941. His military activity, Junior Lieutenant Muravitsky began as part of the 29th IAP of the Moscow Military District. This regiment met the war on outdated I-153 fighters. Maneuverable enough, they were inferior to enemy aircraft in speed and firepower. Analyzing the first air battles, the pilots came to the conclusion that they needed to abandon the pattern of straight-line attacks, and fight on turns, in a dive, on a "hill" when their "Seagull" was gaining additional speed. At the same time, it was decided to switch to "doubles" flights, abandoning the link of three aircraft established by the official position.
The very first flights of "twos" showed their clear advantage. So, at the end of July, Alexander Popov, paired with Luka Muravitsky, returning after escorting bombers, met with six "Messers". Our pilots were the first to rush into the attack and shoot down the leader of the enemy group. Stunned by the sudden blow, the Nazis hastened to get out.
On each of his aircraft, Luka Muravitsky painted with white paint on the fuselage the inscription "For Anya". At first, the pilots laughed at him, and the authorities ordered him to erase the inscription. But before each new flight on the fuselage on the starboard side again appeared - "For Anya" ... No one knew who this is Anya, whom Luka remembers, even going into battle ...
Once, before a combat mission, the regiment commander ordered Muravitsky to immediately erase the inscription and more so that it would not be repeated! Then Luka told the commander that this was his beloved girl, who worked with him at Metrostroy, studied at the flying club, that she loved him, they were going to get married, but ... She crashed while jumping from an airplane. The parachute did not open ... Even though she did not die in battle, Luka continued, she was preparing to become an air fighter, to defend the Motherland. The commander resigned himself.
Taking part in the defense of Moscow, Flight Commander of the 29th IAP Luka Muravitsky achieved brilliant results. He was distinguished not only by sober calculation and courage, but also by the willingness to go to any lengths to defeat the enemy. So on September 3, 1941, operating on the Western Front, he rammed an enemy reconnaissance aircraft He-111 and made a safe landing on the damaged aircraft. At the beginning of the war, we had few aircraft, and that day Muravitsky had to fly alone - to cover the railway station, where an ammunition train was being unloaded. Fighters, as a rule, flew in pairs, but here - one ...
At first everything went smoothly. The lieutenant vigilantly watched the air in the station area, but as you can see, if there are multilayer clouds overhead, rain. When Muravitsky made a U-turn over the outskirts of the station, he saw a German reconnaissance plane between the layers of clouds. Luka sharply increased the engine speed and raced across the Heinkel-111. The Lieutenant's attack was unexpected, the Heinkel had not yet had time to open fire, when a machine-gun burst pierced the enemy, and he, steeply descending, began to flee. Muravitsky caught up with the Heinkel, opened fire on it again, and suddenly the machine gun fell silent. The pilot reloaded, but apparently ran out of ammunition. And then Muravitsky decided to ram the enemy.
He increased the speed of the plane - the Heinkel was getting closer and closer. The Nazis are already visible in the cockpit ... Without decreasing the speed, Muravitsky approaches almost close to the fascist plane and hits the tail with a propeller. The jerk and propeller of the fighter cut through the metal of the tail of the He-111 ... The enemy plane crashed into the ground behind the railroad tracks in the wasteland. Luka also hit his head hard on the dashboard, the sight and lost consciousness. Woke up - the plane falls to the ground in a tailspin. Gathering all his strength, the pilot with difficulty stopped the rotation of the machine and brought it out of a steep dive. He could not fly further and he had to land the car at the station ...
After recovering, Muravitsky returned to his regiment. And fights again. The flight commander flew into battle several times a day. He was eager to fight and again, as before being wounded, the fuselage of his fighter was carefully displayed: "For Anya." By the end of September, the brave pilot had about 40 aerial victories won personally and as part of a group.
Soon one of the squadrons of the 29th IAP, which included Luka Muravitsky, was transferred to the Leningrad Front to reinforce the 127th IAP. The main task This regiment was escorting transport aircraft along the Ladoga route, covering their landing, loading and unloading. Acting as part of the 127th IAP, Senior Lieutenant Muravitsky shot down 3 more enemy aircraft. On October 22, 1941, Muravitsky was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for exemplary performance of the command's combat missions, for courage and bravery shown in battles. By this time, on his personal account there were already 14 shot down enemy aircraft.
On November 30, 1941, the flight commander of the 127th IAP, Senior Lieutenant Maravitsky, died in an unequal air battle, defending Leningrad ... The overall result of his combat activities, in various sources, is assessed differently. The most common figure is 47 (10 victories won personally and 37 in a group), less often - 49 (12 personally and 37 in a group). However, all these figures do not fit in any way with the number of personal victories - 14, given above. Moreover, one of the publications generally states that Luka Muravitsky won his last victory in May 1945, over Berlin. Unfortunately, there is no exact data yet.
Luka Zakharovich Muravitsky was buried in the village of Kapitolovo, Vsevolozhsky District, Leningrad Region. A street in the village of Dolgoe is named after him.
What dry statistics can tell about the number of those awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and full holders of the Order of Glory
How many heroes of the Great Patriotic War were there in the Soviet Union? It would seem like a strange question. In survivor the worst tragedy XX century to the country a hero was everyone who defended it in his hands at the front or at the bench and in the field in the rear. That is, each of its 170 million multinational people, who bore the burden of the war on their shoulders.
But if we digress from pathos and return to specifics, then the question can be formulated differently. How was it noted in the USSR that a person is a hero? That's right, the title "Hero of the Soviet Union". And 31 years after the war, another sign of heroism appeared: the full holders of the Order of Glory were equated with the Heroes of the Soviet Union, that is, those who were awarded all three degrees of this award. It turns out that the question "How many heroes of the Great Patriotic War were in the Soviet Union?" more precisely to formulate as follows: "How many people in the USSR were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and became full holders of the Order of Glory for the exploits accomplished during the Great Patriotic War?"
You can get a very specific answer to such a question: a total of 14,411 people, of which 11,739 are Heroes of the Soviet Union and 2,672 are full holders of the Order of Glory.
First Heroes of the Soviet Union during the war
The number of Heroes of the Soviet Union who received this title for their exploits during the Great Patriotic War is 11,739. This title was awarded posthumously to 3,051 of them; 82 people were subsequently stripped of their rank by a court decision. 107 heroes were awarded this title twice (seven - posthumously), three - three times: Marshal Semyon Budyonny (all awards took place after the war), Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Pokryshkin and Major Ivan Kozhedub. And only one - Marshal Georgy Zhukov - became four times Hero of the Soviet Union, and he earned one award even before the Great Patriotic War, and received it for the fourth time in 1956.
Among those awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union during the Great Patriotic War were representatives of all branches and types of troops in the ranks from private to marshal. And each branch of the army - be it infantrymen, pilots or sailors - is proud of the first colleagues who received the highest honorary title.
Pilots
The first titles of Hero of the Soviet Union were awarded to the pilots on July 8, 1941. And here, too, the pilots supported the tradition: six pilots were the first Heroes of the Soviet Union in the history of this award - and three pilots were the first to be awarded this title during the Great Patriotic War! On July 8, 1941, it was assigned to fighter pilots of the 158th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 41st Mixed Air Division of the Air Force of the 23rd Army of the Northern Front. Junior lieutenants Mikhail Zhukov, Stepan Zdorovtsev and Pyotr Kharitonov received awards for the rams performed in the first days of the war. Stepan Zdorovtsev died the next day after the award, Mikhail Zhukov died in January 1943 in a battle with nine German fighters, and Pyotr Kharitonov, seriously wounded in 1941 and returned to service only in 1944, ended the war, having 14 killed enemy aircraft.
A fighter pilot at his P-39 Airacobra. Photo: waralbum.ru
Foot soldiers
Colonel Yakov Kreizer, commander of the 1st Moscow motorized rifle division of the 20th Army of the Western Front, became the first Hero of the Soviet Union among the infantry on July 22, 1941. He was awarded for successfully containing the Germans on the Berezina River and in the battles for Orsha. It is noteworthy that Colonel Kreiser became the first among the Jewish soldiers to receive the highest award during the war.
Tankers
On July 22, 1941, three tankers received the country's highest awards at once - tank commander of the 1st tank regiment of the 1st tank division of the 14th army of the Northern Front, senior sergeant Alexander Borisov, squad commander of the 163rd reconnaissance battalion of the 104th rifle division of the 14th Army of the Northern Front, junior sergeant Alexander Gryaznov (he was awarded the title posthumously) and deputy commander of the tank battalion of the 115th tank regiment of the 57th tank division of the 20th army of the Western Front, Captain Joseph Kaduchenko. Senior Sergeant Borisov, one and a half weeks after the award, died in the hospital from serious wounds. Captain Kaduchenko managed to visit the lists of the dead, was captured in October 1941, tried unsuccessfully to escape three times and was released only in March 1945, after which he fought until Victory.
Sappers
Among the soldiers and commanders of sapper units, the first Hero of the Soviet Union was on November 20, 1941, assistant platoon commander of the 184th separate sapper battalion of the 7th Army of the Northern Front, Private Viktor Karandakov. In the battle near Sortavala against the Finnish units, he repelled three enemy attacks with fire from his machine gun, which actually saved the regiment from encirclement, the next day he led a counterattack of the squad instead of the wounded commander, and two days later carried the wounded company commander out of the fire. In April 1942, the sapper who had lost his hand in the battles was demobilized.
Sappers defuse German anti-tank mines. Photo: militariorgucoz.ru
Gunners
On August 2, 1941, the first artilleryman - Hero of the Soviet Union was the gunner of the "magpie" of the 680th Infantry Regiment of the 169th Infantry Division of the 18th Army of the Southern Front, the Red Army soldier Yakov Kolchak. On July 13, 1941, in an hour of battle, he managed to hit four enemy tanks from his cannon! But about the assignment high rank Jacob did not recognize: on July 23 he was wounded and taken prisoner. He was released in August 1944 in Moldova, and Kolchak reached victory as part of a penal company, where he fought first as a rifleman, and then as a squad leader. And the former penalty box, on whose chest was already adorned with the Order of the Red Star and the Medal for Military Merit, received a high award in the Kremlin only on March 25, 1947.
Partisans
The first partisans of the Soviet Union were the leaders of the Red October partisan detachment operating on the territory of Belarus: the commissar of the detachment Tikhon Bumazhkov and the commander Fyodor Pavlovsky. The decree on their awarding was signed on August 6, 1941. Of the two heroes, only one survived to the Victory - Fyodor Pavlovsky, and the commissar of the Red October detachment Tikhon Bumazhkov, who managed to receive his award in Moscow, died in December of the same year, leaving the German encirclement.
Marines
On August 13, 1941, the title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded to senior sergeant Vasily Kislyakov, the commander of the Naval Volunteer Detachment of the Northern Fleet. He received a high award for his actions in mid-July 1941, when he led a platoon instead of the killed commander, and first together with his comrades, and then alone, he held an important height. By the end of the war, Captain Kislyakov had several landings on the Northern Front, participation in the Petsamo-Kirkenes, Budapest and Vienna offensive operations.
Political instructors
The first decree conferring the title of Hero of the Soviet Union on political workers of the Red Army was issued on August 15, 1941. With this document, the highest award was given to Arnold Meri, deputy political instructor of the radio station of the 415th separate communications battalion of the 22nd Estonian Territorial Rifle Corps of the North-Western Front, and senior secretary of the party bureau of the 245th Howitzer Artillery Regiment of the 37th Rifle Division of the 19th Army of the Western Front. political instructor Kirill Osipov. Mary was awarded for the fact that, twice wounded, he managed to stop the battalion's retreat and led the defense of the corps headquarters. Osipov in July-August 1941 actually worked as a liaison for the command of a division that fought in an encirclement, and several times crossed the front line, delivering important information.
Medics
Among the army doctors who received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, the first was the sanitary instructor of the 14th motorized rifle regiment of the 21st motorized rifle division of the NKVD troops of the Northern Front, Private Anatoly Kokorin. The high award was awarded to him on August 26, 1941 - posthumously. During the battle with the Finns, he remained the last in the ranks and blew himself up with a grenade so as not to be captured.
Border guards
Although the Soviet border guards were the first to take the enemy strike on June 22, 1941, Heroes of the Soviet Union appeared among them only two months later. But six people at once: junior sergeant Ivan Buzytskov, lieutenant Kuzma Vetchinkin, senior lieutenant Nikita Kaymanov, senior lieutenant Alexander Konstantinov, junior sergeant Vasily Mikhalkov and lieutenant Anatoly Ryzhikov. Five of them served in Moldova, senior lieutenant Kaymanov - in Karelia. All six received awards for their heroic actions in the early days of the war - which, in general, is not surprising. And all six reached the end of the war and continued their service after the Victory - in the same border troops.
Signalers
The first Hero of the Soviet Union among the signalmen appeared on November 9, 1941 - he was the commander of the radio department of the 289th anti-tank regiment of the Western Front, junior sergeant Pyotr Stemasov. He was awarded for his feat on October 25 near Moscow - during the battle he replaced the wounded gunner of the gun and, together with the crew, knocked out nine enemy tanks, after which he led the soldiers out of the encirclement. And then he fought until Victory, which he met as an officer.
Field communication. Photo: pobeda1945.su
Cavalry
On the same day as the first signalman hero, the first cavalry hero appeared. On November 9, 1941, the title of Hero of the Soviet Union was posthumously awarded to the commander of the 134th Cavalry Regiment of the 28th Cavalry Division of the Reserve Army of the Southern Front, Major Boris Krotov. He was awarded the highest award for heroic deeds during the defense of Dnepropetrovsk. How difficult those battles were can be imagined from one episode: the last feat of the regiment commander was the blowing up of an enemy tank that broke through into the depths of the defense.
Paratroopers
The Winged Infantry found its first Heroes of the Soviet Union on November 20, 1941. They were the commander of the reconnaissance company squad of the 212th Airborne Brigade of the 37th Army Southwestern Front Sergeant Yakov Vatomov and gunner of the same brigade Nikolai Obukhov. Both received awards for their exploits in August-September 1941, when the paratroopers fought heavy battles in eastern Ukraine.
Sailors
The latest - only January 17, 1942 - the first Hero of the Soviet Union appeared in the Soviet Navy. The highest award was posthumously awarded to the shooter of the 2nd volunteer detachment of sailors of the Northern Fleet, the Red Navy sailor Ivan Sivko. His feat, which was so highly appreciated by the country, Ivan performed as part of the notorious landing in the Bolshaya Zapadnaya Litsa Bay. Covering the retreat of his colleagues, he, fighting alone, destroyed 26 enemies, and then blew himself up with a grenade along with the Nazis who surrounded him.
Soviet sailors, heroes of the storming of Berlin. Photo: radionetplus.ru
Generals
On July 22, 1941, the commander of the 19th Panzer Division of the 22nd Mechanized Corps of the 5th Army of the Southwestern Front, Major General Kuzma Semenchenko, became the first awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. His division took an active part in the largest tank battle of the Great Patriotic War - the Battle of Dubno - and after heavy fighting was surrounded, but the general was able to withdraw his subordinates across the front line. By mid-August 1941, only one tank remained in the division, and at the beginning of September it was disbanded. And General Semenchenko fought until the end of the war and in 1947 he resigned in the same rank in which he began to fight.
"The fight is not going on for the glory ..."
During the Great Patriotic War, there was the most honorable soldier's award - the Order of Glory. Both her ribbon and her statute were very reminiscent of another soldier's award - the insignia of the Order of St. George, "soldier Egoriy", which was especially revered in the army Russian Empire... In total, the Order of Glory for a year and a half of the war - from the moment of its establishment on November 8, 1943 until the Victory - and in the post-war period were awarded over a million human. Of these, almost a million - the order of the third degree, over 46 thousand - the second, and 2672 people - the first degree, they became full holders of the order.
Of the 2672 full holders of the Order of Glory, 16 people were subsequently deprived of the award for various reasons by a court decision. Among the deprived was the only holder of five Orders of Glory - 3rd, three 2nd and 1st degrees. In addition, 72 people were nominated for four Orders of Glory, but, as a rule, did not receive an “excess” award.
Orders of Glory 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree. Photo: Central Museum of the Armed Forces
The first full holders of the Order of Glory were the sapper of the 1134th Infantry Regiment of the 338th Infantry Division Lance corporal Mitrofan Pitenin and the squad leader of the 110th separate reconnaissance company of the 158th Infantry Division Senior Sergeant Shevchenko. Lance corporal Pitenin was presented to the first order in November 1943 for battles in Belarus, to the second in April 1944, and the third in July of the same year. But he did not manage to receive the last award: on August 3, he died in battle. And senior sergeant Shevchenko received all three orders in 1944: in February, April and July. He ended the war in 1945 with the rank of foreman and was soon demobilized, returning home not only with three Orders of Glory on his chest, but also with the Orders of the Red Star and the Patriotic War of both degrees.
And there were also four people who received both signs of the highest recognition of military heroism - the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, and the title of a full knight of the Order of Glory. The first is senior pilot of the 140th Guards Assault Aviation Regiment of the 8th Guards Assault Aviation Division of the 1st Assault Aviation Corps of the 5th Guards Air Army, Senior Lieutenant Ivan Drachenko. He received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union in 1944, and became a full Knight of the Order of Glory after rewarding (double awarding the Order of the 2nd degree) in 1968.
The second is the gun commander of the 369th separate anti-tank artillery division of the 263rd rifle division of the 43rd army of the 3rd Belorussian Front, Sergeant Major Nikolai Kuznetsov. In April 1945, he received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, and after being rewarded in 1980 (double award with the Order of the 2nd degree), he became a full Knight of the Order of Glory.
The third was the commander of the gun crew of the 175th Guards Artillery and Mortar Regiment of the 4th Guards Cavalry Division of the 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps of the 1st Belorussian Front, Senior Sergeant Andrei Aleshin. He became a Hero of the Soviet Union at the end of May 1945, and a full Knight of the Order of Glory - after rewarding (double awarding the Order of the 3rd degree) in 1955.
Finally, the fourth - petty officer of the company of the 293rd Guards Rifle Regiment of the 96th Guards Rifle Division of the 28th Army of the 3rd Belorussian Front, Guard Petty Officer Pavel Dubinda. He has, perhaps, the most unusual fate of all four heroes. A seaman, he served on the cruiser "Chervona Ukraine" on the Black Sea, after the death of the ship - in marines, defended Sevastopol. Here he was taken prisoner, from which he escaped and in March 1944 he was again enlisted in the army, but already in the infantry. He became a full Knight of the Order of Glory by March 1945, and in June of the same year he received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. By the way, among his awards was a rare Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky, 3rd degree - a kind of "soldier" commander's order.
Multinational heroism
The Soviet Union was a truly multinational country: in the data of the last pre-war census of 1939, 95 nationalities appear, not counting the column "others" (other peoples of the North, other peoples of Dagestan). Naturally, among the Heroes of the Soviet Union and full holders of the Order of Glory were representatives of almost all Soviet nationalities. Among the first - 67 nationalities, among the second (according to clearly incomplete data) - 39 nationalities.
The number of heroes marked with the highest ranks among a particular nationality generally corresponds to the ratio of the number of tribesmen to the total number of the pre-war USSR. Thus, the leaders in all lists were and remain the Russians, followed by the Ukrainians and Belarusians. But then the situation is different. For example, in the top ten awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians are followed (in order) by Tatars, Jews, Kazakhs, Armenians, Georgians, Uzbeks and Mordovians. And in the top ten full holders of the Order of Glory, after the Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians, there are (also in order) Tatars, Kazakhs, Armenians, Mordovians, Uzbeks, Chuvashs and Jews.
The guarantee of victory over fascism was the unity and cohesion of the peoples of the USSR. Photo: all-retro.ru
But to judge by these statistics, which people were more heroic, and which were less, is senseless. Firstly, many nationalities of the heroes were accidentally, or even deliberately, indicated incorrectly or were absent (for example, the nationality was often hidden by Germans and Jews, and there was simply no “Crimean Tatar” variant in the 1939 census documents). And secondly, even today, not all documents related to the awarding of the heroes of the Great Patriotic War have been brought together and taken into account. This colossal topic is still waiting for its researcher, who will certainly confirm: heroism is a property of each individual person, and not of this or that nation.
National composition of the Heroes of the Soviet Union who received this title for their exploits during the Great Patriotic War *
Russians - 7998 (including 70 - twice, 2 - three times and 1 - four times)
Ukrainians - 2019 (including 28 - twice),
Belarusians - 274 (including 4 - twice),
Tatars - 161
Jews - 128 (including 1 - twice)
Kazakhs - 98 (including 1 - twice)
Armenians - 91 (including 2 - twice)
Georgians - 90
Uzbeks - 67
Mordva - 66
Chuvash - 47
Azerbaijanis - 41 (including 1 - twice)
Bashkirs - 40 (including 1 - twice)
Ossetians - 34 (including 1 - twice)
Mari - 18
Turkmen - 16
Lithuanians - 15
Tajiks - 15
Latvians - 12
Kyrgyz - 12
Karelians - 11 (including 1 - twice)
Udmurts - 11
Estonians - 11
Avars - 9
Poles - 9
Buryats and Mongols - 8
Kalmyks - 8
Kabardians - 8
Crimean Tatars - 6 (including 1 - twice)
Chechens - 6
Moldovans - 5
Abkhazians - 4
Lezgins - 4
French - 4
Karachais - 3
Tuvans - 3
Circassians - 3
Balkars -2
Bulgarians - 2
Dargins - 2
Kumyks - 2
Khakasy - 2
Abazinets - 1
Adjarian - 1
Altai - 1
Assyrian - 1
Spaniard - 1
Chinese (Dungan) - 1
Korean - 1
Slovak - 1
Tuvan - 1
* The list is incomplete, compiled using data from the "Heroes of the Country" project (http://www.warheroes.ru/main.asp) and data from the writer Gennady Ovrutsky (http://www.proza.ru/2009/08/16/ 901).
National composition of full holders of the Order of Glory, who received this title for their exploits during the Great Patriotic War **
Russian - 1276
Ukrainians - 285
Belarusians - 62
Tatars - 48
Kazakhs - 30
Armenians - 19
Mordva - 16
Uzbeks - 12
Chuvash - 11
Azerbaijanis - 8
Bashkirs - 7
Kyrgyz - 7
Udmurts - 6
Turkmen - 5
Buryats - 4
Georgians - 4
Mari - 3
Poles - 3
Karelians - 2
Latvians - 2
Moldovans - 2
Ossetians - 2
Tajiks - 2
Khakasy - 2
Abazinets - 1
Kabardian - 1
Kalmyk - 1
Chinese - 1
Crimean Tatar - 1
Lithuanian -1
Meskhetian Turk - 1
Chechen - 1
** The list is incomplete, compiled using data from the Heroes of the Country project (http://www.warheroes.ru/main.asp).
The honorary title of Hero of the Soviet Union is the highest degree of distinction of the USSR. He was honored for outstanding service during the conduct of hostilities or for accomplished feats. In addition, as an exception, and in years of peace... How many Heroes of the Soviet Union are included in the list of those awarded by this the highest degree differences? According to 1991 data, there were 12776 people.
From pre-war history
- The title was approved in 1934. The first to receive it were the polar pilots who took part in the rescue of the crew and passengers of the Chelyuskin steamer.
- In the same 1934, the pilot M. M. Gromov received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for setting a world record.
- At the very end of 1936, for the first time, the title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded for military exploits. It was awarded to 11 Red Army commanders who took part in the civil war in Spain. In total, 60 people received this highest award from 1936 to 1939.
- Insignia Medal "Gold Star" was introduced in 1939. Its first cavaliers were 70 servicemen, who showed themselves in the defeat of the Japanese military group at Khalkhin Gol. Three of them received the Gold Star for the second time.
- The Soviet-Finnish war increased the list of Heroes by another 412 people.
1941-1991 period
- During the Great Patriotic War, the title of Hero of the Soviet Union was officially received by another 11657 people, and 90 of them were women.
- Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov was awarded the Hero's Gold Star four times.
- Three times - Budyonny Semyon Mikhailovich, Voroshilov Kliment Efremovich, Pokryshkin Alexander Ivanovich and Kozhedub Ivan Nikitovich.
- Twice this high title was awarded to 153 people.
- 85 Heroes of the Soviet Union were given by the military campaign in Afghanistan.
- In December 1991, Leonid Mikhailovich Solodkov, a specialist in diving equipment, became the last Hero of the Soviet Union.
With the collapse of the USSR, this award was also abolished. At present, the title "Hero of the Russian Federation" is given for outstanding services to the country.
Heroes of the Great Patriotic War
Alexander Matrosov
Gunner-machine gunner of the 2nd separate battalion of the 91st separate Siberian volunteer brigade named after Stalin.
Sasha Matrosov did not know his parents. He was brought up in an orphanage and a labor colony. When the war began, he was not even 20. Matrosov was drafted into the army in September 1942 and sent to an infantry school, and then to the front.
In February 1943, his battalion attacked a Nazi stronghold, but fell into a trap, falling under heavy fire, which cut off the path to the trenches. They were shooting from three bunkers. Two soon fell silent, but the third continued to shoot the Red Army soldiers who lay in the snow.
Seeing that the only chance to get out of the fire was to suppress the enemy's fire, Sailors with a fellow soldier crawled to the bunker and threw two grenades in his direction. The machine gun fell silent. The Red Army went on the attack, but the deadly weapon rattled again. Partner Alexander was killed, and Matrosov was left alone in front of the bunker. I had to do something.
He did not have even a few seconds to make a decision. Not wanting to let down his comrades, Alexander closed the embrasure of the bunker with his body. The attack was crowned with success. And Matrosov was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Military pilot, commander of the 2nd squadron of the 207th long-range bomber aviation regiment, captain.
He worked as a mechanic, then in 1932 he was drafted into the Red Army. He ended up in an air regiment, where he became a pilot. Nikolai Gastello took part in three wars. A year before the Great Patriotic War, he received the rank of captain.
On June 26, 1941, the crew under the command of Captain Gastello took off to strike a German mechanized convoy. It was on the road between the Belarusian towns of Molodechno and Radoshkovichi. But the column was well guarded by enemy artillery. A fight ensued. Gastello's plane was hit by an anti-aircraft gun. The shell damaged the fuel tank, and the car caught fire. The pilot could have ejected, but he decided to fulfill his military duty to the end. Nikolai Gastello directed the burning car directly at the enemy column. This was the first fiery ram in the Great Patriotic War.
The name of the brave pilot has become a household name. Until the end of the war, all the aces who decided to go to the ram were called the Ghatellots. If follow official statistics, then during the whole war almost six hundred rams of the opponent were committed.
Brigadier scout of the 67th detachment of the 4th Leningrad partisan brigade.
Lena was 15 years old when the war began. He had already worked at the plant, having completed his seven-year period. When the Nazis captured his native Novgorod region, Lenya joined the partisans.
He was brave and determined, the command appreciated him. For several years spent in a partisan detachment, he participated in 27 operations. On his account there are several destroyed bridges behind enemy lines, 78 destroyed Germans, 10 trains with ammunition.
It was he who, in the summer of 1942, near the village of Varnitsa, blew up a car in which there was a German Major General of the Engineering Troops Richard von Wirtz. Golikov managed to obtain important documents about the German offensive. The enemy's attack was thwarted, and the young hero was nominated for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for this feat.
In the winter of 1943, a significantly superior enemy detachment unexpectedly attacked the partisans near the village of Ostraya Luka. Lenya Golikov died like a real hero - in battle.
Pioneer. A scout of the Voroshilov partisan detachment in the territory occupied by the Nazis.
Zina was born and went to school in Leningrad. However, the war found her on the territory of Belarus, where she came on vacation.
In 1942, 16-year-old Zina joined the underground organization Young Avengers. She distributed anti-fascist leaflets in the occupied territories. Then, undercover, she got a job in a canteen for German officers, where she committed several sabotage and only miraculously was not captured by the enemy. Many experienced military men were surprised at her courage.
In 1943, Zina Portnova joined the partisans and continued to engage in sabotage behind enemy lines. Due to the efforts of the defectors who surrendered Zina to the Nazis, she was captured. In the dungeons she was interrogated and tortured. But Zina was silent, not betraying her own. During one of these interrogations, she grabbed a pistol from the table and shot three Nazis. After that, she was shot in prison.
An underground anti-fascist organization operating in the area of the modern Luhansk region. It numbered over a hundred people. The youngest participant was 14 years old.
This underground youth organization was formed immediately after the occupation of the Luhansk region. It included both professional soldiers who were cut off from the main units, and local youth. Among the most famous participants: Oleg Koshevoy, Ulyana Gromova, Lyubov Shevtsova, Vasily Levashov, Sergey Tyulenin and many other young people.
The "Young Guard" issued leaflets and committed sabotage against the Nazis. Once they managed to disable an entire tank repair shop, burn down the stock exchange, from where the Nazis drove people to forced labor in Germany. The members of the organization planned to stage an uprising, but were exposed due to the traitors. The Nazis caught, tortured and shot over seventy people. Their feat is immortalized in one of the most famous military books by Alexander Fadeev and the film adaptation of the same name.
28 people from the personnel of the 4th company of the 2nd battalion of the 1075th rifle regiment.
In November 1941, a counteroffensive against Moscow began. The enemy stopped at nothing, making a decisive march before the onset of a harsh winter.
At this time, the fighters under the command of Ivan Panfilov took up a position on the highway seven kilometers from Volokolamsk - small town under Moscow. There they gave battle to the advancing tank units. The battle lasted four hours. During this time, they destroyed 18 armored vehicles, delaying the enemy's attack and thwarting his plans. All 28 people (or almost all, historians differ here) died.
According to legend, the company's political instructor Vasily Klochkov, before the decisive stage of the battle, addressed the soldiers with a phrase that became known throughout the country: "Russia is great, but there is nowhere to retreat - Moscow is behind!"
The fascist counteroffensive ultimately failed. The battle for Moscow, which was taken away crucial role during the war, was lost by the invaders.
As a child, the future hero fell ill with rheumatism, and the doctors doubted that Maresyev would be able to fly. However, he stubbornly applied to the flight school, until he was finally enrolled. Maresyev was drafted into the army in 1937.
He met the Great Patriotic War at the flight school, but soon got to the front. During the sortie, his plane was shot down, and Maresyev himself was able to eject. For eighteen days, seriously wounded in both legs, he got out of the encirclement. However, he still managed to overcome the front line and ended up in the hospital. But gangrene had already begun, and doctors amputated both of his legs.
For many, this would mean the end of the service, but the pilot did not give up and returned to aviation. Until the end of the war, he flew with prostheses. Over the years, he made 86 sorties and shot down 11 enemy aircraft. And 7 - after amputation. In 1944, Alexey Maresyev went to work as an inspector and lived to be 84 years old.
His fate inspired the writer Boris Polevoy to write The Story of a Real Man.
Deputy squadron commander of the 177th Air Defense Fighter Aviation Regiment.
Viktor Talalikhin began to fight already in the Soviet-Finnish war. He shot down 4 enemy planes on a biplane. Then he served in an aviation school.
In August 1941, one of the first Soviet pilots rammed a German bomber in a night air battle. Moreover, the wounded pilot was able to get out of the cockpit and parachute down to the rear of his own.
Then Talalikhin shot down five more German planes. He died during another air battle near Podolsk in October 1941.
73 years later, in 2014, the search engines found Talalikhin's plane, which remained in the swamps near Moscow.
Artilleryman of the 3rd counter-battery artillery corps of the Leningrad Front.
Soldier Andrei Korzun was drafted into the army at the very beginning of the Great Patriotic War. He served on the Leningrad front, where fierce and bloody battles were fought.
On November 5, 1943, during another battle, his battery came under fierce enemy fire. Korzun was seriously injured. Despite the terrible pain, he saw that the powder charges were set on fire and the ammunition depot could fly into the air. Gathering his last strength, Andrei crawled to the blazing fire. But he could not take off his greatcoat to cover the fire. Losing consciousness, he made one last effort and covered the fire with his body. The explosion was avoided at the cost of the life of the brave artilleryman.
Commander of the 3rd Leningrad Partisan Brigade.
A native of Petrograd, Alexander German, according to some sources, was a native of Germany. He served in the army since 1933. When the war began, he became a scout. He worked behind enemy lines, commanded a partisan detachment, which terrified enemy soldiers. His brigade killed several thousand Nazi soldiers and officers, derailed hundreds of trains and blew up hundreds of vehicles.
The Nazis arranged a real hunt for Herman. In 1943, his partisan detachment was surrounded in the Pskov region. Making his way to his own, the brave commander was killed by an enemy bullet.
Commander of the 30th Separate Guards Tank Brigade of the Leningrad Front
Vladislav Khrustitsky was drafted into the ranks of the Red Army back in the 1920s. In the late 30s he graduated from the armored courses. Since the fall of 1942, he commanded the 61st separate light tank brigade.
He distinguished himself during Operation Iskra, which marked the beginning of the defeat of the Germans on the Leningrad front.
Killed in a battle near Volosovo. In 1944, the enemy retreated from Leningrad, but from time to time made attempts to counterattack. During one of these counterattacks, Khrustitsky's tank brigade fell into a trap.
Despite heavy fire, the commander ordered to continue the offensive. He addressed the radio to his crews with the words: "Fight to the death!" - and went forward first. Unfortunately, the brave tanker died in this battle. And yet the village of Volosovo was liberated from the enemy.
Commander of a partisan detachment and brigade.
Before the war he worked on the railroad. In October 1941, when the Germans were already near Moscow, he volunteered for a complex operation in which his railway experience was needed. Was thrown behind enemy lines. There he invented the so-called "coal mines" (in fact, these are just mines disguised as coal). With the help of this simple but effective weapon, hundreds of enemy trains were undermined in three months.
Zaslonov actively agitated the local population to go over to the side of the partisans. The Nazis, having learned this, changed their soldiers into Soviet uniforms. Zaslonov took them for defectors and ordered them to be admitted to the partisan detachment. The way was open for the insidious enemy. A battle ensued, during which Zaslonov died. A reward was announced for Zaslonov, alive or dead, but the peasants hid his body, and the Germans did not get it.
The commander of a small partisan detachment.
Efim Osipenko fought back in the Civil War. Therefore, when the enemy seized his land, without thinking twice, he joined the partisans. Together with five more comrades, he organized a small partisan detachment, which committed sabotage against the Nazis.
During one of the operations, it was decided to undermine the enemy composition. But there was not enough ammunition in the detachment. The bomb was made from an ordinary grenade. The explosives had to be installed by Osipenko himself. He crawled to the railway bridge and, seeing the approaching train, threw her in front of the train. There was no explosion. Then the partisan himself hit the grenade with a pole from the railway sign. It worked! A long train with provisions and tanks went downhill. The squad leader survived, but completely lost his sight.
For this feat, he was the first in the country to be awarded the medal "Partisan of the Patriotic War."
The peasant Matvey Kuzmin was born three years before the abolition of serfdom. And he died, becoming the oldest holder of the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Its history contains many references to the history of another famous peasant - Ivan Susanin. Matvey also had to lead the invaders through the forest and swamps. And, like the legendary hero, he decided to stop the enemy at the cost of his life. He sent his grandson ahead to warn a detachment of partisans that had stopped nearby. The Nazis were ambushed. A fight ensued. Matvey Kuzmin was killed by a German officer. But he did his job. He was 84 years old.
A partisan who was part of the sabotage and reconnaissance group of the headquarters of the Western Front.
While studying at school, Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya wanted to enter a literary institute. But these plans were not destined to come true - the war prevented. In October 1941, Zoya, as a volunteer, came to the recruiting station and after short training at the school for saboteurs was transferred to Volokolamsk. There, an 18-year-old fighter of a partisan unit, along with adult men, performed dangerous tasks: she mined roads and destroyed communication centers.
During one of the sabotage operations, Kosmodemyanskaya was captured by the Germans. She was tortured, forcing her to betray her. Zoya heroically endured all the trials without saying a word to her enemies. Seeing that it was impossible to get anything from the young partisan, they decided to hang her.
Kosmodemyanskaya steadfastly accepted the test. An instant before she died, she called out to the crowd local residents: “Comrades, victory will be ours. German soldiers, before it's too late, surrender! " The girl's courage shocked the peasants so much that they later retold this story to front-line correspondents. And after the publication in the newspaper Pravda, the whole country learned about the feat of Kosmodemyanskaya. She became the first woman to be awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union during the Great Patriotic War.
The war demanded from the people the greatest exertion of forces and huge sacrifices on a national scale, revealed the staunchness and courage of the Soviet people, the ability to sacrifice in the name of freedom and independence of the Motherland. During the war years heroism became widespread and became the norm of behavior for Soviet people. Thousands of soldiers and officers immortalized their names during the defense of the Brest Fortress, Odessa, Sevastopol, Kiev, Leningrad, Novorossiysk, in the battle of Moscow, Stalingrad, Kursk, in the North Caucasus, Dnieper, in the foothills of the Carpathians, during the storming of Berlin and in other battles.
For heroic deeds in the Great Patriotic War, more than 11 thousand people were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union (some - posthumously), of which 104 - twice, three - three times (G.K. Zhukov, I.N. Kozhedub and A.I. Pokryshkin ). During the war years, this title was awarded to Soviet pilots M.P. Zhukov, S.I. Zdorovtsev and P.T. Kharitonov, who rammed fascist planes on the outskirts of Leningrad.
In total, over eight thousand heroes were brought up in the ground forces in wartime, including 1800 artillerymen, 1142 tankmen, 650 soldiers of engineering troops, over 290 signalmen, 93 air defense soldiers, 52 soldiers of the military rear, 44 medics; in the Air Force - over 2,400 people; in the Navy - over 500 people; partisans, underground fighters and Soviet intelligence officers - about 400; border guards - over 150 people.
| Representatives of nations | Number of heroes |
|---|---|
| russians | 8160 |
| Ukrainians | 2069 |
| Belarusians | 309 |
| Tatars | 161 |
| Jews | 108 |
| Kazakhs | 96 |
| Georgian | 90 |
| Armenians | 90 |
| uzbeks | 69 |
| Mordovians | 61 |
| Chuvash | 44 |
| Azerbaijanis | 43 |
| Bashkirs | 39 |
| Ossetians | 32 |
| Tajiks | 14 |
| Turkmens | 18 |
| litokians | 15 |
| Latvians | 13 |
| Kyrgyz | 12 |
| Udmurts | 10 |
| Karelians | 8 |
| Estonians | 8 |
| Kalmyks | 8 |
| Kabardians | 7 |
| Adyghe | 6 |
| Abkhazians | 5 |
| Yakuts | 3 |
| Moldovans | 2 |
| results | 11501 |
Among the servicemen awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, privates, sergeants, foremen - over 35%, officers - about 60%, generals, admirals, marshals - over 380 people. There are 87 women among the Heroes of the Soviet Union during the war. The first to receive this title was Z.A. Kosmodemyanskaya (posthumously).
About 35% of the Heroes of the Soviet Union at the time of awarding the title were under the age of 30, 28% were between 30 and 40 years old, and 9% were over 40 years old.
Four Heroes of the Soviet Union: artilleryman A. V. Aleshin, pilot I. G. Drachenko, commander of a rifle platoon P. Kh. Dubinda, artilleryman N. I. Kuznetsov - were also awarded the Orders of Glory of all three degrees for military exploits. More than 2,500 people, including 4 women, have become full holders of the Order of Glory of three degrees. During the war, over 38 million orders and medals were awarded to the defenders of the Motherland for courage and heroism. The Motherland highly appreciated the labor feat of the Soviet people in the rear. During the war years, 201 people were awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, about 200 thousand were awarded orders and medals.
Viktor Vasilievich Talalikhin
Born September 18, 1918 in the village. Teplovka of the Volsky district of the Saratov region. Russian. After graduating from a factory school, he worked at the Moscow meat-packing plant, at the same time studied at the flying club. Graduated from Borisoglebokoye Military Aviation School of Pilots. He took part in the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940. He flew 47 sorties, shot down 4 Finnish aircraft, for which he was awarded the Order of the Red Star (1940).
In the battles of the Great Patriotic War since June 1941. He flew over 60 combat missions. In the summer and autumn of 1941, he fought near Moscow. For military distinction he was awarded the Orders of the Red Banner (1941) and the Order of Lenin.
The title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal to Viktor Vasilyevich Talalikhin was awarded by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on August 8, 1941 for the first night ramming of an enemy bomber in the history of aviation.
Soon Talalikhin was appointed squadron commander, he was awarded the rank of lieutenant. The glorious pilot took part in many air battles near Moscow, shot down five more enemy aircraft personally and one in the group. He died a heroic death in an unequal battle with fascist fighters on October 27, 1941.
Buried V.V. Talalikhin with military honors at the Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow. By order of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR of August 30, 1948, he was forever enlisted in the lists of the first squadron of the fighter aviation regiment, in which he fought the enemy near Moscow.
Streets in Kaliningrad, Volgograd, Borisoglebsk, Voronezh region and other cities, a sea vessel, GPTU No. 100 in Moscow, and a number of schools were named after Talalikhin. On the 43rd kilometer of the Varshavskoe highway, over which an unprecedented night duel took place, an obelisk was erected. A monument is erected in Podolsk, in Moscow - a bust of the Hero.
Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub
(1920–1991), Air Marshal (1985), Hero of the Soviet Union (1944 - twice; 1945). During the Great Patriotic War in fighter aviation, squadron commander, deputy regiment commander, conducted 120 air battles; shot down 62 aircraft.
Three times Hero of the Soviet Union Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub on La-7 shot down 17 enemy aircraft (including the Me-262 jet fighter) out of 62 he shot down during the war on La-brand fighters. One of the most memorable battles Kozhedub fought on February 19, 1945 (sometimes the date is February 24).
On this day, he flew out on a free hunt, paired with Dmitry Titarenko. On the traverse of the Oder, the pilots noticed a plane approaching quickly from the direction of Frankfupt an der Oder. The plane flew along the riverbed at an altitude of 3500 m at a speed much higher than the La-7 could develop. It was the Me-262. Kozhedub instantly made a decision. The Me-262 pilot relied on the high-speed qualities of his car and did not control the airspace in the rear hemisphere and below. Kozhedub attacked from below on a head-to-head course, hoping to hit the jet in the belly. However, before Kozhedub, Titarenko opened fire. Much to Kozhedub's surprise, the premature firing of the wingman was beneficial.
The German turned to the left, towards Kozhedub, the latter could only catch the Messerschmitt in the sight and press the trigger. Me-262 turned into a fireball. Non-commissioned officer Kurt-Lange from 1./KG(J)-54 was in the cockpit of the Me 262.
In the evening of April 17, 1945, Kozhedub and Titarenko performed the fourth combat sortie of the day to the Berlin area. Immediately after crossing the front line north of Berlin, the hunters discovered a large group of FW-190s with suspended bombs. Kozhedub began to climb to attack and reported to the command post about the establishment of contact with a group of forty Focke-Wulwof with suspended bombs. The German pilots clearly saw how a pair of Soviet fighters went into the clouds and did not expect them to reappear. However, hunters appeared.
From behind, from the top, Kozhedub in the first attack knocked down the leading four of the Fokkers, closing the group. The hunters tried to give the enemy the impression of the presence of a significant number of Soviet fighters in the air. Kozhedub threw his La-7 right into the midst of enemy aircraft, turning Lavochkin left and right, the ace fired in short bursts from the cannons. The Germans succumbed to the trick - the Focke-Wulfs began to free them from bombs that interfere with an air battle. However, the Luftwaffe pilots soon established the presence of only two La-7s in the air and, taking advantage of the numerical advantage, took the guardsmen into circulation. One FW-190 managed to get into the tail of Kozhedub's fighter, but Titarenko opened fire before the German pilot - the Focke-Wulf exploded in the air.
By this time, help arrived - a La-7 group from the 176th regiment, Titarenko and Kozhedub were able to get out of the battle on the last remnants of fuel. On the way back, Kozhedub saw a single FW-190, still trying to drop bombs on the Soviet troops. Ace dived and shot down an enemy plane. This was the last, 62nd, German aircraft shot down by the best Allied fighter pilot.
Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub also distinguished himself in the Battle of the Kursk Bulge.
Kozhedub's total bill does not include at least two aircraft - American P-51 Mustang fighters. In one of the battles in April, Kozhedub tried to drive away German fighters from the American Flying Fortress with cannon fire. The US Air Force escort fighters misunderstood the intentions of the La-7 pilot and opened barrage from a long distance. Kozhedub, apparently, also mistook the Mustangs for Messers, escaped from under the fire in a coup and, in turn, attacked the “enemy”.
He damaged one "Mustang" (the plane, smoking, left the battle and, having flown a little, fell, the pilot jumped out with a parachute), the second P-51 exploded in the air. Only after a successful attack, Kozhedub noticed the white stars of the US Air Force on the wings and fuselages of the aircraft he shot down. After landing, the regiment commander, Colonel Chupikov, advised Kozhedub to keep quiet about the incident and gave him the developed film of the photo-gun. The existence of a film with footage of the burning Mustangs became known only after the death of the legendary pilot. Detailed biography of the hero on the website: www.warheroes.ru "Unknown heroes"
Alexey Petrovich Maresyev
Maresyev Alexey Petrovich fighter pilot, deputy squadron commander of the 63rd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, Guard Senior Lieutenant.
Born on May 20, 1916 in the city of Kamyshin, Volgograd Region, into a working class family. Russian. At the age of three, he was left without a father, who died shortly after returning from the First World War. After graduating from the 8th grade of secondary school, Alexey entered the FZU, where he received the specialty of a locksmith. Then he applied to the Moscow Aviation Institute, but instead of the institute on the Komsomol ticket he went to build Komsomolsk-on-Amur. There he sawed through the forest in the taiga, built barracks, and then the first residential quarters. At the same time he studied at the flying club. Drafted into the Soviet army in 1937. He served in the 12th Aviation Border Detachment. But, according to Maresyev himself, he did not fly, but "put tails" in the airplanes. He really took off already at the Batay Military Aviation School of Pilots, from which he graduated in 1940. He served as an instructor-pilot in it.
He made his first sortie on August 23, 1941 in the Krivoy Rog region. Lieutenant Maresyev opened the battle score at the beginning of 1942 - he shot down a Ju-52. By the end of March 1942, he brought the number of downed Nazi aircraft to four. On April 4, in an air battle over the Demyansk bridgehead (Novgorod region), Maresyev's fighter was shot down. He attempted to land on the ice of a frozen lake, but released the landing gear early. The plane began to lose altitude quickly and fell into the forest.
Maresyev crawled to his own. He froze his feet and had to be amputated. However, the pilot decided not to give up. When he got prostheses, he trained long and hard and got permission to return to duty. He learned to fly anew in the 11 reserve air brigade in Ivanovo.
In June 1943, Maresyev returned to service. He fought at the Kursk Bulge as part of the 63rd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, was deputy squadron commander. In August 1943, Alexei Maresyev, during one battle, shot down three enemy FW-190 fighters at once.
On August 24, 1943, by the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the Guard Senior Lieutenant Maresyev was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Later he fought in the Baltic States, became the navigator of the regiment. In 1944 he joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. In total, he flew 86 sorties, shot down 11 enemy aircraft: 4 before injury and seven with amputated legs. In June 1944, Major Maresyev of the Guard became an inspector-pilot of the Air Force Higher Educational Institutions Directorate. Boris Polevoy's book "The Story of a Real Man" is dedicated to the legendary fate of Alexei Petrovich Maresyev.
In July 1946, Maresyev was honorably dismissed from the Air Force. In 1952, he graduated from the Higher Party School under the Central Committee of the CPSU, in 1956 - graduated from the Academy of Social Sciences under the Central Committee of the CPSU, received the title of candidate of historical sciences. In the same year he became the executive secretary of the Soviet Committee of War Veterans, in 1983 - the first deputy chairman of the committee. In this position, he worked until the last day of his life.
Retired Colonel A.P. Maresyev was awarded two Orders of Lenin, Orders of the October Revolution, Red Banner, Patriotic War 1 degree, two Orders of the Red Banner of Labor, Orders of Friendship of Peoples, Red Star, Badge of Honor, "For Services to the Fatherland" 3 degrees, medals, foreign orders. He was an honorary soldier of a military unit, an honorary citizen of the cities of Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Kamyshin, Oryol. A minor planet of the solar system, a public fund, and youth patriotic clubs are named after him. Was elected as a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Author of the book "On the Kursk Bulge" (Moscow, 1960).
Even during the war, Boris Polevoy's book "The Story of a Real Man" was published, the prototype of the protagonist of which was Maresyev (the author changed only one letter in his surname). In 1948, the film of the same name was shot based on the book on Mosfilm by director Alexander Stolper. Maresyev was even offered to play the main role himself, but he refused and this role was played by a professional actor Pavel Kadochnikov.
He died suddenly on May 18, 2001. He was buried in Moscow at the Novodevichy cemetery. On May 18, 2001, a gala evening was planned at the Theater of the Russian Army on the occasion of Maresyev's 85th birthday, but an hour before the start, Alexei Petrovich had a heart attack. He was taken to the intensive care unit of one of the Moscow clinics, where he died without regaining consciousness. The gala evening did take place, but it began with a minute of silence.
Krasnoperov Sergey Leonidovich
Krasnoperov Sergey Leonidovich was born on July 23, 1923 in the village of Pokrovka, Chernushinsky district. In May 1941 he volunteered for the Soviet Army. He studied for a year at the Balashov Aviation School of Pilots. In November 1942, attack pilot Sergei Krasnoperov arrived at the 765th Attack Aviation Regiment, and in January 1943 he was appointed deputy squadron commander of the 502nd Attack Aviation Regiment of the 214th Attack Aviation Division of the North Caucasian Front. In this regiment in June 1943 he joined the ranks of the party. For military distinction he was awarded the Orders of the Red Banner, Red Star, Patriotic War, 2nd degree.
The title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded on February 4, 1944. Killed in action on June 24, 1944. "March 14, 1943. Attack pilot Sergei Krasnoperov makes two flights one after the other to attack the port of Temrkzh. Leading six" silts ", he set fire to a boat near the port of the port. On the second flight, an enemy shell hit the engine. It seemed to Krasnoperov, the sun eclipsed the sun and immediately disappeared into thick black smoke. Krasnoperov turned off the ignition, cut off the gasoline and tried to lead the plane to the front line. However, after a few minutes it became clear that it would not be possible to save the plane. And under the wing there was a continuous swamp. Only one way out. : to land. ”As soon as the burning car touched the fuselage of the marsh bumps, the pilot barely had time to jump out of it and just run away to the side, an explosion rumbled.
A few days later Krasnoperov was again in the air, and a short entry appeared in the combat log of the flight commander of the 502nd Assault Aviation Regiment, Junior Lieutenant Sergei Leonidovich Krasnoperov: "03/23/43". Two sorties destroyed the convoy in the area of the station. Crimean. Destroyed cars - 1, created hotbeds of fire - 2 ". On April 4 Krasnoperov stormed manpower and fire weapons in an area of 204.3 meters. In the next sortie he stormed artillery and firing points in the area of Krymskaya station. He destroyed two tanks, one gun. and mortar.
One day, a junior lieutenant was assigned a free flight in pairs. He was the presenter. Covertly, at low level flight, a pair of "silts" penetrated deep into the rear of the enemy. We noticed cars on the road and attacked them. They discovered an accumulation of troops - and suddenly brought down destructive fire on the heads of the Nazis. The Germans unloaded ammunition and weapons from the self-propelled barge. Combat approach - the barge took off into the air. The regiment commander, Lieutenant Colonel Smirnov, wrote about Sergei Krasnoperov: "Such heroic deeds of Comrade Krasnoperov are repeated in every combat sortie. The pilots of his flight have become masters of assault. The flight is united and occupies a leading place. The command always entrusts him with the most difficult and responsible tasks. has created a military glory for himself, enjoys a well-deserved military prestige among the personnel of the regiment. " Indeed. Sergei is only 19 years old, and for his exploits he has already been awarded the Order of the Red Star. He was only 20 years old, and his chest was adorned with the Golden Star of the Hero.
Seventy-four sorties were flown by Sergei Krasnoperov during the fighting on the Taman Peninsula. As one of the best, he was trusted 20 times to lead a group of "silts" to attack, and he always carried out a combat mission. He personally destroyed 6 tanks, 70 vehicles, 35 wagons with cargo, 10 guns, 3 mortars, 5 anti-aircraft artillery points, 7 machine guns, 3 tractors, 5 bunkers, an ammunition depot, sunk a boat, a self-propelled barge, destroyed two crossings across the Kuban.
Matrosov Alexander Matveevich
Matrosov Alexander Matveyevich - rifleman of the 2nd battalion of the 91st separate rifle brigade (22nd army, Kalinin front), private. Born on February 5, 1924 in the city of Yekaterinoslav (now Dnepropetrovsk). Russian. Member of the Komsomol. Lost his parents early. For 5 years he was brought up in the Ivanovo orphanage (Ulyanovsk region). Then he was brought up in the Ufa children's labor colony. At the end of the 7th grade, he stayed to work in the colony as an assistant teacher. In the Red Army since September 1942. In October 1942 he entered the Krasnokholmsk Infantry School, but soon most of the cadets were sent to the Kalinin Front.
In the army since November 1942. He served in the 2nd battalion of the 91st separate rifle brigade. For some time the brigade was in reserve. Then she was transferred near Pskov to the area of Bolshoy Lomovaty Bor. Directly from the march, the brigade entered the battle.
On February 27, 1943, the 2nd battalion received the task of attacking a strong point in the area of the village of Chernushki (Loknyansky district of the Pskov region). As soon as our soldiers passed the forest and reached the edge, they came under heavy enemy machine-gun fire - three enemy machine guns in bunkers covered the approaches to the village. One machine gun was suppressed by an assault group of machine gunners and armor-piercing soldiers. The second bunker was destroyed by another group of armor piercers. But the machine gun from the third bunker continued to fire at the entire hollow in front of the village. Attempts to silence him were unsuccessful. Then Private A.M. Matrosov crawled towards the bunker. He got to the flank of the embrasure and threw two grenades. The machine gun fell silent. But as soon as the fighters rose to attack, the machine gun came to life again. Then Matrosov got up, jerked to the bunker and closed the embrasure with his body. At the cost of his life, he contributed to the execution of the combat mission of the unit.
A few days later, the name of Matrosov became known throughout the country. The feat of Matrosov was used by a journalist who happened to be at the unit for a patriotic article. At the same time, the regiment commander learned about the feat from the newspapers. Moreover, the date of the hero's death was postponed to February 23, timed the feat to the day of the Soviet Army. Despite the fact that Matrosov was not the first to commit such an act of self-sacrifice, it was his name that was used to glorify the heroism of Soviet soldiers. Subsequently, over 300 people performed the same feat, but this was no longer widely reported. His feat became a symbol of courage and military valor, fearlessness and love for the Motherland.
The title of Hero of the Soviet Union, Alexander Matveevich Matrosov, was posthumously awarded on June 19, 1943. Buried in the city of Velikiye Luki. On September 8, 1943, by order of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR, the name of Matrosov was assigned to the 254th Guards Rifle Regiment, he himself was forever enlisted (one of the first in the Soviet Army) in the lists of the 1st company of this unit. Monuments to the Hero are installed in Ufa, Velikiye Luki, Ulyanovsk and others. The museum of the Komsomol glory of the city of Velikiye Luki, streets, schools, pioneer squads, motor ships, collective and state farms bore his name.
Ivan Vasilievich Panfilov
In the battles near Volokolamsk, the 316th Infantry Division of General I.V. Panfilov. Reflecting continuous enemy attacks for 6 days, they knocked out 80 tanks and destroyed several hundred soldiers and officers. The enemy's attempts to seize the Volokolamsk region and open the way to Moscow from the west failed. For heroic actions, this unit was awarded the Order of the Red Banner and transformed into the 8th Guards, and its commander, General I.V. Panfilov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. He was not lucky enough to witness the complete defeat of the enemy near Moscow: on November 18, near the village of Gusenevo, he died a heroic death.
Ivan Vasilyevich Panfilov, Guards Major General, Commander of the 8th Guards Rifle Red Banner (former 316th) Division, was born on January 1, 1893 in the city of Petrovsk, Saratov Region. Russian. Member of the CPSU since 1920. From the age of 12 he worked for hire, in 1915 he was drafted into the tsarist army. In the same year he was sent to the Russian-German front. He joined the Red Army voluntarily in 1918. Was enlisted in the 1st Saratov Infantry Regiment of the 25th Chapayev Division. He took part in the civil war, fought against Dutov, Kolchak, Denikin and the White Poles. After the war, he graduated from the two-year Kiev United Infantry School and was assigned to the Central Asian Military District. He took part in the fight against the Basmachi.
The Great Patriotic War found Major General Panfilov at the post of military commissar of the Kyrgyz Republic. Having formed the 316th Infantry Division, went with it to the front and in October - November 1941 fought near Moscow. For military distinctions he was awarded two Orders of the Red Banner (1921, 1929) and the medal "XX Years of the Red Army".
The title of Hero of the Soviet Union to Ivan Vasilyevich Panfilov was awarded posthumously on April 12, 1942 for his skillful leadership of the division's units in battles on the outskirts of Moscow and his personal courage and heroism.
In the first half of October 1941, the 316th Division arrived in the 16th Army and took up defensive positions on a wide front on the approaches to Volokolamsk. General Panfilov for the first time widely used a system of deeply echeloned artillery anti-tank defense, created and skillfully used mobile obstacle detachments in battle. Thanks to this, the strength of our troops increased significantly, and all attempts of the 5th German Army Corps to break through the defenses were unsuccessful. For seven days, the division, together with the cadet regiment S.I. Mladentseva and loyal anti-tank artillery units successfully repulsed enemy attacks.
Attaching great importance to the capture of Volokolamsk, the Hitlerite command threw another motorized corps into the area. Only under pressure from superior enemy forces were the division's units forced to leave Volokolamsk at the end of October and take up defenses east of the city.
On November 16, fascist troops launched a second "general" offensive against Moscow. Near Volokolamsk, a fierce battle boiled over again. On this day, 28 Panfilov soldiers under the command of political instructor V.G. Klochkov repulsed the attack of enemy tanks, and held the occupied line. The enemy tanks also failed to break through in the direction of the villages of Mykanino and Strokovo. General Panfilov's division firmly held its positions, its soldiers fought to the death.
For exemplary performance of combat missions of the command, mass heroism of personnel, the 316th division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner on November 17, 1941, and the next day it was transformed into the 8th Guards Rifle Division.
Nikolay Frantsevich Gastello
Nikolai Frantsevich was born on May 6, 1908 in Moscow, in a working class family. Graduated from 5 classes. He worked as a mechanic at the Murom steam locomotive repair plant of construction machines. In the Soviet Army in May 1932. In 1933 he graduated from the Luhansk military school of pilots in bomber units. In 1939 he took part in the battles on the river. Khalkhin - Goal and the Soviet-Finnish War 1939-1940 In the active army since June 1941, the squadron commander of the 207th Long-Range Bomber Aviation Regiment (42nd Bomb Aviation Division, 3rd Bomber Aviation Corps DBA) Captain Gastello performed on June 26, 1941 the next mission on a mission. His bomber was hit and caught fire. He directed the burning plane towards the accumulation of enemy troops. The enemy suffered heavy losses from the explosion of the bomber. For the accomplished feat on July 26, 1941, he was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. The name Gastello is forever entered in the lists of military units. At the place of the feat on the Minsk-Vilnius highway, a memorial monument was erected in Moscow.
Zoya Anatolyevna Kosmodemyanskaya ("Tanya")
Zoya Anatolyevna ["Tanya" (09/13/1923 - 11/29/1941)] - Soviet partisan, Hero of the Soviet Union was born in Osino-Gai Gavrilovsky district of the Tambov region in the family of an employee. In 1930 the family moved to Moscow. 
She graduated from the 9th grade of school number 201. 
In October 1941, the Komsomol member Kosmodemyanskaya voluntarily joined a special partisan detachment, acting on the instructions of the headquarters of the Western Front in the Mozhaisk direction.
Twice she was sent to the rear of the enemy. At the end of November 1941, while performing the second combat mission in the area of the village of Petrishchevo (Russian district of the Moscow region), she was captured by the Nazis. Despite the cruel torture, she did not betray military secrets, did not give her name.
On November 29, she was hanged by the Nazis. Her devotion to the Motherland, courage and dedication became an inspiring example in the fight against the enemy. On February 6, 1942, he was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Manshuk Zhiengalievna Mametova
Manshuk Mametova was born in 1922 in the Urdinsky district of the West Kazakhstan region. Manshuk's parents died early, and the five-year-old girl was adopted by her aunt Amina Mametova. Manshuk spent his childhood in Almaty.
When the Great Patriotic War began, Manshuk studied at a medical institute and at the same time worked in the secretariat of the Council of People's Commissars of the republic. In August 1942, she voluntarily joined the ranks of the Red Army and went to the front. In the unit where Manshuk arrived, she was left as a clerk at the headquarters. But the young patriot decided to become a front line fighter, and a month later senior sergeant Mametova was transferred to the rifle battalion of the 21st Guards Rifle Division.
Short, but bright, like a flared star, was her life. Manshuk died in the battle for the honor and freedom of her native country, when she was twenty-one and she had just joined the party. The short combat path of the glorious daughter of the Kazakh people ended with an immortal feat she accomplished at the walls of the ancient Russian city of Nevel.
On October 16, 1943, the battalion in which Manshuk Mametova served was ordered to repulse the enemy's counterattack. As soon as the Nazis tried to repel the attack, the machine gun of senior sergeant Mametova started working. The Nazis rolled back, leaving hundreds of corpses behind. Several violent attacks from the Nazis had already drowned at the foot of the hill. Suddenly, the girl noticed that two neighboring machine guns were silent - the machine gunners were killed. Then Manshuk, quickly crawling from one firing point to another, began to fire at the advancing enemies from three machine guns.
The enemy transferred mortar fire to the position of the resourceful girl. A close burst of a heavy mine knocked over the machine gun, behind which Manshuk was lying. Wounded in the head, the machine-gunner lost consciousness for some time, but the triumphant cries of the approaching Nazis forced her to wake up. Instantly getting over to the neighboring machine gun, Manshuk whipped a lead shower along the chains of the fascist warriors. And again the attack of the enemy was choked. This ensured the successful advance of our units, but the girl from distant Urda remained lying on the hillside. Her fingers froze on the Maxim trigger.
On March 1, 1944, by a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, Senior Sergeant Manshuk Zhiengalievna Mametova was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Aliya Moldagulova
Aliya Moldagulova was born on April 20, 1924 in the Bulak village of the Khobdinsky region of the Aktobe region. After the death of her parents, she was brought up by her uncle Aubakir Moldagulov. With his family she moved from city to city. She studied at the 9th secondary school in Leningrad. In the fall of 1942, Aliya Moldagulova joined the army and was sent to a sniper school. In May 1943, Aliya submitted a report to the school command with a request to send to the front. Aliya ended up in the 3rd company of the 4th battalion of the 54th rifle brigade under the command of Major Moiseyev.
By the beginning of October, Aliya Moldagulova had 32 killed fascists on her account.
In December 1943, Moiseyev's battalion was ordered to drive the enemy out of the village of Kazachikha. By capturing this settlement, the Soviet command hoped to cut the railway line along which the Nazis transferred reinforcements. The Nazis fiercely resisted, skillfully using the benefits of the terrain. The slightest advance of our companies came at a high cost, and yet slowly but steadily our fighters approached the enemy's fortifications. Suddenly a lone figure appeared ahead of the advancing chains.
Suddenly a lone figure appeared ahead of the advancing chains. The Nazis noticed the brave warrior and opened fire from machine guns. Seizing the moment when the fire weakened, the soldier rose to his full height and carried the entire battalion with him.
After a fierce battle, our soldiers captured the height. The daredevil lingered in the trench for a while. His pale face showed traces of pain, and strands of black hair emerged from under his hat with earflaps. It was Aliya Moldagulova. She destroyed 10 fascists in this battle. The wound was light, and the girl remained in the ranks.
In an effort to restore the situation, the enemy rushed to counterattack. On January 14, 1944, a group of enemy soldiers managed to break into our trenches. Hand-to-hand fighting ensued. Aliya with well-aimed bursts of a machine gun mowed down the fascists. Suddenly she instinctively felt the danger behind her. She turned sharply, but it was too late: the German officer fired first. Gathering her last strength, Aliya threw up her machine gun and the Hitlerite officer fell to the cold ground ...
Comrades carried the wounded Aliya from the battlefield. The fighters wanted to believe in a miracle, they offered blood to save the girl. But the wound was fatal.
On June 4, 1944, corporal Aliya Moldagulova was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Sevastyanov Alexey Tikhonovich
Sevastyanov Aleksey Tikhonovich, flight commander of the 26th Fighter Aviation Regiment (7th Fighter Aviation Corps, Leningrad Air Defense Zone), junior lieutenant. Born on February 16, 1917 in the village of Kholm, now in the Likhoslavl region of the Tver (Kalinin) region. Russian. Graduated from the Kalinin Railway Car Building College. In the Red Army since 1936. In 1939 he graduated from the Kachin military aviation school.
Member of the Great Patriotic War since June 1941. In total, during the war years, junior lieutenant Sevastyanov A.T. made more than 100 sorties, shot down 2 enemy aircraft in person (one of them with a ram), 2 in a group and an observation balloon.
The title of Hero of the Soviet Union Alexei Tikhonovich Sevastyanov was awarded posthumously on June 6, 1942.
On November 4, 1941, junior lieutenant Sevastyanov patrolled on an Il-153 aircraft on the outskirts of Leningrad. At about 22.00, an enemy air raid on the city began. Despite the fire of anti-aircraft artillery, one He-111 bomber managed to break through to Leningrad. Sevastyanov attacked the enemy, but missed. He went on the attack for the second time and opened fire from close range, but again past. Sevastyanov attacked for the third time. Coming close, he pressed the trigger, but no shots followed - he ran out of cartridges. In order not to miss the enemy, he decided to go to the ram. Approaching the Heinkel from behind, he chopped off the tail unit with a screw. Then he left the damaged fighter and landed by parachute. The bomber fell in the area of the Tauride Garden. The crew members who had escaped by parachute were taken prisoner. The fallen Sevastyanov fighter was found in Baskov Lane and restored by specialists from the 1st Rembase.
April 23, 1942 Sevastyanov A.T. died in an unequal air battle, defending the "Road of Life" across Ladoga (shot down 2.5 km from the village of Rakhya, Vsevolozhsky District; a monument is erected in this place). Buried in Leningrad at the Chesme cemetery. Forever enlisted in the lists of the military unit. A street in St. Petersburg, a House of Culture in the village of Pervitino, Likhoslavl District, are named after him. The documentary "Heroes Don't Die" is dedicated to his feat.
Matveev Vladimir Ivanovich
Matveev Vladimir Ivanovich Squadron commander of the 154th Fighter Aviation Regiment (39th Fighter Aviation Division, Northern Front) - captain. Born October 27, 1911 in St. Petersburg in a working class family. Russian Member of the CPSU (b) since 1938. Graduated from 5 classes. He worked as a mechanic at the Krasny Oktyabr factory. In the Red Army since 1930. In 1931 he graduated from the Leningrad military-theoretical school of pilots, in 1933 - from the Borisoglebsk military aviation school of pilots. Member of the Soviet-Finnish War of 1939-1940.
With the beginning of the Great Patriotic War at the front. Captain Matveev V.I. On July 8, 1941, when repelling an enemy air raid on Leningrad, having used up all the ammunition, he used a ram: with the end of the plane of his MiG-3, he cut off the tail of a fascist aircraft. An enemy plane crashed near the village of Malyutino. He landed safely at his airfield. The title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal to Vladimir Ivanovich Matveev was awarded on July 22, 1941.
Killed in an air battle on January 1, 1942, covering the "Road of Life" along Ladoga. Buried in Leningrad.
Polyakov, Sergei Nikolaevich
Sergei Polyakov was born in 1908 in Moscow, into a working class family. He graduated from 7 classes of junior high school. In 1930 he joined the Red Army, graduated from the military aviation school. Member of the Spanish Civil War 1936 - 1939. In air battles, he shot down 5 Frankist planes. 
Member of the Soviet - Finnish War of 1939-1940. On the fronts of the Great Patriotic War from the first day. The commander of the 174th assault aviation regiment, Mayor S.N.
On December 23, 1941, he died while performing another combat mission. On February 10, 1943, Sergei Nikolayevich Polyakov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union (posthumously) for his courage and bravery in battles with enemies. During the period of service he was awarded the Orders of Lenin, the Red Banner (twice), the Red Star, and medals. He was buried in the Agalatovo village of the Vsevolozhsky district of the Leningrad region.
Muravitsky Luka Zakharovich
Luka Muravitsky was born on December 31, 1916 in the village of Dolgoe, now the Soligorsk district of the Minsk region, in a peasant family. He graduated from 6 classes and a school of FZU. He worked on the subway in Moscow. Graduated from the Aeroclub. In the Soviet Army since 1937. Graduated from the Borisoglebsk Military Pilot School in 1939. 
Member of the Great Patriotic War since July 1941. His military activity, Junior Lieutenant Muravitsky began as part of the 29th IAP of the Moscow Military District. This regiment met the war on outdated I-153 fighters. Maneuverable enough, they were inferior to enemy aircraft in speed and firepower. Analyzing the first air battles, the pilots came to the conclusion that they needed to abandon the pattern of straight-line attacks, and fight on turns, in a dive, on a "hill" when their "Seagull" was gaining additional speed. At the same time, it was decided to switch to "doubles" flights, abandoning the link of three aircraft established by the official position.
The very first flights of "twos" showed their clear advantage. So, at the end of July, Alexander Popov, paired with Luka Muravitsky, returning after escorting bombers, met with six "Messers". Our pilots were the first to rush into the attack and shoot down the leader of the enemy group. Stunned by the sudden blow, the Nazis hastened to get out.
On each of his aircraft, Luka Muravitsky painted with white paint on the fuselage the inscription "For Anya". At first, the pilots laughed at him, and the authorities ordered him to erase the inscription. But before each new flight on the fuselage on the starboard side again appeared - "For Anya" ... No one knew who this is Anya, whom Luka remembers, even going into battle ...
Once, before a combat mission, the regiment commander ordered Muravitsky to immediately erase the inscription and more so that it would not be repeated! Then Luka told the commander that this was his beloved girl, who worked with him at Metrostroy, studied at the flying club, that she loved him, they were going to get married, but ... She crashed while jumping from an airplane. The parachute did not open ... Even though she did not die in battle, Luka continued, she was preparing to become an air fighter, to defend the Motherland. The commander resigned himself.
Taking part in the defense of Moscow, Flight Commander of the 29th IAP Luka Muravitsky achieved brilliant results. He was distinguished not only by sober calculation and courage, but also by the willingness to go to any lengths to defeat the enemy. So on September 3, 1941, operating on the Western Front, he rammed an enemy reconnaissance aircraft He-111 and made a safe landing on the damaged aircraft. At the beginning of the war, we had few aircraft, and that day Muravitsky had to fly alone - to cover the railway station, where an ammunition train was being unloaded. Fighters, as a rule, flew in pairs, but here - one ...
At first everything went smoothly. The lieutenant vigilantly watched the air in the station area, but as you can see, if there are multilayer clouds overhead, rain. When Muravitsky made a U-turn over the outskirts of the station, he saw a German reconnaissance plane between the layers of clouds. Luka sharply increased the engine speed and raced across the Heinkel-111. The Lieutenant's attack was unexpected, the Heinkel had not yet had time to open fire, when a machine-gun burst pierced the enemy, and he, steeply descending, began to flee. Muravitsky caught up with the Heinkel, opened fire on it again, and suddenly the machine gun fell silent. The pilot reloaded, but apparently ran out of ammunition. And then Muravitsky decided to ram the enemy.
He increased the speed of the plane - the Heinkel was getting closer and closer. The Nazis are already visible in the cockpit ... Without decreasing the speed, Muravitsky approaches almost close to the fascist plane and hits the tail with a propeller. The jerk and propeller of the fighter cut through the metal of the tail of the He-111 ... The enemy plane crashed into the ground behind the railroad tracks in the wasteland. Luka also hit his head hard on the dashboard, the sight and lost consciousness. Woke up - the plane falls to the ground in a tailspin. Gathering all his strength, the pilot with difficulty stopped the rotation of the machine and brought it out of a steep dive. He could not fly further and he had to land the car at the station ...
After recovering, Muravitsky returned to his regiment. And fights again. The flight commander flew into battle several times a day. He was eager to fight and again, as before being wounded, the fuselage of his fighter was carefully displayed: "For Anya." By the end of September, the brave pilot had about 40 air victories, both personally and in a group.
Soon one of the squadrons of the 29th IAP, which included Luka Muravitsky, was transferred to the Leningrad Front to reinforce the 127th IAP. The main task of this regiment was to escort transport aircraft along the Ladoga route, to cover their landing, loading and unloading. Acting as part of the 127th IAP, Senior Lieutenant Muravitsky shot down 3 more enemy aircraft. On October 22, 1941, Muravitsky was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for exemplary performance of the command's combat missions, for courage and bravery shown in battles. By this time, on his personal account there were already 14 shot down enemy aircraft.
On November 30, 1941, the flight commander of the 127th IAP, Senior Lieutenant Maravitsky, died in an unequal air battle, defending Leningrad ... The overall result of his combat activities, in various sources, is assessed differently. The most common figure is 47 (10 victories won personally and 37 in a group), less often - 49 (12 personally and 37 in a group). However, all these figures do not fit in any way with the number of personal victories - 14, given above. Moreover, one of the publications generally states that Luka Muravitsky won his last victory in May 1945, over Berlin. Unfortunately, there is no exact data yet.
Luka Zakharovich Muravitsky was buried in the village of Kapitolovo, Vsevolozhsky District, Leningrad Region. A street in the village of Dolgoe is named after him.
