Rank: Lieutenant_x000D_ Branch of Service: Armored and Mechanized Troops_x000D_ Duty station: 164th Vitebsk Red Banner Rifle Division_x000D_ Memories of grandfather Ivan Tokarev about the war in 1941-1945_x000D_ In 1939, I was drafted into the army and sent to Western Ukraine (in a place near the city of Lvov) in the 377th Separate Tank Battalion, in the regimental tank school. In 1940, he graduated from the regimental school and received the title of driver and tank commander. In 1940, G. Zhukov visited the unit. He made a strong impression on us with his self-control, smartness, tact, and care for soldiers. We were 30 meters away from him. He showed the recruits how to climb the rope, climbed up and went down using only his hands._x000D_ In 1941, on the night of June 21 to June 22, after the alarm we went to the Yanovskiy Forest, located 20 km from the border (the city of Przemysl). At 14 hours on June 22, we engaged the Germans. The Germans marched in a chain and mowed down everything in front of them with machine guns. Our tank division began to "iron" them and the Germans retreated. We occupied the town of Przemysl again. So six times, we retreated and six times occupied the town. Then the order came to withdraw._x000D_ During the day, we were on defense, covered the withdrawal of infantry, and at night retreated themselves. We fought near Lvov, Kiev, Zhytomyr and other places. Near Zhytomyr, I burned in a tank and got out through a manhole, my comrades helped me. My hands were burned. I had medical treatment right there in the unit._x000D_ In the summer of 1942, I was sent to a tank school, and graduated from it in 1943 with the rank of platoon commander, and sent to Orsha, where there were fierce battles. In some of the battles, our tanks and planes were suppressed. Then they gathered all of us (pilots, tankers and others) and gave us the order to go on the attack (hand-to-hand combat). In this attack, I was wounded in the right hand, but did not leave the battlefield. In this battle, the Germans retreated and we took our positions. After the battle, I was hospitalized for 1.5 months. The shard is still in my hand._x000D_ I was awarded the Order of the Red Star_x000D_ In March 1944, near Vitebsk, we went on an attack (hand-to-hand combat), it was necessary to level the position and cut the railway connecting Orsha with Vitebsk, along which the Germans supplied their troops. The fighting was terrible. There was a continuous hum. Soldiers who had their arms and legs torn off begged to be shot. But others encouraged them and were saying that they would avenge them, and if they returned, they would give them their blood, hand, and foot._x000D_ The soldiers were attacking in waves in six echelons. I was wounded in this attack. The bullet hit the groin and exited from behind in the thigh of the right leg. We came to the river, fixed on the right Bank, the German trenches were 20-30 meters away. After the battle, I was sent to the hospital._x000D_ Participated in tank battles on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Baltic Fronts. I took part in the liberation of the Baltic States, and ended the war in Konigsberg (Kaliningrad)._x000D_ The Order of the Patriotic War 2nd degree, which was awarded during the war, I received only in 1993. In 1985, I was awarded the second Order of the Patriotic War 1st degree. I met Victory Day near Konigsberg. It was very joyful, we gave a salute from all types of weapons.