Order of the Red Star

Vorobyov Yegor Stepanovich_x000D_ Rank: Sergeant _x000D_ Branch of service: Army, Air Force, the Coast Guard, thе Soviet NKVD, the Border Guard._x000D_ _x000D_ Yegor Stepanovich Vorobyov (Georgy Stefanovich), was born on 04.04.1912 in the village of Levaya Rossosh, Korotoyaksky region, Voronezh._x000D_ He served as a Sergeant, squad leader in the 25 separate company (battalion) of the 80th rifle division of the 54th army. Sergeant Vorobyov has been serving in the company as the commander of the telephone Department since April 1942. He took part in the battles of Smerdynya, Gaitolovo, Sinyavino, as well as in the Dobroye district and outside the city of Lyuban. He especially distinguished himself in the battles on the bridgehead on April 6, 1944. The command post of the division was subjected to repeated art. raids, as a result of which all communication at the node was destroyed. Sergeant Vorobyov, despite the shelling, went out to fix the communication line and worked all day without leaving the line, despite the fact that during this work his fellow corporal bent was wounded and red army soldier Radunev was killed. Thanks to the selfless work of Sergeant Vorobyov, communication at the node worked smoothly. _x000D_ Vorobyov also worked as a line supervisor at 1st Ukranian division. Working in combat operations, he proved to be a brave and courageous commander who knows his business. In the area of village Rosen, served a 15-km line of communication to the 13th rifle division. In the area of Turpitz (Czech Republic), he was ordered to provide uninterrupted communication to the section that ran from the observation post of the division commander to the observation post of the commander of the 218th regiment. The communication line that ran along the mountain slopes was shelled by machine-gun fire. Sergeant Vorobyov, despite the enemy's fire, quickly repaired the damage. _x000D_ In 1985, he was awarded the order of the Patriotic war II degree (no. of award document: 74; date of award document: 06.04.1985).

Velikotsky Porfiry Fedorovich_x000D_ Rank: senior Lieutenant. _x000D_ Branch of service: Army, Air Force, the Coast Guard, thе Soviet NKVD, the Border Guard._x000D_ _x000D_ My father, Porfiry Fedorovich Velikotsky, was born on February 24, 1912 in the village of Velikotsk in the Lugansk region of Ukraine. There were six children in the family, my parents died very early. The whole family was raised by my grandmother, and the family of my older brother Ivan too. After the age of 16, my father went to work in the geological exploration party at the Kursk magnetic anomaly, from where he was brought to the Soviet army in 1934. He served as a border guardian in the Sestroretsk border guard unit. Later, he decided to stay long-term service. In 1939, he married my mother. June 22, 1941, my father took over the daily duty of the unit. My mother was pregnant. _x000D_ When Molotov made an official statement about the attack of the Soviet Union by fascist troops, the families of border guardians were evacuated first to Leningrad, and then – further to Volga river, to Stalingrad. _x000D_ My father fought all the way from the Soviet-Finnish border to Berlin. He was wounded twice. The first time after being wounded in Leningrad, he was so exhausted that he was taken to the morgue by a mistake... Quite accidentally a nurse found him, realized he was alive and carried him back to the ward. This was the period of the Siege of Leningrad. In 1944, during the defense of the Karelian isthmus, he was awarded the Order of the Red Star and the Order of the Great Patriotic War of the 2nd degree for his documented exploits. _x000D_ From February 1942 to December 1944, he fought on the Leningrad front, first in the ranks of the 176th rifle regiment, and then in the 340th rifle regiment as part of the 46th Luzhskaya red banner order of Suvorov 2nd class division._x000D_ From December 1944 to may 1945, he was on the 2nd Belorussian front. Dad ended the war in Germany, with the rank of first Lieutenant. Together with the group of Soviet troops he stayed in Schwerin, where in 1945 he brought his wife, who in October, 1941 gave birth to a son later died in Stalingrad from exhaustion. _x000D_ In 1946, my parents returned to Sestroretsk. At first, in order to get housing, dad worked as the head of the housing Office, and since 1951, the district party Committee of Sestroretsk sent him to serve the police. At first, he worked as a criminal investigator in the Sestroretsky police Department. Health problems affected him hard caused by the difficulties suffered during the war. He was appointed a district police Commissioner. And until November 1970, my father was a district inspector in the village. _x000D_ He retired as a police captain in November 1970, and in April 1971 we got an apartment in Leningrad. Since 1973, my father became seriously ill and in 1984, September 1st, he died of a heart attack.

Volkodav Ivan Nikolaevich_x000D_ Rank: Petty Officer_x000D_ Branch of service: Army, Air Force, the Coast Guard, thе Soviet NKVD, the Border Guard._x000D_ _x000D_ ‘I know that our country experienced the most terrible war of the 20th century. My grandfather Volkodav Ivan Nikolaevich, born in 1910 in Kuban region, came through the entire WWII, starting as a soldier and ending the Sergeant. Being heavily wounded and injured during the War, he died in 1985. _x000D_ Only miraculously survived photo proves his military youth along with some awards such the Medal of Honor, the Victory Medal and the Order of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree. _x000D_ My grandfather was a real hard worker. He never thought of writing a memoir, but when someone started talking about the War he always sighed heavily, and never ever wanted to talk about it. It seems to me the WWII lasted so long, and the Victory came at a very high price. _x000D_ Later he served for two more years, and after an honorable discharge he worked as a mechanic. _x000D_ There is an interesting fact that my grandfather had 4 sisters and 5 brothers. All of the brothers fought till the end of the War and survived. _x000D_ In my family’s photo album, grandfather's photo occupies a Special place. _x000D_ When I grow up and become a mother myself, I promise to show this photo to my children for them to know and remember about the War and the People who gave us the chance to live._x000D_ _x000D_ Marina Gerasimova, g. Bataysk.

Raisa Nikolaevna Vetkalova_x000D_ _x000D_ Type of troops: military medical personnel. Raisa Nikolaevna Vetkalova was born on October 20, 1922. She studied at Elista secondary school number 2, and successfully finished 10 classes. _x000D_ _x000D_ Valentina Efremovna Kabakova, a former school friend of Raya, recalls: “In my memory Raya remained the same as it was during the years of our joint study. True, she studied a class older than me, there was no special friendship between us. But there was mutual sympathy. We often met before class, sometimes returned home from school together. And talked a lot, a lot, shared their impressions. Raya spoke more, and I listened. She was very sociable, cheerful, lively. And she was noticeably different from her classmates before. And now before my eyes her braid! Do you know what kind of braid she had? Long, thick ... Now you rarely see such! I remember that she will split her braid, loose it at the ends and casually throw it behind her back. And she walks, smiles. We, the younger ones, considered her very beautiful, even a little jealous of her. No, we were just in love with her ... ", – says Valentina Efremovna thoughtfully. _x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ Raya studied well. Easy somehow. She was a very capable girl, greedy for everything in life. But she especially loved music, worked hard on it, played well the guitar and mandolin. Later she led the school music group. Her wards have repeatedly been honored to perform with a concert on Elista radio. Already, being the Senior pioneer leader of her school, Raya was carried away by foreign languages and, above all, German. She dreamed of becoming a teacher, but her knowledge of the language was useful to her for another ... _x000D_ _x000D_ The war began. Among the first fourteen female volunteers, Vetkalova went to the frontline. However, in Rostov, where the young elist women arrived, the doctors, during the next medical examination, seeing this short, fragile girl, thought that she would not stand the hardships of frontline life, and suggested that she return home. Raya, in despair, did not know what to do. Comrades helped out. In a short time, the girls became so friends that they did not think of parting for Raya, they stood up, as they say, a mountain and so ardently, persistently asked for their friend that the commanders retreated, agreed with their arguments. Raya was assigned to the unit. A few months later, this document appeared in her personal file: “From the presentation for the award of Vetkalova Raisa Nikolaevna. _x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ March 2, 1942. The fearless daughter of the Soviet people, the loyal defender of the socialist Motherland, working as a female guard, was in battles all the time. In the battles from the city of Barvenkovo to the settlement of Mirnaya Dolina in the Aleksandrovsky District of the Stalin Region, I bandaged 156 wounded soldiers and commanders. Itself personally withdrew 43 wounded soldiers, including 32 people with rifles and 11 commanders. In the battles for the settlement of Sofiyivka, Bliznetsovsky district, Kharkov region, she was among the first to enter the settlement, repeatedly crawled to the wounded, at the same time dragging a box of cartridges with her to replenish the front line with ammunition. For the courage, valor and fearlessness shown in this battle, R.N. Vetkalova worthy of a government award. The command of the regiment petitions the command of the division for the submission of the female officer Vetkalova Raisa Nikolaevna to The Red Star Order. Commander of the 1157th Infantry Regiment Major Kaltygin, Commissar of the 1157th Infantry Regiment, Senior political instructor Samoilenko. Soon the first military order shone on the chest of a brave girl. Rai's mother received several letters of thanks from the command. This is what the unit commander wrote: “Dear Anna Andreevna! Don't worry about your daughter. She is a brave person, she does everything so decisively and quickly that no enemy bullet will catch up with her. Our soldiers called Raya the fearless." _x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ Vetkalova was not only a volunteer sanitary worker, she went on reconnaissance more than once. That's where her knowledge of German came in handy. Disguised as a village boy or a refugee girl, she penetrated the location of enemy troops and, returning, reported valuable information to the command. And in one of these raids, Raya captured a Hitlerite officer. For courage and courage, she is awarded with the second award, the Order of the Red Banner. In 1944, in the battles for the liberation of Poland, Raya was wounded and sent to the hospital. Then a forty-day vacation home. This path was difficult, joyless along the land ravaged by the Nazis, but liberated. Raya traveled for twelve days to the beloved Kalmyk steppes. Anna Andreevna, swallowing bitter tears, told me: "Our Raichka has arrived from the frontline. We looked at her with pride. She matured, it seemed, she became different, unfamiliar. And the military uniform sat on her so well! As I remember now: a brand new tunic, skirt, boots. And on the chest of the order. That was only limping. The leg did not heal after the injury. It didn’t heal for a long time. I saw that my daughter was suffering, but I didn’t hear a single complaint from her. Then I found that the shard had not been removed. that after that it would be very bad with the leg ... So the leg with the splinter slowly healed. And Raya trained it. Every day – exercises, walking, running ... _x000D_ _x000D_ I adapted the old brothers bicycle, drove it with might and main. I stayed at home for half a month and – again to the frontline. I never saw Raichka again. "The girl returned to the front line and again began to take part in the battles. She fought the enemy fiercely, sparing no effort. Soon she presented herself for the third government award. But she did not have time to receive it. _x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ Raisa Nikolaevna Vetkalova died on October 16, 1944, before she was four days old until she was twenty-two. In a letter to Anna Andreevna Vetkalova, the soldiers of the 1157th Infantry Regiment told about the death of the young heroine. There was a fierce battle. Crawling from wounded to wounded, she provided first aid, bandaging wounds. The enemy bullet overtook the fearless spring. Her comrades took her out of the battlefield, took her to the medical battalion. But because of the great loss of blood, Raya died. They buried her in a place near the city of Krakow. At school No. 2 in Elista, where Raya Vetkalova studied and worked, a stand dedicated to the brave volunteer sanitary worker.

Viktor Ivanovich Volkov_x000D_ _x000D_ Rank: Red army soldier Knight of the order of Glory Awards: Order of the red banner; order of the Patriotic war I degree; order of the Patriotic war II degree; Order of the red Star; Medal "for bravery"; Medal " for military merit» On the day of the beginning of the war, June 22, 1941, he served in the army in the Belarusian city of Mogilev. Young soldiers, all as one, began to fight for the defense of the Fatherland, but the armories were blown up, German planes plowed the ground with shells, the superior forces of the enemy took the unit in a ring, and the soldiers were surrounded. An endless chain, great-grandfather recalled, stretched the ranks of prisoners of war - blinded, wounded, exhausted soldiers. The tormenting Germans humiliated and shot them in the legs. My great-grandfather had a plan: I'd rather die than let a fascist mock the honor of a Soviet soldier. Several children understood the sign and as soon as the column began to pass near the river, the children jumped into the water. The shooting started. The Germans fired mercilessly at the water. How much was urine kept great-grandfather under water. He leaned out and saw corpses floating on the water. The enraged Germans began firing indiscriminately. Crowds of people rushed to dive into the water. In the General confusion, he managed to escape. He didn't notice his injury. He couldn't remember how long or where he'd crawled. I woke up on the territory of Lithuania. Local old men came out to the boy. As soon as I got back on my feet, I moved into the forest to join the partisans. Fearless and bold, he soon led a partisan detachment. Conducted intelligence operations. During one of the operations to capture the "language" was wounded by a German sniper in the arm. The shattered bone didn't stop the partisan. He was nursed by the orphan Solovey Verochka, who later became his wife, who had joined the partisans. In the national Museum of Kazakhstan (where my grandfather lived the last years of his life), there is a German leaflet that says that the Germans will give a helmet of gold to the person who gave them the elusive partisan wolf. In 1944, Lieutenant, platoon commander of the 274th separate motorized rifle battalion of special purpose Viktor Ivanovich Volkov is fighting in the first Belorussian front. Then, in his combat biography will be a meeting on the Elbe, fraternizing with the allies and an unforgettable assault on Berlin. The most vivid memory of my great-grandfather is an incomparable sense of victory. He remembered the ecstasy with which they wrote on the walls of the Reichstag: "I'm alive! We won!» After returning from the war, like thousands of other Belarusians, I came to my native village,where the Germans left only burnt embers at home. I cried, remembered my family and started building my life anew. He married the partisan Vera, his combat friend, and went to Kazakhstan to raise virgin land. When the grandfather's family moved to the Caucasus, the great-grandfather decided to stay there, next to the grave of his eldest son who died early. This wonderful man lived a long and wonderful life, and in 2007 he died. He had benefits and honors while living in Kazakhstan, far from his son. I never used any of them, repeating that I fought in the service of my human destiny.

Vitushkin Nikolai Pamfolonovich_x000D_ _x000D_ Rank: Lieutenant military Branch: Engineering troops Division: 13th artillery Kyiv red banner order of Kutuzov breakthrough division. After finishing the 10th grade in 1938-1939, she worked as a teacher in an elementary school. In 1939, he was drafted into the army and sent to the Moscow military engineering school. Participant of the great Patriotic war. Participation in the second world war since 1941: The Stalingrad, don, South-West front, Voronezh and 1 Ukrainian 2 Ukrainian 1 Ukrainian front. As part of the active army, he liberated Poland, Romania, Germany, and Czechoslovakia. Awarded the order of the red Star order No. 0115/n of 10.09.1944 Sun 3 GW. A 1 of the Ukrainian front for the courage and bravery shown in organizing the equipment of the brigade's combat formations in engineering terms during the preparation of the operation to break through the enemy's defences in the area of Zvenyache-Gorokhov, despite the enemy's aerial reconnaissance and shelling of the areas of combat formations by the enemy. As a result, parts of the brigade during the operation did not have losses in the material part of artillery and vehicles. Being at the observation post of the brigade commander, he conducted reconnaissance of the front edge and found one BUNKER, two machine-gun points, which were destroyed on 13.07.1944 and destroyed by the fire of the 556 gap battery. After the end of the war, he continued to serve in the army as an officer. He graduated from The Kuibyshev Military Engineering Academy in 1956. He worked at ALTI (Arkhangelsk Technical Institute) from 1957 to 1961 and from 1964 to 1970 as a teacher, senior lecturer at the military Department. For military services and military service, he was awarded two orders of the "red Star", medals" for military merit"," for the defence of Stalingrad"," for the victory over Germany in the great Patriotic war of 1941-1945"," for service in the Soviet Army " of the 1st degree, as well as commemorative medals. From 1972-1989, he lived in the city of Obninsk, Kaluga region, where children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren now live and remember the hero.

Vorobyov Fyodor Danilovich _x000D_ _x000D_ Rank: Colonel. Branch of service: army, air force (except marine aviation), the coast guard, the troops of the NKVD border troops. Military historian. One of the founders of the scientific history of the Great Patriotic War. 1921-1939 – 22nd infantry school in Voronezh. Cadet, 11th infantry school, Nizhny Novgorod. Cadet, 133rd infantry regiment. Com. Platoon, Odessa infantry school, 137th rifle regiment. Com. platoon, chief of staff of the regiment, battalion commander. 13th rifle corps, shtakor District, 1939-military Academy named after M. F. Frunze. One thousand nine hundred thirty-nine - General staff of the red Army Military History Department. During the war, he was an officer in the Military History Department of the General staff of the Red Army. List of scientific papers, articles, drawing up maps, participation in collective monographs, writing individual chapters in collections by Fyodor Vorobyov from 1940 to 1970: year of publication 1940. 1. " the Great Russian commander (A.V. Suvorov) - newspaper "Trud". 2. Suvorov science to win-political Management of the red Army press Bureau article for the district and army Newspapers. 3. The battle of Trebbia is the same. 4. Assault on Kars – the same. 5. Strictly follow the rules of the guard service-the same. Year of publication 1941. 1. Enemy infantry in the main types of battle - the magazine "Bolshevik" No. 22. Year of publication 1942. 1. Organization of defence - magazine "Military thought" No. 102. Heroic Sevastopol – the Journal of an Agitator and advocate No. 21. The year 1943. 1. Defense of Sevastopol – Military Publishing. 2. Kotelnikovskaya operation in 1942-Collection of materials on the study of the experience of war No. 6. Military publishing. 3. The defeat of German forces at Stalingrad – the same. 4. Some questions from the experience of the battle of Stalingrad-the same number 7. Year of publication 1944. 1. Fundamentals of the organization of the defence of the Kursk bridgehead-Collection of materials on the study of the experience of war No. 11. Military publishing. 2. The battle of Stalingrad – military publishing. 3. The great Battle – the newspaper "the Moscow Bolshevik" from 2.02.1944 of the Newspaper "Trud" from 5.08.1944 G. "Uchitelskaya Gazeta" from 2.02.1944 4. Year of decisive victories-newspaper "Moskovsky Bolshevik" from 28.11.1944 Year of publication 1945. 1. Ten crushing blows-Voenizdat. 2. The battle of Kursk – military publishing. 3. Liberation of Right-Bank Ukraine-Gospolitizdat. 4. The battle of Stalingrad (Textbook) - Military Academy named after M. V. Frunze. 5. Liberation of the Baltic States-Zvezda Magazine # 8. 6. The Great victory at Stalingrad-Red fleet Newspaper from 2.02.1945 Year of publication 1946. 1. Battle of Kursk. Book 1. – Military publishing. 2. Liberation of right-Bank Ukraine-Military Bulletin No. 3. 3. Bereznegovatoe-Snigirevka-the same.

Vodolozhko Aleksandr Gavrilovich_x000D_ _x000D_ 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.

Vorobyov Ivan Porfiryevich_x000D_ _x000D_ Title: Senior Sergeant military Branch: Artillery Ivan porfiryevich Vorobyov was born in a peasant family in d. Maksimava Shuya district of the Vladimir province (now the village does not exist). In 1931, he graduated from 6 classes. In 1932, he joined the collective farm "Borets". Called up for service in the army on November 17, 1937. While on duty, he participated in the physical culture parade on red square in 1940. I remembered how during the preparation for the parade, participants were heavily fed carrots, forced to sunbathe so that their skin had a healthy tanned appearance. In may 1941, he was discharged from the service. And in June 1941, he was mobilized due to the beginning of the war. He served in the great Patriotic war as an assistant platoon commander in the 524th heavy gun artillery regiment (until January 1942), then as a platoon commander ( until 1946) in the 37th guards gun artillery regiment. At the end of the great Patriotic war, he was transferred to continue his service in the far East, but did not participate in combat operations. Retired on may 13, 1946. In the military ticket, the post-war entry "Rank-guard senior Sergeant". He ended the war in Vienna. He remembered how impressed he was by the city's architecture; how Russian soldiers, trapped in wine cellars with large barrels, shot at the barrels with a machine gun and caught the trickles of splashing wine with their mouths. Awarded the order of the red Star, medals "for bravery" (1944), "for the defense of Moscow" (1946), "for the capture of Vienna" (1946), "for the victory over Germany" (1946), jubilee medals.

Vasiliev Sergey Nikolaevich_x000D_ _x000D_ Rank: Senior Sergeant. Type of troops: armoured and mechanized troops. Unit: 11th Panzer division. The war found Vasiliev Sergey Nikolaevich in the tool shop of the Podolsk mechanical plant, where he worked as a thread grinder. But not immediately after mobilization, he got to the front. In November 1941, he was assigned to a training unit. After completing it, he became a tank driver and received the rank of Sergeant. The young tankman received his first baptism of fire in June 1942 near Voronezh. Then the German-fascist hordes were rushing to Stalingrad. In many tank battles participated with his combat 34, a mechanic driver Sergey Vasiliev. But perhaps the most stressful days of his combat life were during the battle of Kursk. Everyone was extremely happy that they had stood on the Volga, held off the enemy's onslaught in the steppe expanses of the Oryol region, and then drove them west. In the battle for the city of Orel, the fearless tankman was seriously wounded. The doctors said that he would no longer have to drive a combat vehicle. However, Senior Sergeant Sergey Vasiliev did not leave his combat vehicles; he remained in the ranks and became a technician. He was doctoring wrecked cars right on the front line. What was needed here, were his experienced working hands, soldier's wit and courage. In 1944, the unit in which S. N. Vasiliev served crossed the river Vistula. Here the veteran soldier received his first award - the medal "For military merit". Then the battles for the liberation of Poland, entry into enemy territory. During this time, the technician of field repair shops, Senior Sergeant Sergey Vasiliev, together with his front-line comrades, restored hundreds of combat vehicles. In January 1945, the Military Council of the First Belorussian front awarded him the order of the Red Star on behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR for the rapid commissioning and high-quality repair of tanks on the front line. A soldier from Podolsk also had the opportunity to participate in the battle for Berlin. Here he received another wound but again remained in the ranks. An experienced soldier-repairman worked in those days literally without getting a wink of sleep, ensuring that as many of our tanks as possible remained fully operational. His hard military work was highly appreciated by the command and at the walls of the defeated Berlin; he received his third military award - the Order of Glory3rd rank. In November 1945, the soldier-worker finally took off the soldier's greatcoat from his shoulders. However, the rest was short-lived. A month later, he came to his native factory, to his tool shop, where in 1966, for his success in fulfilling the tasks of the seven-year plan; Sergey Nikolaevich Vasiliev was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour.

Vidyakin Vitaly Pavlovich_x000D_ _x000D_ When the war began, Vitaly Pavlovich was 17 years old. After turning 18, he was called up by the Shenkursky regional military commissariat, Arkhangelsk region, and assigned to the school of Junior Lieutenants. After training from 15.09.1942, he fought in the 1312 regiment of the 17th rifle division of the 3A of the Belarusian Front. On November 24, 1943, showing exceptional courage and bravery, he raised a company to repel a German counterattack. The counterattack was repulsed with heavy losses for the enemy, for which the fighter was awarded the Order of the Red Star. Participated in the battles for the liberation of Belarus from the German invaders. He liberated Minsk, Grodno and other localities. Then he went through Poland and Germany victoriously. For the liberation of the city of Ortelsburg in East Prussia, 09.02.1945 he was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War 1st rank. After the battle, when the young Komsomol leader mobilized the personnel by personal example to fulfil the combat order to attack, 65 applications were written by young soldiers to join the Komsomol. In March 1943, he was shell-shocked, but quickly joined the ranks and continued as a Komsomol member to raise the morale of the soldiers and serve as an example of courage and bravery in the 190th rifle regiment of the fifth rifle Oryol order of Suvorov and Kutuzov division. Senior Lieutenant V. P. Vidyakin was awarded the medal "For military merit" 28.04.1945 and the Order of the Patriotic War II second grade 12.05.1945. During the liberation of the cities of Zandisch-Blitz and Ferchland in Germany, he showed courage and fearlessness by first breaking into the locality, dragging his comrades with him. Participated in the battles for Berlin, has a medal "For the conquest of Berlin". In the post-war period, he continued his military career. He graduated from the Homefront Academy in Leningrad. He served in Austria and Germany as part of the group of Soviet troops in Bernau, then in Transcarpathia and Belarus. He finished his service in the army holding the rank of Colonel, as Deputy Commander of the rear in the village Borovka, Vitebsk region. In 1978, he moved to Minsk with his family, and for another 25 years worked as the head of the Department at the BNTU (Belorussian National Technical University). He retired at the age of 81.

Volodin Alexander Fedorovich_x000D_ _x000D_ Volodin Alexander Fedorovich was born on November 15, 1914, in the village of Mogilevo, Makaryevsky district, Kostroma region. After graduating from a rural school in 1932, he entered the Makaryevsky Federal state institution "Lesprohozuch", from which he graduated in 1933. After studying, he worked as a motorist on the cable road of the Pervomaisky forest station. In the red Army since 1936. Called by the Makaryevsky regional military commissariat of the Makaryevsky district of the Ivanovo region. In 1937, he entered the Leningrad military and political school. After graduating from the military-political school in 1939, he participated in the Soviet - Finnish war of 1939-1940 as a political instructor of the troop. Further service in the red Army took place in the Zhytomyr region in Dobryanka and Korostyn, where the war caught him. After a treacherous attack by German troops, he was fighting on the Southwestern front from June 21 to September 20, 1942. After recovering in a military hospital from a severe concussion, he went to the Northwestern front, where he participated in the battles from February 5 to March 31, 1943. He participated in the fighting on July 7, 1943, on the Central front as a Deputy Battalion commander for political affairs. After the bloody fighting at the Ponyri station, captain of the guards Volodin was appointed a party organizer of the 15th airborne rifle regiment. By order of the 60th Army, he was awarded the Order of the Patriotic war second grade for participation in the battles to expand and strengthen the bridgehead on the right Bank of the Dnieper river, party and political work carried out in the units of the regiment to mobilize personnel to perform the combat task assigned to the regiment, showed courage, heroism and bravery in the battles of the settlement of Gubin, where he captured a staff car with staff documents. On October 6, 1943, units of the 15 airborne rifle regiment, where the party organizer of the guards regiment captain Volodin was located, were surrounded in the area of the village of Dityatki. The party organizer did not allow panic in the units that were surrounded. Showing courage, bravery and his combat experience, he mobilized the personnel and led the units out of the encirclement. Awarded the Order of the Red Star. After fighting to expand the bridgehead, liberate Ukraine on the right bank of the Dnieper and liberate the city of Ovruch, Alexander Fedorovich is appointed senior instructor for the organizational party work of the political department of the 4 guards airborne division. During the Uman offensive, he was killed in action on March 13, 1944, while serving as the regiment's Deputy commander for political Affairs while holding a bridgehead on the Sob river near the village of Stary Dashev. Submitted for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union posthumously. By a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on September 13, 1944, he was awarded the order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal posthumously. He was buried in the urban-type settlement of Dashev in the Ilinetsky district of the Vinnytsia region of Ukraine.

Weinstein Eduard Borisovich_x000D_ _x000D_ Eduard Borisovich Weinstein was born on December 5, 1925, in Priluki, Sumy region of the Ukrainian SSR. At the age of 17, he was drafted into the army, and since by the time of conscription he managed to have finished seven classes, he was sent to a machine - gun and mortar school near the city of Termez. He was preparing to receive the rank of Junior Lieutenant and lead a mortar platoon. Two weeks before the end of the course, the entire school was transferred to the front. At the front, as part of the 92nd guards rifle division, the 99th separate anti-tank fighter division, and the anti-tank rifle company, he participated in the assault-crossing of the Dnieper river on September 30, 1943. On October 3, during the attack on the village of Mishurin Rog, during a tank counterattack, he was wounded in the right leg; a penetrating shrapnel wound to the upper third of the right Shin, and received a concussion. Having been wounded, he was evacuated to the right Bank of the Dnieper river and taken to the hospital in the city of Kobelyaki of Poltava region, where he was undergoing treatment for two months. On December 16, 1943, with a marching company, the 580th rifle regiment arrived at the location of the 188th rifle division in a platoon of foot reconnaissance. The division was named "Nizhnedneprovskaya" and was part of the 37th army of the second Ukrainian front. By December 1943, the division occupied defensive positions near the city of Kryvyi Rih. In a platoon of foot intelligence, Eduard Borisovich participated in many reconnaissance operations of the 580 rifle regiment. At the end of January 1944, the wound opened, and he began to have severe headaches. In this regard, in early February 1944, he was sent for treatment to the 25 medical battalion of the 188th rifle division. At the end of April 1944, Eduard Borisovich was sent to the evacuation hospital and later evacuated to the hospital in Novy bug, Mykolaiv region, where he was treated until June 1944. In 1944, Eduard Borisovich was awarded the Order of the Red Star, the medal “For battle merit”, and the medal “For Victory over Germany” for the courage and heroism shown during the tasks set by the command of the 188th rifle division. In the summer of 1944, he was sent to the Vilnius infantry school as a cadet. After graduation, as a Lieutenant, he led a platoon of submachine gunners. From 1946 to 1949, Eduard Borisovich worked as a teacher of physical education at the vocational school No. 24 in Vilnius. In 1953, he returned to service in the Soviet Army, as a platoon commander of submachine gunners. In 1954, he was sent to a refresher course at the Military faculty of the Lesgaft Institute of physical culture in Leningrad. From December 1954 to August 1969, he served as the chief of physical training and sports of the regiment. In August 1969, he retired with the rank of captain. In the same year, 1969, he moved with his family to the city of Podolsk, Moscow region. He worked at the Podolsk mechanical plant named after M. I. Kalinin. First, in the 55th shopfloor, as an instructor-Methodist of industrial gymnastics. Moreover, in 1970, Eduard Borisovich was elected Chairman of the Board of the sports club of the plant. With his direct participation, in a short time, the club became one of the strongest clubs in the Moscow region, in the voluntary sports society "Trud", in the voluntary sports society of Trade Unions and some areas at the level of the USSR. Over 10 years of work, the club trained about 40 "Masters of sports of the USSR", 3 "International masters of sports of the USSR", 1 "Merited Master of sports of the USSR" and a 6-time champion of the USSR in urban sports N. Mulyukin. The club football team played in the second League of the USSR Championship. Since 1980, Eduard Borisovich went to work at the centre for Olympic training of the armed forces of the voluntary sports society (VSS) of Trade Unions (Sports base in the village of Kurilovo, Podolsky district). He was directly involved in providing high-quality training for Olympic teams in weightlifting, judo, track and field athletics and fencing for the 1980 Olympic games in Moscow. After moving to work in the Moscow Regional Council of VSS "Trud", as the Director of the youth sports school for weightlifting, he did a lot of work on creating the material base of the school, on the selection of coaching staff. During this time, with his direct participation, branches of youth schools were opened in the cities of Serpukhov, Klimovsk, Vidnoye, Orekhovo-Zuyevo, Noginsk. The school has trained 24 "masters of sports of the USSR" in weightlifting. In 1989, he returned to Podolsk to the plant named after M. I. Kalinin, which changed its name to the concern "Podolskshweimash" and later "Podolsk". He was appointed Director of the sports complex. The complex included the stadium and Palace of sport "Sportservice". Working in this position, he organized the preparation of a competitive base for the games of the USSR championship in basketball among women's teams of the highest League, as well as the games of the European Cup. The Spartak team (Moscow region) took part in these competitions. In 1994, he moved to the position of Deputy Director for the educational and sports part of the sports and recreation centre "Temp" in Klimovsk. Over the years, the centre has opened specialized judo, Boxing, tennis, two gyms, shaping, aerobics and dance halls with its direct participation, which made it possible to cultivate 14 sports. The centre was used for creating “Rusich” judo club for children and youth, as well as boxing sections. During the period of Eduard Borisovich's work, the centre has trained two Masters of sports of the Russian Federation in Boxing. In 1999, the Temp sport and recreational center won the "Review competition among sports facilities in cities and districts of the Moscow region". Edward B. Weinstein was awarded the Order of Patriotic war 1st rank (1985), the Order of the Red Star (1944) a medal "For faultless service in the USSR armed forces” 1st rank, a medal "For military merit" (1944), a medal "For merits before the city" 2nd rank (2005), also awarded 20 anniversary state awards as well as the diploma of the VSS "Trud" and the medal "for services to the development of physical culture and sports".

Vtornikov Ivan Fyodorovich_x000D_ _x000D_ Ivan Fyodorovich Vtornikov was born on May 21, 1923, in Alma-Ata in a peasant family. He finished eight grades of secondary school, after which he began working as a Turner. In 1942, he was drafted into the Red Army. On the front line, he was in April 1944. He fought on the first Belorussian front with the 375 anti-tank division of the 312 rifle division. The gunner performed his first feat while breaking through enemy defences southwest of Kovel, about three months after arriving in the unit. The 375th anti-tank division of the 312 rifle division supported the advance of its infantry. Although the gunners fired frequently, there were enough shells to reliably suppress the enemy's fire system. Suddenly, the German artillery bracketed the clearing, on the edge of which was hidden ammunition depot. The mushrooms are bursting closer and closer. Everyone who was nearby rushed to save the warehouse. With a huge risk to their lives, Ivan Fedorovich and other gunners moved their dangerous cargo to the shelter in a matter of minutes. Returning to the firing position, Ivan Vtornikov looked at the panorama. On the head of the Nazis, one after another, shells fell. The enemy's two heavy machine guns were silenced by their bursts. Two or three days later, the crew destroyed up to twenty invaders and blew up two wagons that delivered shells to the enemy battery. And on July 21, Ivan Fyodorovich and his friends helped the infantry hold Dorogusk station in their hands, repelling several counter-attacks by the Nazis. The commander, Major General Moiseevsky, by the Order of the Red Star, noted the exploits of the young gunner division. The award order was signed on August 14, and the next day the gunner distinguished himself again. On August 15, at the moment of artillery preparation, Junior Sergeant Vtornikov smashed an anti-aircraft gun and a hand machine gun of the enemy. In the afternoon, when the Nazis launched a counterattack west of the village of Oblyasy, his team met the danger bravely and helped the infantry hold the line with their fire. In the evening, when the enemy counterattack was repeated, Vtornikov was wounded but continued to fight. The gunners had to use their personal weapons. The Junior Sergeant destroyed six Hitlerites. On August 18, the division commander awarded our compatriot with the Order of Glory third grade. Soon the division's party organization accepted the brave gunner into the party. In January the forty-fifth, the division participated in the attack on the Radom direction. The Germans tried to organize resistance, but our troops crossed the Pilica, irresistibly moved forward. The gunners, who accompanied the infantry with fire and wheels, paved the road. Only by villages Jedlnia and Nova Volya Sergeant Vtornikiv destroyed three machine-gun emplacements and up to forty Nazis by direct fire. The division's artillery commander, Colonel Bordun, pinned the order of Glory second grade on Ivan Fyodorovich's chest on behalf of the commander. In late January and early February, fierce battles broke out for the major industrial and cultural centre of Poland, the city of Poznan. The Germans turned the city into a major hub of resistance, and all suburban villages and villages into strongholds. Our command had to urgently recruit assault groups. The squad of the Sergeant Vtornikov was included in one of them. During the battle for the outskirts of Poznań, Junikowo, the gunners showed great courage and bravery. A pillbox blocked the path of our infantry. Ivan Fyodorovich, with his own squad, rolled out the gun on direct fire and opened fire on the embrasures. The Nazis were snapped. Machine guns came into action, and the fight lasted two hours. The enemy managed to disable one by one almost all the soldiers of the squad. Finally, there was only Vtornikov left at the gun. Doing the job for everyone, he continued to fire and destroyed four machine guns covering the approaches to the pillbox. Then, with the help of other weapons, the pillbox was finished. The next day, Ivan Fedorovich was appointed gun commander, and in a combat situation began training a new squad. On February 2nd, he was among the first to cross the Warta river with a new calculation under heavy enemy fire. No sooner had the gunners equipped the firing position, as up to a company of fascists went on a counterattack. The gunner was immediately disabled. Sergeant Vtornikov took his place and helped the Riflemen repel three enemy counterattacks. In this battle, Vtornikov’s gun destroyed two guns, five machine guns, inflicted great damage on the enemy in manpower. On February 7, Vtornikov's gun crew took part in the assault on Fort Rauch. At close range, they silenced two casemates. Being shell-shocked, the Sergeant continued to fire. In total, in the battle for Poznań, Vtornikov, by the fire of his gun destroyed and suppressed four guns, seventeen machine guns, three observation posts of the enemy. He was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. On April 16, 1945, the historic Berlin operation began. On this day, when breaking through the enemy's defences South of the city of Lebus, the commander of the gun, senior Sergeant Vtornikov, with his squad rolled the gun into the neutral zone and destroyed three machine guns and two faustnikovs who were holding up our infantry. Then the soldiers eliminated two observation points. The next day, when a group of Hitlerites managed to filter their way through the infantry battle lines and get to the positions of the gunners, Vtornikov and his battle friends met them with machine-gun fire and grenades. For the courage and bravery shown in the battle of Berlin, senior Sergeant Vtornikov was awarded the order of Glory, first class.

Vanyura Vyacheslav Ivanovich_x000D_ _x000D_ My grandfather was born in a family of teachers Mariya Bonifat’yevna and Ivan Alekseevich. He lived a very dignified, heroic life. My mother, the daughter of Vyacheslav Ivanovich, who was only one year old in 1941, passed my grandfather's autobiography into my hands. Further are the excerpts from this document: "After graduating from seven-year school, I entered the Kharkiv electrical engineering School of the southern railway, after graduating from the technical school from 1938 to 1939, I worked as a duty agent of the accounting Bureau at the Osnova station. In 1939, I voluntarily entered the first Leningrad military Aviation technical school named after K. E. Voroshilov. After graduation, I was sent for further service in the 154 Fighter aviation regiment of Pushkin (Leningrad military district) as an aviation mechanic. The regiment was armed with I-16 aircraft. In the great Patriotic war, I participated from June 22, 1941 until May 9, 1945: from June 22, 1941 to August 21, 1941 as part of the 154 fighter aviation regiment, 39 Fighter aviation regiment of the Leningrad Front, I was an aviation mechanic. On August 21, 1941, when the Germans stormed Pushkin airfield, I was wounded, and after being wounded, I was being treated in the Sverdlov hospital in Leningrad until September 1941. After recovery, I continued to serve in the technical team at the management of the 275 fighter aviation division of the Leningrad Front as an aviation mechanic until 1943, then in the communications link at the management of the 275 fighter Aviation division of the Leningrad Front as a senior aviation mechanic. In 1943, I was transferred to the 196 fighter aviation regiment of the 275 fighter aviation division of the Volkhov Front. In 1944, as part of the 196 fighter aviation regiment of the 324 fighter aviation division, I participated in the defence of the Soviet Arctic. After the defeat of the Germans in the Arctic and Finland's withdrawal from the war, in December 1944, as part of the 196 fighter aviation of 324 regiment of the Svir Red Banner fighter aviation division, he arrived in the Moscow military district to receive materiel. The division was in the reserve of the Main command and was equipped with a new material unit, YAK-9U aircraft. In 1945, I took part in preparations for the Victory Parade as an aviation technician. In December 1945, I was sent to study at the First Leningrad Red Banner military aviation technical school for advanced training of senior technicians of aviation squadrons, from which he graduated in 1946 and was enrolled in military unit 75320, which was renamed the Riga Red Banner Higher aviation engineering military school of the air force named after K. E. Voroshilov. I graduated from this School in May 1952. After graduation, I was awarded the qualification of an air force mechanical engineer for operation." My grandfather's further career was closely connected with aviation in the 43 Air Army in Mirgorod in 1952-1953, then he was sent to the 36655 military unit and served as a senior design engineer. In 1958, the military unit was renamed into military base №.220, and grandfather continued his service as a senior engineer - technologist, assistant to the head of the technical Department. He has been married since 1939. His wife, Miroshnichenko Anna Petrovna, was born on February 3, 1919. Their children are my mother Irina Vyacheslavovna, born in 1940, and her brother Yura, born after the war, in 1951. My grandfather's family lived in Uman, Cherkasy region, Zhytomyr, Kharkiv, Riga. At the beginning of my story, I said that my grandfather studied all his life. It is also written in his autobiography: "In 1955, I enrolled in the Evening University of Marxism - Leninism, from which I graduated in 1958. From 1960 until 1962, I studied at the philosophical faculty of the Evening University of Marxism - Leninism in the political Department in the military unit. From 1962 to 1974, I worked at the University of International relations as a lecturer, promoter of international relations. Simultaneously, I taught at the People's University." My grandfather was awarded orders and medals. In our family are kept the Order of the Red Star, medals "For Courage", "For military merit", "For the defence of Leningrad", "For the defence of Soviet Arctic", "For the Victory over Germany" medals dedicated to the anniversaries of the Soviet Army and Navy.