Sibiryakova Antonina Vasilievna
Sibiryakova Antonina Vasilyevna (at birth Krasnova). Tosya wrote about her front youth to her friend Zina Shilova. They grew up together in Vologda, studied in one class at the Vologda Railway School, and then at the Leningrad Agricultural Institute, which was then located in Znamenka near Peterhof. When the war started, Antonina couldn't help but sit at home and burst into the thick of things. For her temperament and strength of mind, the guys nicknamed her "Tosya Circus". She 'stormed' the military commissariat until she reached her appointment in the active army - 74th anti-aircraft artillery division of the Volkhov front. From a letter from Antonina Sibiryakova to her friend Zina of 13.10.1942 from Vologda: "... Peaceful situation. But here is the signal - and everyone runs, takes their firing positions, and then each nerve is strained like a string. Just give it a try! I am very sorry that you are far away, and now in front of me - Cottage, autumn, park, Capella. And in my thoughts the words of my favorite song: "Ring, my song, ring, without silence, about happiness and joy sing.” From a letter of Antonina Sibiryakova to her friend Zina Shilova from 13.03.1943: "Dear Zinka, goodbye! ...Today I am already in a marching position, everything is gathered, packed, loaded with ammunition, and I have got bloody sweat...". With her 74th anti-aircraft artillery division, Antonina Sibiryakova participated in breaking through the siege of Leningrad and liberating the city. Although Antonina Sibiryakova's peaceful life did not turn out as she dreamed, it was still worthy. She participated in the restoration of Peterhof, worked in the first postwar city administration. Many years later, she was awarded the Order of Patriotic War of the 2nd degree for № 5931536. She died on March 27, 1991 and was buried in the old part of Babigonsky cemetery of Old Peterhof. From the memories of daughter Stepanenko Olga Alexandrovna.
