Vodolaga Alexander Gavrilovich
Vodolozhko Aleksandr Gavrilovich_x000D_
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Title: Lieutenant Colonel Branch of the armed forces: Armored and mechanized troops Division: 5th tank division on the day of the victory in the great Patriotic war of 1941-1945 in Russia and other States of the former Soviet Union, an unprecedented campaign "Immortal regiment" is being held. It became a popular part of the Victory Parade and United more than twelve million people in its ranks. The immortal regiment stirred up a wave of memory about the heroes of the great Patriotic war: veterans of the army and Navy, home front workers and partisans, prisoners of Nazi camps, blockade-runners, resistance fighters... About all those who made their personal contribution to the common cause of the Victory over fascism. Personal memory is the most important meaning of the "Immortal regiment".My great-grandfather Alexander Vodolozhko was born on July 10, 1923. in the Voroshilovgrad region (Luhansk region) of the Ukrainian SSR. When the war began in 1941, he was not taken to the front, because he was too young, and so he attributed to himself in the passport for another 2 years. First, he graduated from courses for officers and then studied at the tanker. During combat operations, he proved to be a competent specialist and expert in military Affairs, in connection with which the command sent him to the defence plant to receive new tanks "Joseph Stalin -2" for pieces. When my great-grandfather became the commander of one of them, he spent the entire war on it. Later, Alexander Gavrilovich was trained at the Zhukov Military Academy. After that, he became the commander of a self-propelled battery. My great-grandfather fought in the 5th Panzer division of the II Belorussian front. He took part in the defence of Stalingrad, in the East Prussian strategic offensive and in the assault on Konigsberg, crossing the Neman and Oder rivers. During the Pskov-Ostrovskaya offensive operations from July 17 to August 5, 1944, with the rank of guard senior Lieutenant, Alexander Gavrilovich commanded the SU-152 self-propelled battery of the 326 guards heavy self-propelled artillery regiment. During this time, the battery destroyed 17 enemy anti-tank guns, 25 machine-gun nests, 6 heavy guns, 12 ammunition wagons, 4 vehicles, and 2 self-propelled artillery pieces. Destroyed by fire and tracks to a company of Nazi soldiers and officers. On August 5, my great-grandfather was seriously injured and evacuated to the hospital. For these military achievements, Alexander Gavrilovich Vodolozhko was awarded the government award-the order of the Patriotic war of the 1st degree. In the same 1944 year, during the fighting in the area of Skachki, the tracks of a self-propelled installation were hit by enemy artillery fire. It was not possible to return fire from the installation gun. Seeing that the enemy launched a counterattack, Alexander Gavrilovich quickly organized the defence of his combat vehicle by the personnel of the crew, machine gunners, and, confidently interacting with infantry units, during the night repulsed three fierce attacks of the fascists, destroying about a company of enemy soldiers and officers. Thanks to organizational skills, concentration, discipline, the ability to react quickly and find the right solution in difficult combat situations, my great-grandfather were able to keep the combat vehicle intact, without allowing irretrievable losses. In our family, as a family heirloom, my great-grandfather's dark blue tunic, whose chest is dotted with military awards, is carefully preserved. Including: - two Order of I degree of the great Patriotic war, two orders of II degree great Patriotic War Order red Star, combat medal "For the capture of Koenigsberg", "For defence of Leningrad", "For Victory over Germany" and two medals "For military merit", besides, for the shown courage in battles on the territory of Poland, he was awarded the medal of the Polish command. And how many jubilee medals Alexander Gavrilovich was awarded after the war! My great-grandfather graduated from the Great Patriotic War with the rank of major in the tank forces. However, even after that, he did not leave the military service. His whole life was devoted to military Affairs, the defence of our Fatherland. Alexander Gavrilovich Vodolozhko completed his career as Deputy Head of Civil defence of the Severodonetsk production Association "AZOT".It's a pity that there are fewer and fewer people like my great-grandfather over time. In addition, for what they did for us, the current "free" generation, the war heroes should be thanked not only on holidays but on every day. I am proud of my great-grandfather, his steadfastness, courage and immense love and devotion to his Homeland.