My great-grandfather, Vladimir V. Kuznetsov, was born on June 25, 1921 in the village Terehova, Mikhailovsky district, Ryazan oblast in the family of peasants. In June 1940, he was drafted into the Red Army. He served in the 2509 special anti-aircraft artillery division in Kamianets-Podilskyi (Western Ukraine). He met the war there. In 1941, the enemy began the capture of Western Ukraine. The regiment in which my great-grandfather served was part of the southern front. The troops retreated, going into defensive battles. In the summer of 1941, Vladimir Vasilyevich was wounded in the leg. He was taken to a hospital in Voronezh, where he underwent a full course of treatment, and then in the ranks of the active army, was sent to the Stalingrad frontline. As part of the 648th artillery regiment of the 5th Shock Army, he fought until the end of the war. My great-grandfather participated in the great battle of the Volga from its first to its last day. V. V. Kuznetsov was awarded the medal "For the Defense of Stalingrad". In August 1944, my great-grandfather participated in the Iasi-Kishinev operation in the 5th Shock Army, during which Kishinev was liberated on August 24, 1944. V.V. Kuznetsov was awarded the medal "For Bravery". At the end of October 1944, the 5th Shock Army was transferred to the 1st Belorussian front and took part in the Warsaw-Poznan operation in 1945. My great-grandfather was awarded the medal "For the Liberation of Warsaw". During this operation, the 5th Shock Army reached the Oder river, in Germany and captured a bridgehead Northwest of the city of Kustrin. Vladimir Vasilyevich celebrated the Victory day of 1945 in Berlin. He was awarded the medal "For the Capture of Berlin". My great-grandfather served in Germany, 50 kilometers from Berlin, a year after the war, in the 648th artillery regiment, a division of 152 mm Howitzers. He retired to the reserve in June 1946, with the rank of petty officer and as in the position of an artillery gun commander. For bravery and courage, he was awarded the orders of the Red Star and the Patriotic War of II degree, medals "For Military Merit", "For the Defense of Stalingrad", "For Courage", "For the Liberation of Warsaw", "For the capture of Berlin", "For Victory over Germany in the great Patriotic war 1941 – 1945". In addition, he has received many commendations from the Supreme Commander I. V. Stalin. After returning to his homeland, he worked all his life at a cement factory as a truck driver, and later as a worker in a railway transport shop. Vladimir V. Kuznetsov died on September 26, 1994, at the age of 73.