Voitov Mikhail Kononovich_x000D_ Rank: Sergeant Branch of the army: Artillery Division: 311th Dvina red banner rifle division of the order of Suvorov. Mikhail Kononovich Voitov was born in 1907 in the village of Fursin, Kursk province (now Belgorod region, Novooskolsky district) in a large peasant family. He was called up to the front on 02.07.1941. After a short course, the fighter was sent, as part of the same recruits as he was, near Smolensk (Yartsevo), to contain the fascist troops that broke through. He was wounded in the leg in the battle. He was taken to a hospital near Moscow, then to Novosibirsk. He was treated for a little more than 6 months. After recovery, as part of a marching company, he was sent to the Volkhov front. There, he was assigned to the 855th artillery regiment, which joined the 311th rifle division. With this regiment and division passed the entire war. Its main battle route: liberated Novgorod, Libau (Latvia), Stettin (Poland), Warsaw (Poland), Germany (Altkonstrinchen, Eberswalde, hammer, Liebenwalde, Falkental, Hermendorf, Alt-Ruppin, Krenzlin, Neustadt, Studenitz, Glezen, Kvitzebel). In the town of Kvitzebel on the Elbe river, (may 3, 1945) there was a meeting of the advanced units of the 311th division with the Americans. Michael Kononovich was a direct participant in this historic event. This ended the fighting of the division. He received his first medal "for bravery" on the Volkhov front for the fact that".... in the battle in the Korbusel area from July 22 to July 30, 1943, under heavy artillery and mortar fire of the enemy, he corrected 30-40 communication gusts per day, which ensured uninterrupted communication of the observation post with firing positions. In this battle, he was shell-shocked, but refused to leave the battlefield, although he had permission to do so... " this is indicated in the award document. Then there was a second medal "for bravery" for fighting in the area of Uskibye-Lonna also on the Volkhov front. My father received the order of Glory, 3rd class, for providing communication across the Oder river. He died at the age of 87.