Feats Soviet heroes that we will never forget.
Roman Smishchuk. In one battle, destroyed 6 enemy tanks with hand grenades
For ordinary Ukrainian Roman Smishchuk, that battle was his first. In an effort to destroy the company that had taken up a perimeter defense, the enemy brought 16 tanks into battle. At this critical moment, Smishchuk showed exceptional courage: allowing the enemy tank to come close, he knocked it out chassis with a grenade and then throwing a bottle of Molotov cocktail, he set it on fire. Running from trench to trench, Roman Smishchuk attacked the tanks, running out to meet them, and in this way destroyed six tanks one after another. The company personnel, inspired by Smishchuk’s feat, successfully broke through the ring and joined their regiment. For his feat, Roman Semyonovich Smishchuk was awarded the title of Hero Soviet Union with the presentation of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal, Roman Smishchuk died on October 29, 1969, and was buried in the village of Kryzhopol, Vinnytsia region.
Vanya Kuznetsov. The youngest holder of 3 Orders of Glory
Ivan Kuznetsov went to the front at the age of 14. Vanya received his first medal “For Courage” at the age of 15 for his exploits in the battles for the liberation of Ukraine. He reached Berlin, showing courage beyond his years in a number of battles. For this, already at the age of 17, Kuznetsov became the youngest full holder of the Order of Glory of all three levels. Died January 21, 1989.
Georgy Sinyakov. Saved hundreds from captivity Soviet soldiers according to the Count of Monte Cristo system
The Soviet surgeon was captured during the battles for Kyiv and, as a captured doctor at a concentration camp in Küstrin (Poland), saved hundreds of prisoners: being a member of the camp underground, he drew up documents in the concentration camp hospital for them as dead and organized escapes. Most often, Georgy Fedorovich Sinyakov used imitation of death: he taught patients to pretend to be dead, declared death, the “corpse” was taken out with other truly dead people and thrown into a ditch nearby, where the prisoner was “resurrected.” In particular, Dr. Sinyakov saved the life and helped pilot Anna Egorova, Hero of the Soviet Union, who was shot down in August 1944 near Warsaw, escape from the plan. Sinyakov lubricated her purulent wounds fish oil and a special ointment that made the wounds look fresh, but in fact healed well. Then Anna recovered and, with the help of Sinyakov, escaped from the concentration camp.
Matvey Putilov. At the age of 19, at the cost of his life, he connected the ends of a broken wire, restoring the telephone line between the headquarters and a detachment of fighters
In October 1942, the 308th rifle division fought in the area of the factory and the workers' village "Barricades". On October 25, there was a breakdown in communication and Guard Major Dyatleko ordered Matvey to restore the wired telephone connection connecting the regiment headquarters with a group of soldiers who were holding a house surrounded by the enemy for the second day. Two previous unsuccessful attempts to restore communications ended in the death of the signalmen. Putilov was wounded in the shoulder by a mine fragment. Overcoming the pain, he crawled to the site of the broken wire, but was wounded a second time: his arm was crushed. Losing consciousness and unable to use his hand, he squeezed the ends of the wires with his teeth, and a current passed through his body. Communication was restored. He died with the ends of telephone wires clenched in his teeth.
Marionella Koroleva. Carried 50 seriously wounded soldiers from the battlefield
19-year-old actress Gulya Koroleva voluntarily went to the front in 1941 and ended up in a medical battalion. In November 1942, during the battle for height 56.8 in the area of the Panshino farm, Gorodishchensky district (Volgograd region of the Russian Federation), Gulya literally carried 50 seriously wounded soldiers from the battlefield. And then, when the moral strength of the fighters dried up, she herself went on the attack, where she was killed. Songs were written about Guli Koroleva’s feat, and her dedication was an example for millions of Soviet girls and boys. Her name is carved in gold on the banner military glory on Mamayev Kurgan, a village and a street in the Sovetsky district of Volgograd are named after her. E. Ilyina’s book “The Fourth Height” is dedicated to Gula Koroleva
Koroleva Marionella (Gulya), Soviet film actress, heroine of the Great Patriotic War
Vladimir Khazov. A tanker who alone destroyed 27 enemy tanks
The young officer has 27 destroyed enemy tanks on his personal account. For services to the Motherland, Khazov was awarded the highest award - in November 1942 he was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. He especially distinguished himself in the battle in June 1942, when Khazov received an order to stop an advancing enemy tank column, consisting of 30 vehicles, in the area of the village of Olkhovatka (Kharkov region, Ukraine) while there were only 3 in the platoon of senior lieutenant Khazov combat vehicles. The commander made a bold decision: let the column pass and start firing from the rear. Three T-34s opened aimed fire at the enemy, positioning themselves at the tail of the enemy column. From frequent and accurate shots, German tanks caught fire one after another. In this battle, which lasted just over an hour, not a single enemy vehicle survived, and the full platoon returned to the battalion's location. As a result of the fighting in the Olkhovatka area, the enemy lost 157 tanks and stopped their attacks in this direction.
Alexander Mamkin. The pilot who evacuated 10 children at the cost of his life
During the operation of air evacuation of children from Polotsk orphanage No. 1, whom the Nazis wanted to use as blood donors for their soldiers, Alexander Mamkin made a flight that we will always remember. On the night of April 10-11, 1944, ten children, their teacher Valentina Latko and two wounded partisans fit into his R-5 plane. At first everything went well, but when approaching the front line, Mamkin’s plane was shot down. The R-5 was burning... If Mamkin had been alone on board, he would have gained altitude and jumped out with a parachute. But he was not flying alone and drove the plane further... The flame reached the pilot's cabin. The temperature melted his flight goggles, he flew the plane almost blindly, overcoming the hellish pain, he still stood firmly between the children and death. Mamkin was able to land the plane on the shore of the lake, he was able to get out of the cockpit and asked: “Are the children alive?” And I heard the voice of the boy Volodya Shishkov: “Comrade pilot, don’t worry! I opened the door, everyone is alive, let’s get out...” Then Mamkin lost consciousness, a week later he died... The doctors were still unable to explain how a man could drive the car and even land it safely, whose glasses had been fused into his face, and only his legs remained bones.
Alexey Maresyev. Test pilot who returned to the front and combat missions after amputation of both legs
On April 4, 1942, in the area of the so-called “Demyansk Pocket”, during an operation to cover bombers in a battle with the Germans, Maresyev’s plane was shot down. For 18 days, the pilot wounded in the legs, first on crippled legs, and then crawled his way to the front line, eating tree bark, pine cones and berries. Due to gangrene, his legs were amputated. But while still in the hospital, Alexey Maresyev began training, preparing to fly with prostheses. In February 1943, he made his first test flight after being wounded. I managed to get sent to the front. On July 20, 1943, during an air battle with superior enemy forces, Alexey Maresyev saved the lives of 2 Soviet pilots and shot down two enemy Fw.190 fighters at once. In total, during the war he made 86 combat missions and shot down 11 enemy aircraft: four before being wounded and seven after being wounded.
Rosa Shanina. One of the most formidable lone snipers of the Great Patriotic War
Rosa Shanina - Soviet single sniper of a separate platoon of female snipers of the 3rd Belorussian Front, holder of the Order of Glory; one of the first female snipers to receive this award. She was known for her ability to lead accurate shooting at moving targets with a doublet - two shots in succession. Rosa Shanina’s account records 59 confirmed killed enemy soldiers and officers. The young girl became a symbol of the Patriotic War. Her name is associated with many stories and legends that inspired new heroes to glorious deeds. She died on January 28, 1945 during the East Prussian operation, protecting the seriously wounded commander of an artillery unit.
Nikolai Skorokhodov. Flew 605 combat missions. Personally shot down 46 enemy aircraft.
Soviet fighter pilot Nikolai Skorokhodov went through all levels of aviation during the war - he was a pilot, senior pilot, flight commander, deputy commander and squadron commander. He fought on the Transcaucasian, North Caucasian, Southwestern and 3rd Ukrainian fronts. During this time, he made more than 605 combat missions, conducted 143 air combat, personally shot down 46 and 8 enemy aircraft in the group, and also destroyed 3 bombers on the ground. Thanks to his unique skill, Skomorokhov was never wounded, his plane did not burn, was not shot down, and did not receive a single hole during the entire war.
Dzhulbars. Mine detection dog, participant of the Great Patriotic War, the only dog awarded the medal “For Military Merit”
From September 1944 to August 1945, taking part in mine clearance in Romania, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Austria, a working dog named Julbars discovered 7468 mines and more than 150 shells. Thus, the architectural masterpieces of Prague, Vienna and other cities have survived to this day thanks to the phenomenal flair of Dzhulbars. The dog also helped the sappers who cleared the grave of Taras Shevchenko in Kanev and St. Vladimir's Cathedral in Kyiv. On March 21, 1945, for the successful completion of a combat mission, Dzhulbars was awarded the medal “For Military Merit.” This is the only time during the war that a dog received a military award. For his military services, Dzhulbars participated in the Victory Parade, held on Red Square on June 24, 1945.
Dzhulbars, a mine-detecting dog, a participant in the Great Patriotic War
Already at 7.00 on May 9, the telethon “Our Victory” begins, and the evening will end with a grandiose festive concert “VICTORY. ONE FOR ALL”, which will start at 20.30. The concert was attended by Svetlana Loboda, Irina Bilyk, Natalya Mogilevskaya, Zlata Ognevich, Victor Pavlik, Olga Polyakova and others popular stars Ukrainian stage.
During the Great Patriotic War, many Soviet citizens (not just soldiers) performed heroic deeds, saving other people's lives and bringing closer the USSR's victory over the German invaders. These people are rightfully considered heroes. In our article we will recall some of them.
Heroes men
The list of heroes of the Soviet Union who became famous during the Great Patriotic War is quite extensive, so Let's name the most famous:
- Nikolai Gastello (1907-1941): Hero of the Union posthumously, squadron commander. After being bombed by German heavy equipment, Gastello's plane was shot down. The pilot rammed a burning bomber into an enemy column;
- Victor Talalikhin (1918-1941): Hero of the USSR, deputy squadron commander, participated in the Battle of Moscow. One of the first Soviet pilots to ram the enemy in a night air battle;
- Alexander Matrosov (1924-1943): Hero of the Union posthumously, private, rifleman. In a battle near the village of Chernushki (Pskov region), he blocked the embrasure of a German firing point;
- Alexander Pokryshkin (1913-1985): three times Hero of the USSR, fighter pilot (recognized as an ace), improved combat techniques (about 60 victories), went through the entire war (about 650 sorties), air marshal (since 1972);
- Ivan Kozhedub (1920-1991): three times Hero, fighter pilot (ace), squadron commander, participant Battle of Kursk, carried out about 330 combat missions (64 victories). He became famous for his effective shooting technique (200-300 m before the enemy) and the absence of cases when the plane was shot down;
- Alexey Maresyev (1916-2001): Hero, deputy squadron commander, fighter pilot. He is famous for the fact that after the amputation of both legs, using prosthetics, he was able to return to combat flights.
Rice. 1. Nikolai Gastello.
In 2010, an extensive Russian electronic database “Feat of the People” was created, containing reliable information from official documents about the war participants, their exploits and awards.
Women's heroes
It is especially worth highlighting the women heroes of the Great Patriotic War.
Some of them:
- Valentina Grizodubova (1909-1993): the first female pilot - Hero of the Soviet Union, instructor pilot (5 world aviation records), commander of an air regiment, made about 200 combat missions (132 of them at night);
- Lyudmila Pavlichenko (1916-1974): Hero of the Union, world-famous sniper, instructor at a sniper school, participated in the defense of Odessa and Sevastopol. Destroyed about 309 enemies, of which 36 were snipers;
- Lydia Litvyak (1921-1943): Posthumous hero, fighter pilot (ace), squadron flight commander, participated in Battle of Stalingrad, battles in Donbass (168 sorties, 12 victories in air battles);
- Ekaterina Budanova (1916-1943): Hero Russian Federation posthumously (she was listed as missing in the USSR), fighter pilot (ace), repeatedly fought against superior enemy forces, including launching a frontal attack (11 victories);
- Ekaterina Zelenko (1916-1941): Hero of the Union posthumously, deputy squadron commander. The only Soviet female pilot who participated in Soviet-Finnish war. The only woman in the world to ram an enemy plane (in Belarus);
- Evdokia Bershanskaya (1913-1982): the only woman awarded the Order of Suvorov. Pilot, commander of the 46th Guards Night Bomber Aviation Regiment (1941-1945). The regiment was exclusively female. For his skill in performing combat missions, he received the nickname “night witches.” He particularly distinguished himself in the liberation of the Taman Peninsula, Feodosia, and Belarus.
Rice. 2. Pilots of the 46th Guards Aviation Regiment.
On 05/09/2012, the modern movement “Immortal Regiment” was born in Tomsk, designed to honor the memory of the heroes of the Second World War. Through the streets of the city, residents carried about two thousand portraits of their relatives who participated in the war. The movement became widespread. Every year the number of participating cities increases, even covering other countries. In 2015, the “Immortal Regiment” event received official permission and took place in Moscow immediately after the Victory Parade.
Every day in Russia, ordinary citizens perform feats and do not pass by when someone needs help. The exploits of these people are not always noticed by officials, they are not awarded certificates, but this does not make their actions any less significant.
A country should know its heroes, so this selection is dedicated to brave, caring people who have proven by their deeds that heroism has a place in our lives. All events occurred in February 2014.
Schoolchildren from Krasnodar region Roman Vitkov and Mikhail Serdyuk saved an elderly woman from a burning house. While heading home, they saw a building on fire. Running into the yard, the schoolchildren saw that the veranda was almost completely engulfed in fire. Roman and Mikhail rushed into the barn to get a tool. Grabbing a sledgehammer and an ax, breaking out the window, Roman climbed into the window opening. An elderly woman was sleeping in a smoky room. They managed to get the victim out only after breaking the door.
“Roma is smaller in build than me, so he easily got through the window opening, but he couldn’t get back out with his grandmother in his arms in the same way. Therefore, we had to break down the door and this was the only way we managed to get the victim out,” said Misha Serdyuk.
Residents of the village of Altynai Sverdlovsk region Elena Martynova, Sergey Inozemtsev, Galina Sholokhova saved the children from the fire. The owner of the house committed the arson by blocking the door. At this time, there were three children aged 2–4 years and 12-year-old Elena Martynova in the building. Noticing the fire, Lena unlocked the door and began to carry the children out of the house. Galina Sholokhova and the children’s cousin Sergei Inozemtsev came to her aid. All three heroes received certificates from the local Ministry of Emergency Situations.
And in Chelyabinsk region priest Alexey Peregudov saved the life of the groom at the wedding. During the wedding, the groom lost consciousness. The only one who was not at a loss in this situation was Priest Alexey Peregudov. He quickly examined the man lying down, suspected cardiac arrest and provided first aid, including indirect massage hearts. As a result, the sacrament was successfully completed. Father Alexey noted that he had only seen chest compressions in movies.
A veteran distinguished himself in Mordovia Chechen war Marat Zinatullin, who saved an elderly man from a burning apartment. Having witnessed the fire, Marat acted like a professional firefighter. He climbed up the fence onto a small barn, and from there climbed onto the balcony. He broke the glass, opened the door leading from the balcony to the room, and got inside. The 70-year-old owner of the apartment was lying on the floor. The pensioner, who was poisoned by smoke, could not leave the apartment on his own. Marat, opening front door from the inside, carried the owner of the house into the entrance.
An employee of the Kostroma colony, Roman Sorvachev, saved the lives of his neighbors in a fire. Entering the entrance of his house, he immediately identified the apartment from which the smell of smoke was coming. The door was opened by a drunk man who assured that everything was fine. However, Roman called the Ministry of Emergency Situations. The rescuers who arrived at the scene of the fire were unable to enter the premises through the door, and the uniform of an Emergencies Ministry employee prevented them from entering the apartment through the narrow window frame. Then Roman climbed up the fire escape, entered the apartment and pulled out an elderly woman and an unconscious man from a heavily smoky apartment.
A resident of the village of Yurmash (Bashkortostan), Rafit Shamsutdinov, saved two children in a fire. Fellow villager Rafita lit the stove and, leaving two children - three year old girl And one and a half year old son, went to school with the older children. Rafit Shamsutdinov noticed smoke from the burning house. Despite the abundance of smoke, he managed to enter the burning room and take out the children.
Dagestani Arsen Fitzulaev prevented a disaster at a gas station in Kaspiysk. Only later did Arsen realize that he was actually risking his life.
An explosion unexpectedly occurred at one of the gas stations within the boundaries of Kaspiysk. As it turned out later, a woman passing by enormous speed The foreign car crashed into a gas tank and knocked down the valve. A minute of delay, and the fire would have spread to nearby tanks with flammable fuel. In such a scenario, casualties could not be avoided. However, the situation was radically changed by a modest gas station worker, who, through skillful actions, prevented the disaster and reduced its scale to a burnt-out car and several damaged cars.
And in the village of Ilyinka-1, Tula region, schoolchildren Andrei Ibronov, Nikita Sabitov, Andrei Navruz, Vladislav Kozyrev and Artem Voronin pulled a pensioner out of a well. 78-year-old Valentina Nikitina fell into a well and could not get out on her own. Andrei Ibronov and Nikita Sabitov heard the cries for help and immediately rushed to save the elderly woman. However, three more guys had to be called in for help - Andrei Navruz, Vladislav Kozyrev and Artem Voronin. Together the guys managed to pull an elderly pensioner out of the well.
“I tried to climb out, the well is shallow - I even reached the edge with my hand. But it was so slippery and cold that I couldn’t grab the hoop. And when I raised my hands, ice water poured into the sleeves. I screamed, called for help, but the well is located far from residential buildings and roads, so no one heard me. How long this lasted, I don’t even know... Soon I began to feel sleepy, with the last of my strength I raised my head and suddenly saw two boys looking into the well!” – said the victim.
In the village of Romanovo, Kaliningrad region, twelve-year-old schoolboy Andrei Tokarsky distinguished himself. He saved his cousin who fell through the ice. The incident occurred on Lake Pugachevskoye, where the boys and Andrei’s aunt came to skate on the cleared ice.
A policeman from the Pskov region Vadim Barkanov saved two men on. While walking with his friend, Vadim saw smoke and flames of fire escaping from the window of an apartment in a residential building. A woman ran out of the building and began to call for help, since two men remained in the apartment. Calling the firefighters, Vadim and his friend rushed to their aid. As a result, they managed to carry two unconscious men out of the burning building. The victims were taken by ambulance to the hospital, where they received the necessary medical care.
Imagine trying to save a blind man from a burning building, walking step by step through searing flames and smoke. Now imagine that you are blind too. Jim Sherman, born blind, heard his 85-year-old neighbor's cries for help when she was trapped in her burning house. He found his way, moving along the fence. Once he got to the woman's house, he somehow managed to get inside and find his neighbor Annie Smith, who was also blind. Sherman pulled Smith from the fire and took her to safety.
Skydiving instructors sacrificed everything to save their students
Few people will survive a fall of several hundred meters. But two women did it thanks to the dedication of two men. The first gave his life to save a man whom he saw for the first time in his life.
Skydiving instructor Robert Cook and his student Kimberley Dear were about to make their first jump when the plane's engine failed. Cook told the girl to sit on his lap and tied their belts together. As the plane crashed to the ground, Cook's body bore the brunt of the impact, killing the man but leaving Kimberly alive.
Another skydiving instructor, Dave Hartstock, also saved his student from being hit. This was Shirley Dygert's first jump, and she jumped with an instructor. Diegert's parachute did not open. During the fall, Hartstock managed to get under the girl, softening the blow to the ground. Dave Hartstock injured his spine, the injury paralyzed his body from the neck down, but both survived.
Mere mortal Joe Rollino (pictured above) performed incredible, inhuman things during his 104-year life. Although he only weighed about 68 kg, in his prime he could lift 288 kg with his fingers and 1,450 kg with his back, for which he won various competitions several times. However, not the title “Most strong man in the world" made him a hero.
During World War II, Rollino served in Pacific Ocean and received a Bronze and Silver Star for bravery in the line of duty, as well as three Purple Hearts for combat wounds that kept him in the hospital for a total of 2 years. He carried away 4 of his comrades from the battlefield, two in each hand, and also returned to the thick of the battle for the rest.
Fatherly love can inspire superhuman feats, and this was proven by two fathers on different ends Sveta.
In Florida, Joesph Welch came to the aid of his six year old son when the alligator grabbed the boy's hand. Forgetting about his own safety, Welch hit the alligator, trying to force it to open its mouth. Then a passerby arrived and began punching the alligator in the stomach until the animal finally let go of the boy.
In Mutoko, Zimbabwe, another father saved his son from a crocodile when it attacked him in a river. Father Tafadzwa Kacher began poking reeds into the animal's eyes and mouth until his son ran away. Then the crocodile targeted the man. Tafadzwa had to gouge out the animal's eyes. The boy lost his leg in the attack, but he will be able to tell of his father's superhuman bravery.
Two ordinary women lifted cars to save loved ones
Not only men are capable of demonstrating superhuman abilities in critical situations. The daughter and mother showed that women can be heroes too, especially when a loved one is in danger.
In Virginia, a 22-year-old girl saved her father when the jack slipped from under the BMW he was working under and the car fell onto the man's chest. There was no time to wait for help, the young woman lifted the car and moved it, then performed artificial respiration on her father.
In Georgia, a jack also slipped and a 1,350-pound Chevrolet Impala fell onto young man. Without help, his mother Angela Cavallo lifted the car and held it for five minutes until neighbors pulled her son out.
Superhuman abilities are not only strength and courage, but also the ability to think quickly and act in an emergency.
In New Mexico, a school bus driver suffered a seizure, putting children in danger. A girl waiting for the bus noticed that something had happened to the driver and called her mother. The woman, Rhonda Carlsen, immediately took action. She ran next to the bus and, using gestures, asked one of the children to open the door. After that, she jumped inside, grabbed the steering wheel and stopped the bus. Thanks to her quick reaction, none of the schoolchildren were injured, not to mention people passing by.
A truck and trailer drove along the edge of a cliff in the dead of night. The cab of a large truck stopped right above the cliff, with the driver inside. A young man came to the rescue, he broke the window and pulled the man out with his bare hands.
This happened in New Zealand in the Waioeka Gorge on October 5, 2008. The hero was 18-year-old Peter Hanne, who was at home when he heard the crash. Without thinking about his own safety, he climbed onto the balancing car, jumped into the narrow gap between the cab and the trailer, and broke the rear window. He carefully helped the injured driver out as the truck swayed under his feet.
In 2011, Hanne was awarded the New Zealand Bravery Medal for this heroic act.
War is full of heroes who risk their lives to save their fellow soldiers. In the movie Forrest Gump, we saw how the fictional character saved several of his fellow soldiers, even after he was wounded. IN real life You can find a more abrupt plot.
Take, for example, the story of Robert Ingram, who received the Medal of Honor. In 1966, during an enemy siege, Ingram continued to fight and save his comrades even after he was shot three times: in the head (which left him partially blind and deaf in one ear), in the arm, and in the left knee. Despite his wounds, he continued to kill North Vietnamese soldiers who attacked his unit.
Aquaman is nothing compared to Shavarsh Karapetyan, who saved 20 people from a sinking bus in 1976.
The Armenian speed swimming champion was jogging with his brother when a bus with 92 passengers left the road and fell into the water 24 meters from the shore. Karapetyan dived, kicked out the window and began to pull out people who were by that time in cold water at a depth of 10 m. They say that it took 30 seconds for each person he saved, he saved one after another until he lost consciousness in the cold and dark water. As a result, 20 people survived.
But Karapetyan’s exploits did not end there. Eight years later, he saved several people from a burning building, suffering severe burns in the process. Karapetyan received the Order of the USSR Badge of Honor and several other awards for underwater rescue. But he himself claimed that he was not a hero at all, he simply did what he had to do.
A man takes off a helicopter to save his colleague
The TV show's set became the site of a tragedy when a helicopter from the hit series Magnum PI crashed into a drainage ditch in 1988.
During landing, the helicopter suddenly tilted, went out of control and fell to the ground, while the whole thing was captured on film. One of the pilots, Steve Kux, was pinned under the helicopter in shallow water. And then Warren “Tiny” Everal ran up and picked up the helicopter from Kax. It was a Hughes 500D, which weighs at least 703kg empty. Everal's quick reactions and superhuman strength saved Kax from being pinned in the water by a helicopter. Even though the pilot injured himself left hand, he escaped death thanks to a local Hawaiian hero.
The article describes the exploits of the most famous heroes of the Great Patriotic War. Their childhood is shown teenage years, joining the Red Army and fighting the enemy.
During the Great Patriotic War it was celebrated high growth patriotism and fighting spirit Soviet citizens. Soldiers at the front and civilians in the rear spared no effort to fight the enemy. The slogan “Everything for the front! Everything for victory!”, proclaimed at the beginning of the war, fully reflected the national mood. People were ready to make any sacrifices for the sake of victory. A large number of volunteers joined the ranks of the Red Army and militia units, residents of the occupied territories fought a guerrilla war.
In total, more than 11 thousand people received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Most famous stories their exploits were included in school textbooks, and many works of art were dedicated to them.
The slogan “Everything for the front! Everything for victory!
Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub
Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub was born in 1920 in the Sumy region. After graduation high school in 1934, Ivan Kozhedub studied at the Chemical Technology College in Shostki. Free time devoted himself to classes at the local flying club. In 1940, Kozhedub was called up to military service and entered the Chuguev Military Aviation School. Then he stayed there to work as an instructor.
In the first months of the war, the aviation school where Kozhedub worked was evacuated to the rear. Therefore, the pilot began his combat career in November 1942. He repeatedly submitted reports with the goal of getting to the front, and in the end his wish came true.
In the first battle, Kozhedub failed to show his brilliant fighting qualities. His plane was damaged in a battle with the enemy, and then mistakenly was fired upon by Soviet anti-aircraft gunners. The pilot managed to land despite the fact that his La-5 was beyond repair in the future.
The future hero shot down the first bomber during the 40th combat mission near Kursk. The next day he again inflicted damage on the enemy, and a few days later he won a battle with two German fighters.
By the beginning of February 1944, Ivan Kozhedub had 146 combat missions and 20 downed enemy aircraft. For military services he was awarded the first Gold Star Hero. The pilot became a hero twice in August 1944.
In one of the battles over the territory occupied by the Germans, Kozhedub’s fighter was damaged. The plane's engine stalled. In order not to fall into the hands of the enemy, the pilot decided to throw his plane at a significant strategic enemy site in order to inflict maximum damage on the Nazis with his death. But at the very last moment the car’s engine suddenly started working and Kozhedub was able to return to base.
In February 1945, Kozhedub and his wingman entered into battle with a group of FW-190 fighters. They managed to shoot down 5 enemy planes out of 13. A few more days later, the list of trophies of the heroic pilot was replenished with the Me-262 fighter.
The last battle of the famous pilot, in which he shot down 2 FW-190s, took place over Berlin in April 1945. The hero was awarded the Third Gold Star after the end of the Great Patriotic War.
In total, Ivan Kozhedub made more than 300 combat missions and shot down more than 60 enemy aircraft. He was an excellent shot and hit enemy aircraft from a distance of about 300 m, rarely getting involved in close combat. During all the years of the war, the enemy never managed to shoot down Kozhedub’s plane.
After the end of the war, the heroic pilot continued to serve in aviation. He became one of the most famous military men of the USSR and made a brilliant career.
Ivan Kozhedub
Dmitry Ovcharenko was born into a peasant family in the Kharkov region. His father was a village carpenter and from a young age taught his son how to use an ax.
Dmitry's school education was limited to 5 classes. After graduation, he began working on a collective farm. In 1939, Ovcharenko was drafted into the Red Army. From the very beginning of hostilities he was on the front line. After being wounded, Dmitry was temporarily released from service in the machine gun company and performed the duties of a wagon driver.
Delivery of ammunition to the front was associated with significant risk. July 13, 14941 Dmitry Ovcharenko was carrying cartridges to his company. Near a small settlement The arctic fox was surrounded by an enemy detachment. But Dmitry Ovcharenko was not afraid. When the Germans took his rifle, he remembered the ax that he always carried with him. The enemies began to inspect the cargo folded in the cart, and the Soviet soldier grabbed an ax, which he always carried with him, and killed the officer commanding the group. Then he threw grenades at the enemy. 21 soldiers were killed, the rest fled. Dmitry caught up and killed another officer. The third German officer managed to escape. After all that happened, the brave fighter successfully delivered ammunition to the front line.
Dmitry Ovcharenko continued his military service as a machine gunner. His commander noted the soldier’s courage and determination, which served as an example for other Red Army soldiers. Heroic deed Dmitry Ovcharenko was also highly appreciated by the higher command - on November 9, 1941, the machine gunner received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Dmitry Ovcharenko continued to fight on the front line until the beginning of 1945 and died during the liberation of Hungary.
Talalikhin Viktor Vasilievich was born in the village of Teplovka Saratov region September 18, 1918 in a peasant family. Even in his youth, Victor became interested in aviation - in the town where his family lived there was an aviation school, and the teenager often looked at the cadets marching through the streets.
In 1933, the Talalikhin family moved to the capital. Victor graduated from college, then found a job at a meat processing plant. Viktor Talalikhin devoted his free time to classes at the flying club. He wanted to be no worse than his older brothers, who had already linked their destinies with aviation.
In 1937, Viktor Talalikhin entered the Borisoglebsk Aviation School. After completing his studies, he continued his military service. The young pilot took part in Finnish war, where he showed himself to be a seasoned and at the same time brave fighter.
From the beginning of the Second World War, the pilots were faced with the task of defending Moscow from German shells. By this time Talalikhin was already acting as squadron commander. He was demanding and strict with his subordinates, but at the same time he delved into the problems of the pilots and knew how to convey to them the significance of each of his orders.
On the night of August 7, Viktor Talalikhin made another combat mission. A fierce battle broke out not far from the village of Kuznechiki near Moscow. The Soviet pilot was wounded and decided to shoot down the enemy plane by throwing his fighter at it. Talalikhin was lucky - after using the ram he survived. The next day he was awarded the Gold Hero Star.
Having recovered from his wounds, the young pilot returned to duty. The hero died on October 27, 1941 in a battle in the sky above the village of Kamenka. Soviet fighters covered the movement of ground troops. A fight ensued with the German Messers. Talalikhin emerged victorious from two battles with enemy aircraft. But at the end of the battle, the pilot was seriously wounded and lost control of the fighter.
Victor Talalikhin for a long time was considered the first Soviet pilot, who applied night ram. Only years after the war it became known that other pilots had used a similar technique, but this fact in no way detracts from Talalikhin’s feat. During the war years he had many followers - more than 600 pilots did not spare their lives for the sake of victory.
Alexander Matrosov was born on February 5, 1924 in Ukraine in the city of Yekaterinoslav. Future hero was orphaned early and was raised in orphanage. When the war began, Alexander, while still a minor, tried several times to volunteer for the front. And in the fall of 1942, his wish came true. After training at the infantry school, Matrosov, like other recruits, was sent to the front line.
At the end of February 1943, during the liberation of the Pskov region, the unit carried out combat mission- capture the enemy’s fortified point located in the area of the village of Chernushki. The Red Army soldiers went on the offensive under the cover of the forest. But as soon as they reached the edge, the Germans began to fire Soviet fighters from machine guns. Many soldiers were immediately put out of action.
An assault group was sent into battle to suppress enemy machine guns. German firing points were bunker fortifications built of wood and earthen powder. The Red Army soldiers managed to destroy two of them relatively quickly, but the third machine gun, despite everything, continued to hinder the Soviet advance.
In order to destroy the enemy machine gun, the Sailors and Ogurtsov fighters headed to the bunker. But Ogurtsov was wounded and Matrosov had to act alone. He threw grenades at the German fortifications. The machine gun fell silent for a moment, and then began firing again. Alexander instantly made a decision - he rushed to the embrasure and covered it with his body.
On June 19, Alexander Matrosov posthumously became a Hero of the Soviet Union. During the war, the number of Red Army soldiers who covered enemy guns exceeded 500 people.
Feat of 28 Panfilovites
In the fall of 1941, the troops of Nazi Germany launched a large-scale offensive against Moscow. In some areas they managed to get almost close to the capital of the USSR. All available reserve troops and militia units were sent to defend the capital.
The 316th Infantry Division, formed in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, took part in the battles. The command of the unit was exercised by Major General I.V. Panfilov, after whom the division’s fighters began to be called “Panfilov’s men.”
I. V. Panfilov
On November 16, the enemy launched an attack. German tanks stormed Soviet positions in the area of the Dubosekovo junction, where the 1075th was stationed rifle regiment. The main blow was taken by the soldiers of the 2nd battalion of the regiment.
According to the wartime version, 28 Red Army soldiers under the leadership of political instructor V. Klochkov were organized into a special group of tank destroyers. For 4 hours they conducted unequal battle with the enemy. Armed anti-tank rifles and Molotov cocktails, Panfilov’s men destroyed 18 German tanks and they themselves died. The total losses of the 1075th regiment were more than 1,000 people. In total, the regiment destroyed 22 enemy tanks and up to 1200 German soldiers.
The enemy managed to win the battle of Volokolamsk, but the battle took much longer than the German commanders allotted for it. Soviet military leaders were able to use this time to regroup troops and create a new barrier on the way to Moscow. Subsequently, the Germans were unable to continue the offensive, and in December 1941. Soviet troops launched a counterattack that finally drove the enemy away from the capital.
After the battle, the unit commander compiled a list of the soldiers who took part in the battle. Subsequently, they were nominated for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. But the regiment commander made several inaccuracies. Because of his mistake, the names of soldiers who were previously killed or wounded and who could not participate in the battle were included in the list. Perhaps several names have been forgotten.
After the end of the war, an investigation was carried out, during which it turned out that 5 fighters out of 28 Panfilov’s men did not actually die, and one of them was captured and collaborated with the Nazis, for which he was convicted. But for a long time the official version of the event was the only one widely spread in the USSR. Modern historians believe that the number of soldiers holding the defense was not 28 and that in fact completely different Red Army soldiers could have taken part in the battle.
Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya was born in 1923 in the village of Osinovye Gai. Tambov region. Her family later moved to Moscow. Zoya was an emotional and enthusiastic girl; even in her youth she dreamed of a feat.
After the start of the war, Zoya, like many Komsomol members, voluntarily joined the partisan detachment. After a short training, a group of saboteurs was thrown behind enemy lines. There Zoya completed her first task - she was entrusted with mining roads near Volokolamsk, a regional center occupied by the Germans.
Then the partisans received new order- set fire to villages and individual houses where the occupiers stopped. The lack of opportunity to spend the night under a roof in winter conditions should, in the opinion of the command, weaken the Germans.
On the night of November 27, a group consisting of Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya and two other fighters carried out a mission in the village of Petrishchevo. At the same time, one of the group members, Vasily Klubkov, was careless and fell into the hands of the Germans. Zoya was then captured. She was noticed and handed over to the Germans by Sviridov, the owner of the house that Zoya tried to set on fire. The peasant who betrayed the partisan later collaborated with the Germans and, after their retreat, was tried and sentenced to death.
The Germans brutally tortured Zoya, trying to get information from her about her connections with the partisans. She categorically refused to give any names, and called herself Tanya in honor of Tatyana Solomakha, a Komsomol member who died during the fight against the White Guards in the Kuban. According to the testimony of local residents, Zoya was beaten and kept half-naked in the cold. Two peasant women, whose houses were damaged by fire, took part in the abuse of her.
The next day Zoya was hanged. Before her execution, she behaved very courageously and called on the local population to fight the invaders, and the German soldiers to surrender. The Nazis mocked the girl’s body for a long time. Another month passed before they allowed local residents bury Zoya. After the liberation of the Moscow region, the ashes of the partisan were transferred to the Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow.
Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya became the first woman to receive the honorary title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Her feat was included in Soviet history textbooks. More than one generation of Soviet citizens was brought up by her example.
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