Heroes and feats

Boris Pavlovich is a native northerner – a resident of Arkhangelsk, was born in Solombala in a working-class family. In 1932, he graduated after 7 years of school. After school, he entered the Arkhangelsk school of marine apprenticeship in Solombala to become a conductor. In 1934, he graduated from it and went to work as a mechanic at the Solombalsky sulfate-cellulose plant. From October 1937 to October 1938, he worked as a mechanic at the construction of factory No. 6. Then, from 1938 to 1939, he worked at the “Krasnaya Kuznitsa” factory as a mechanic simultaneously attending the evening fishing lectures at LIIFT, of which he completed three courses. From July 1939, Boris Pavlovich worked as a mechanic and plumber in ship repair shops at the Arkhangelsk shipyard. After the Finnish campaign in May 1940, he was a helmsman on the hydrographic ship g s "Moroz". During the Great Patriotic War, in September 1942, he was mobilized to the Northern fleet, where he served as the commander of the mechanics' department on the same ship. In March 1943, he was transferred to the paramilitary fleet on the gs "Moroz" taking the position of the third mechanic. He continued to work there until September 1945. Serving on a hydrographic vessel does not entail the installation of buoys on fairways, radio beacons, and taking depth measurements. They had to act as a pilot vessel delivering pilots to ships and taking them away from ships. Sometimes a large number of vessels would accumulate near the Kola Bay, waiting for pilotage. So, there was definitely a lot of work to do. Once, the captain of a foreign transport got tired of waiting for the pilot, and entered the Bay himself, reach Cape Mishukov in the southern knee of the Bay. There, he anchored at the confirmed point. Everyone was very surprised, but when the English captain was asked how he got the courage to go on his own, without a pilot, he laid out detailed maps of the Kola Bay on the table. Moreover, these were maps corrected three weeks before his arrival in Murmansk. The hydrographic vessel "Moroz" took part in the landing of troops and evacuation of wounded soldiers to the Mainland, in the delivery of military cargo along the coast. There had been encounters with enemy ships and submarines, but by sheer luck they did not affect the tiny ship. The enemy's aviation, however, did cause trouble by committing frequent raids. It seemed that the hull was about to be torn apart by the bomb blasts. Mechanisms were failing, two steam boilers were torn from the foundation. They did not explode only thanks to the immense skills of the mechanics. As Boris Pavlovich recalled: "It was especially difficult, working in the Kandalash Bay, when the ship remained afloat by miracle after the bombing." Working on the orders of the command board entailed seriousness and responsibility. Errors and failures during it, according to the laws of wartime, could mean a tribunal. The proceedings in such cases were thorough, and the harsh sentences were merciless. Boris Kostogorov got news of the victory when he was in Murmansk. He saw the exultation and tears of joy all around him. This terrible war was finally over! People were intoxicated with sheer happiness having no need in wine. The long-awaited hour of Victory had come! After the war, Boris Pavlovich worked on this ship for another five years, as he did not want to leave the sea. Later, in 1950, he moved to work in the floating staff of the Archtralflot but discovered that he was not qualified enough. So, he decided to study. In January 1951, he was sent to steam mechanics courses of the 2nd category. In May 1952, after completing the courses, he was assigned to the RT-91 "Pinagor" of the tralflot as a third mechanic. After some time, he was assigned to the RT-115 "Mezen" as the second mechanic, then - to the RT-89 "Belomorets". In the Arkhangelsk trawl fleet, Boris Pavlovich Kostogorov, like most of the fleet mechanics, went from Stoker to senior mechanic of steam fishing trawlers. He worked in the Navy from 1951 to 1973. He was respected by sailors and employees of the coast management for his high professionalism and good nature in relation to other people. For valiant work in the trawling fleet, in difficult conditions of the Northern seas, he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor in 1971, when he was working on the RT-232 Primorsk trawler.

He was called up to serve in the Red Army from the Kerch radio center, where he worked as a technician. And who could have guessed that in two years the most brutal war would break out... Nikolai Bessarabenko was lucky enough to finish the regimental school and get the rank of Sergeant. In the first months of the war, he went to the frontline as the head of a company radio station. Fascist troops had already occupied Nikolaev. Exhausted by heavy fighting, the Red Army units retreated. The artillery division, in which Bessarabenko served among others, was given the task of covering the retreat and preventing the enemy's motorized troops from developing an attack. Several times the fascists tried to seize the height, but were not successful. Sergeant Bessarabenko was shot in the right forearm, but did not leave the battlefield. Only in the evening, when the battle died down, did his strength leave him. The soldier was sent to the hospital. And, again, to the frontline. This time it was the Stalingrad frontline. And, again, to the fight. He got a second wound. He underwent a severe surgery: the doctors removed a shard from his chest that had damaged the lungs. Until June, Nikolai was in Murom. And then, again, the frontline. He got sent to the 18th guards’ division. There he took the oath of the guards. The Soviet forces were advancing. The advance was successful. But that did not make it any less bloody... An artillery division of sixteen anti-tank guns, led by N. A. Bessarabenko, was ambushed. Intelligence had reported that the German "Tigers" and " Panthers" were concentrated there. "Remember," Bessarabenko told the soldiers, " if you don't hit the target with the third shell, you won't need the fourth one. Tanks are not to be trifled with.” They did not have to wait long. Up to twelve enemy tanks appeared from behind the forest ridge. They were going at high speed. In a matter of minutes, six tanks were hit. The others raced across the open ground, quick firing in return. And for the third time Bessarabenko had given blood to his motherland. We do not forget about the military exploits of veterans. So, Bessarabenko has not been forgot. By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the USSR, Nikolai Andreevich Bessarabenko was awarded the medal "For Military Merit" for military distinctions in the battles against the Nazi invaders during the Great Patriotic war. This is his third battle award.

Rank: Colonel. Division: 339th rifle Rostov-Taman Brandenburg Red Banner order of Suvorov division. He started the war with the Finnish company as a Lieutenant and as an anti-tank weapons’ commander. He was wounded and after recovery was sent to Rostov-on-Don, in August 1941 at the disposal of 339 SD. October 12, 1941 in the area of village Razinoye, Bogatyrev, first clashes with the vanguard of the Kleist’s 1st panzer group occured. On October 13, the division crossed to the right bank of the Mius river and advanced in the South-Western direction, covering 10-15 km in a few days and suffering heavy losses. On October 17, German forces of the 14th panzer and 60th motorized divisions launched an offensive, defeating the 1137th Rostov regiment. On October 20, the 1135th Salsk regiment was also surrounded and almost completely destroyed near the village of Neklinovka. The remnants of the division were pushed far back beyond the Mius river. During the winter counteroffensive near Rostov, N.I. Kolesnikov returned to the Mius front near the village Matveev Kurgan, where he fought until July 1942, when the German offensive in the Caucasus and Stalingrad began. In August 1942, the division retreated to the foothills of the Caucasus and for six months defended the frontier: Derbent, Azov-Ilskaya and further along the heights to the South of Kholmskaya and Akhtyrskaya. Then he took part in the liberation of the Kuban and the Taman Peninsula, as well as the Kerch-Eltigen landing. In the Crimean operation of 1944, he was part of the mobile group of the 16th rifle corps, liberating Kerch and participating in the liberation of Sevastopol. Later, the division was transferred to the 1st Belorussian front and took part in the Vistula-Oder operation (Warsaw-Poznań frontline offensive (1945)) and the capture of Berlin (Seelow-Berlin and Brandenburg-Rathenow frontline offensive). His battle path ended on the Elbe. After the division was disbanded at the end of May 1945, he was transferred to the Far East and took part in the fighting on the lake Hanko. He was an honorary citizen of Akhtyrsk and Kerch. He finished his service as the head of the tactics cycle of the higher officer courses "Shot".

From October 1932 to January 2, 1934, Konstantin Danilovich Karlyaev served as a cavalryman in the 7th Cavalry regiment in Transbaikalia. In 1939, he graduated from the 5-month courses of the Khvalyn school of chauffer (now known as “drivers”) of the "Soyuzsovkhoztrans" of the People's Commissariat of the USSR. Before the Great Patriotic War, he worked as a driver. On June 25, 1941, he went to the frontline. He fought in the 29th independant motor transport company of fuel supply of the 5th guards’ mechanized Zimovnikovsky order of Kutuzov and Alexander Nevsky corps as a senior driver. The 5th guards mechanized Zimovnikovsky corps, in which my great-grandfather served, was first welcomed into battle during the Soviet counteroffensive at Stalingrad, where, as part of the 2nd guards’ army, it participated in the defeat of the Gotha unblocking group, which was rushing to help the surrounded 330-thousand army of Field Marshal Paulus. In 1943, during the battle of Kursk, the corps fought bravely as part of the 5th guards tank army, participating in the famous tank battle of Prokhorovka and in the Belgorod-Kharkiv operation. My great-grandfather took part in battles near Stalingrad, Kursk, Belgorod, Kharkov. He brought fuel to the tanks in a semi-truck. From July 17, 1944 to May 17, 1946, he served in the 212 regiment of the NKVD of the USSR as an ordinary rifleman. He participated in the liquidation of Polish underground anti-Soviet nationalist armed groups in Western Belarus. Reference from the 212 regiment of the NKVD troops of the USSR for the protection of Railways: “The regiment was formed in August 1941 by order of the NKVD of the USSR No. 001092 of 15.08.1941 "On the formation of the 8th division of the NKVD troops of the mountain rifle regiment" as the 86th mountain rifle regiment of the NKVD troops of the USSR for the protection of railway structures of the 8th division of the NKVD troops of the USSR for the protection of railway structures. By order of the NKVD of the USSR No. 00606 of 20.04.1944, it was reorganized into the 212 regiment of the NKVD of the USSR for the protection of railways. By order of the NKVD of the USSR No. 00922 of 03.08.1944, it was included in the newly formed 14th division of the NKVD of the USSR for the protection of Railways and relocated to Western Belarus, the regimental headquarters was relocated to Baranovichi. From August 03, 1944 to February 10, 1945, the regiment was part of the Active Red Army and performed tasks for the protection of the Brest-Litovsk railway. The regiment was disbanded by order of the Ministry of internal Affairs of the USSR No. 00248 of 15.05.1951.” Kurlaev K. D. returned from the war in 1946, a year after its completion. After demobilization, he returned to the village of Pavlovka in the Ulyanovsk region and worked as a driver until his retirement in 1969.

Nikolai Trofimovich Kitaev was a Lieutenant Colonel of the Guards’ of the Soviet Army, participant of the Great Patriotic War, “Hero of the Soviet Union” (1943). He was a commander of the 40th guards’ fighter aviation regiment. He was born on November 9 (22), 1917 in the village of Pichuga (now Dubovsky district of the Volgograd region), in a peasant family. He graduated from 7 years of school and the school of factory training. He worked in the foundry of the Stalingrad tractor plant as a mechanic in equipment repairment. He graduated from the aeroclub in Stalingrad (now Volgograd). He had been in the Red Army since 1938. In that same year, he graduated from the Borisoglebsk military aviation school of pilots. He participated in the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940, made several dozen sorties to attack Finnish troops. He had been on the frontlines of the Great Patriotic War from December 1941, where he took part in combat missions on an I-16 fighter as part of the 131st fighter aviation regiment (later transformed into the 40th guards’ fighter aviation regiment). He had been a member of the CPSU (b) / CPSU since 1942. HE had participated in the battle of Moscow. He fought in the North Caucasus, fought in the Kursk area, and liberated Ukraine. In 1943, Nikolai Trofimovich Kitaev's sorties were particularly effective: he won every second battle, and more than half of the enemy planes he shot down were bombers. By March 1943, being the Senior Lieutenant of the guards’, Nikolai Kitaev was commanding a squadron of the 40th guards fighter aviation regiment of the 217th fighter air division of the 4th air force of the North Caucasus front. By that time, he had made 183 sorties, participated in 45 air battles, shooting down eight enemy aircrafts personally and five more as part of a group. By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 1, 1943, senior Lieutenant Nikolai Trofimovich Kitaev was awarded the title of “Hero of the Soviet Union” with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal for exemplary performance of commanders’ combat tasks at the frontlines of the fight against the German-fascist invaders. During the defensive stage of the battle of Kursk, the brave pilot shot down five enemy planes. In 1944, major Kitaev was appointed commander of the 40th guards’ fighter aviation regiment in the 8th guards’ fighter aviation division. On one July day of 1944, the commander of the air regiment Nikolai Trofimovich Kitaev, together with guard major Shvarev, flew to reconnoiter enemy troops near the city of Ternopil in Ukraine. On the way back, near the frontline, both pilots made an assault to the Hitler column. At the same time, the plane of major Kitaev's guards was hit by a stray shell. Nikolai Kitaev landed his plane without releasing the landing gear, but losing consciousness and was captured. In captivity, the Soviet officer did not lose his presence of mind and with honor endured all the hardships of fascist captivity. In 1945, he was liberated by Soviet troops. But the sky was gone for him... In 1946, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel of the guards, Nikolai Trofimovich Kitaev was dismissed to the reserve. During the war, one of the best air fighters of the Soviet air force conducted about 400 sorties, personally shot down 34 aircrafts in 120 air battles and 8 more as part of a group. After retiring, he lived in the urban-type settlement of Belynichi in the Mogilev region of Belarus. He died on March 24, 2000. He was buried in the village of Rogach, Belynichi district, Mogilev region of the Republic of Belarus. Korme was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with two orders of Lenin, two orders of the Red Banner, the order of Alexander Nevsky and the Patriotic war I degree, as well as the Belarusian order "for service to the Motherland" and a number of medals. He is still remembered as one of the streets in the village of Belynichi is named in honor of Nikolai Trofimovich Kitaev.

- The most memorable day of the war? – repeats Gregory Kuzmich Buravcov and thinks. – I remember the whole war, from the first to the last day - Grigory Kuzmich pauses, looks thoughtfully at his grandson Vitya, who has just run into the room out of breath, having learned that his grandfather will talk about the war. But the grandfather is silent, as he goes through the pages of war in his memory. - 1945 ... Czechoslovakia... Moravian Ostrava ... -Grigory Kuzmich begins his story slowly. Hitler concentrated a large number of his units here. He was afraid of losing this significant industrial city. It contained large factories, plants, and other facilities. But the war was coming to an end. And it was no secret that Germany lost this war. But, as the proverb says, "a drowning man grasps at straws," so Hitler held on to Moravian Ostrava. - Bukhavtsov interrupts his story for a moment, looks attentively at his grandson, who has been following his grandfather's story with a childly expression on his face. He pats him on the head. – For three months the Germans held the defense of Moravian Ostrava. Every day we attacked, but we could not take the city. And before May 1, the order of the Supreme Commander was received. On May 1, the city should be taken. Intensive preparations for a decisive offensive began, and on the night of May 1, the signal for an offensive was given. The battle was terrible; tanks were used. Dawn was rising, but it was still dark, because of the smoke, dust, and flying clods of earth. I was a gunner. Our team hit two German tanks. The “tigers” burned one by one. The Germans could not withstand the attack; the tanks turned back. Then the infantry attacked. At 9 a.m. on May 1, we entered the city. Moravian Ostrava was liberated. It was our big holiday gift to the Motherland and, of course, the Czechs, – finished his story Buravcov. – How did the Czechs meet us? There was so much joy, tears, happiness… Oh, how the Astrachans thanked us... – said Grigory Kuzmich, and his eyes filled with tears. For the liberation of Moravian Ostrava G. K. Buravcov was awarded the medal "For Courage".

Rank: lance-corporal Type of troops: land forces, air force (except naval aviation), coast service, NKVD troops, border guard Division: 21st rifle Perm Red Banner division My grandfather's brother Kurashev Hasanbi Majidovich was called up for military service in the Red Army in October 1940. When the Great Patriotic War began, Kh. M. Kurashev’s division was transferred to the city of Drozdov, Primorsky Krai. On September 27, 1941, Khasnbi Kurashev went into his first battle near the Svirskaya district power station. Among the accomplishments of the scout Hasanbi Kurashev and his comrades are a lot of raids into the enemy lines, hunting for the intel, the defeat of enemy headquarters and other combat operations. Khasanbi Mazhidovich recalled how the commander of the Manachinsky reconnaissance platoon was invited to the regimental headquarters and given the task to get rid of the Germans and Finns who were holed up in the mount behind the Svirskaya district power station, who were putting our soldiers and officers out of action every day. On the night of January 17, in the first battle, the scouts managed to destroy two bunkers with bundles of grenades. The third bunker was still active. Lieutenant Manachinsky sent Hasanbi Kurashev to suppress this firing point. He crawled and opened fire from his hand machine gun at a close range with piercing incendiary bullets. The enemy bunker fell. For this successful operation, several fighters were granted government awards. Khasanbi Kurashev was awarded the order of Glory of the III degree. In September 1943, the command center ordered the reconnaissance platoon of Hasanbi Kurashev to get intel: it was necessary to get the necessary information about the composition and weapons of the enemy, parts of which stood along the Svir river. During the raid, the platoon was under fire. In a brutal hand-to-hand fight, the soldiers captured the mount, destroyed the enemy headquarters and almost the entire Hitler unit. A German officer and a corporal, tommy-guns, dozens of machine guns, food, and staff documents were all captured. In this battle, the reconnaissance platoon lost 26 fighters. The commander of the scouts, Lieutenant Alexander Bekishev, and corporal Hasanbi Kurashev were also seriously injured. Khasanbi Kurashev participated in his last fight in May 1944. The platoon was ordered to destroy the enemy's company mortars. During the attack on the German positions, a large detachment of the Nazis began to advance from the rear. Hasan Kurashev was ahead of the fascists, turned the machine gun and fired three disks at the enemy chain without stopping. There were many fallen soldiers and officers left in the snow. At this time, a shell exploded near Kurashev's position. The blast wave threw him to the side, but Hasanbi continued to shoot back until he was seriously wounded. Kurashev was still unconscious when his comrades carried him off the battlefield with a shattered elbow joint. For his bravery, Khasanbi Majidovich Kurashev was awarded the order of the Patriotic War of the II degree. Khasanbi Kurashev underwent three operations on his hand in hospitals in Kandalaksha, Arkhangelsk, and Nizhny Tagil. At the end of October 1944, he was discharged due to his disability. From January 1, 1945 until his retirement, Khasanbi Mazhidovich worked in responsible positions in the District Executive Committee of the village of Kashkhatau. Khasanbi Mazhidovich Kurasheva’s life is described in the book by Ch. E. Kardanova "Group portrait in Aushiger. Years and destinies." Khasanbi Kurashev carried the memory of the Great Patriotic War in his heart throughout his life and was proud that the Great Victory in May 1945 was accomplished by his country, his homeland. I, Islam Amirovich Kurashev, am also proud of the heroism of my grandfather's brother and the entire Soviet people. I congratulate all Veterans on the Great Victory and want to publish my poem: The peaceful sky has been above us for Seventy long years, and only thunderclaps Disturb it in the spring. But the soldiers of glory of the Distant forties remember, How the earth was torn by shells and friends died for their sake. For the sun to shine, for the children’s laugh to be always heard everywhere And thus there was no more war. We will remember for centuries the Victorious volleys of spring, and the immortal feat of a soldier At the Kremlin red wall!

Belskaya Nina Semyonovna is a great example of female wartime heroes. Nina Semyonovna was born on February 15, 1923 in the village of Medukhovo, Breytovsky district, Yaroslavl region. My father was the chairman of a collective farm. My mother was responsible for raising the children and running the household. The family had 10 children, so from childhood little Nina was taught to work and take care of her brothers and sisters. She was a straight-A student, the best student in school. She was also an activist and was fond of sports. Gennady Semenovich Bielsko recounts that after successful completion of grade 10 at the age of 16, the leadership of Breytovo area invited Nina Semyonovna to work as a teacher in a school in the village Ulianich. At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, she was only 18 years old. On April 10, 1942, she was drafted into the Red Army. In her memoirs, Lydia Semyonovna wrote that in the process of passing combat training in the homefront, she was sent to take special sniper courses, and, according to her relatives, she had a sniper instructor certificate. According to a copy of the list of conscripts in the Soviet Army, the family book of sergeants and soldiers, as well as wartime photos, it turned out that Nina Semyonovna was assigned to the air defense forces of the anti-aircraft artillery regiment on the Kalinin front. There, she took training courses in shooting from a small-caliber anti-aircraft gun. At that time, those who completed a strict test of knowledge with distinction and showed commanding abilities during training were simultaneously awarded the military rank of Sergeant. In one of the photos, you could see a badge with the writing "Excellent gunner" attached to her uniform, which she was awarded with for " ... ability to hold any position in an artillery-servicing platoon, and competent, high-quality masking of guns...". After a few months of active participation in the fighting, Nina Semyonovna was appointed commander of an anti-aircraft gun. Her main goal was to shoot down planes. A downed plane meant not one, but many accurate hits. Moreover, the gunner had to discern the inscriptions on the planes. After enemy air raids - and there could be 14 of them a day - the women fell asleep on the cold ground next to their guns. During the lulls in fighting, Nina Semyonovna performed designated tasks as a sniper. After one of the enemy raids, the women were buried under the walls of the dugout and tried to get to the surface for about 4 days, digging the ground and sorting through the rubble with their hands. They managed to escape and afterwards celebrated that day as their second birthday. During the war, N. S. Belskaya also had the honor of protecting her beloved Leningrad from advancing German soldiers, and then go through the entire war with the division. Antonina Semyonovna was awarded medals and orders of various degrees. According to a copy of the pass certificate and a copy of the list of those demobilized from the Soviet Army, it turned out that N. S. Belskaya arrived at the military Commissariat of the Breitovsky district in July 1945. According to information provided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Yaroslavl region, after returning home, Nina Semyonovna moved to Leningrad. She was offered a job in the Federal Department of the criminal law service in the main Department on Liteyny Prospect, as well as a position of a shooting instructor at a military school. According to Gennady Semyonovich and Lydia Semyonovna, long ambushes (2-3 days each) in snowdrifts, and on trees, and prolonged lack of sleep had major consequences on Nina Semyonovna's health. Her frostbitten feet hurt badly; and her joints did not bend well. She had no husband or children. Her entire life was spent caring for the families of her brothers and sisters. Nina Semyonovna had been living in Rybinsk for the last 4 years of her life. In her last months, she was very ill and was in the hospital. The doctors’ diagnoses were not optimistic, but Nina Semyonovna was holding on as strongly, as in 1945, waiting for Victory Day and the words of gratitude from the president that were so important to her. On May 10, 1998, she died, never complaining about her fate and looking at the children, rejoiced in their carefree laughter and mischief. Belskaya Nina Semyonovna is buried in the city cemetery "Yuzhnoye".

The story of Rozhnov's great-grandson Maxim about the veteran of the war Maxim Mikhailovich Korotaev: "I was born in a peaceful time and heard little about the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. Every family has a connection to this war. My family was not an exception. Our family album contains a photo of my great-grandfather, a war veteran, with orders and medals on his chest. They are not just given to anyone; my great-grandfather deserved these awards. I want to tell you about it." My great-grandfather, Maxim Korotaev, was drafted into the Red Army in January 1942. Starting from September 1942, as a sergeant, he took part in combat operations as part of the 139th rifle division, as a senior telephone operator of the 411th separate communications company. He participated in the battles near Rzhev, in Mogilev and Roslavl areas. He received his first award in November 1943. This is how the award list of October 31, 1943 briefly describes his personal combat feat: "on 17.10.1943, Sergeant Korotaev M. M., together with the Red Army soldier Naumov, under heavy bombing and artillery mortar fire, brought a telephone cable line to N. P. commander 364 infantry regiment ahead of time, and for two days eliminated 11 tears of the telephone cable line, thus ensuring uninterrupted communication of the division commander with the commander of infantry regiment 364. For providing the division commander with uninterrupted communication during the crucial period of the battle under the bombing and artillery fire of the enemy, Sergeant Korotaev is worthy of the government award - the medal "For Bravery". For ensuring uninterrupted communication under enemy fire, my great-grandfather was awarded the order of Glory III and II degrees. He was given the rank of senior sergeant and the position of squad leader of the 271 independant communications battalion. My great-grandfather received another award in 1945. Thus, his personal combat feat is briefly described in the award list of April 04, 1945,: "Senior Sergeant Korotaev M. M. during the battle near the village of Baranovo under machine-gun and artillery mortar fire, risking his life four times, restored the connection going to the N. P. of the commander of the 364 rifle regiment, which ensured uninterrupted communication at the most crucial moment of the battle of the division commander with the commander of the 364 rifle regiment. He is bestowed with the government award - the order of the Red Star. My great-grandfather returned from the war without a single serious injury. As they say about people like him: "He was born in a shirt." In Udmurtia, in the village of Kez, there is a museum in memory of fellow countrymen heroes of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, which displays information about the military merits of my great-grandfather. I'm proud of my great-grandfather!

The military rank is Major General. Alexander Kirsanov was born on December 23, 1898 in Kazan. He graduated the Real school and the Teacher's Seminary. He finished also the Training team and joint to the Kolchak artillery as a Firecracker. During one of the battles, he was captured by the Red Army. After an appropriate checking, he was enlisted in the 29th Omsk Red Army Rifle Division of Blucher and sent to the Belopolsky front. He fought again in the artillery, earned trust, and joined the the Bolsheviks’ Party. At the end of the civil war, he remained in the same division for some time, and then entered the school of the Command Staff of the red army named after S. S. Kamenev. In 1926, he graduated with honors from the Kiev Artillery Military school. In the 1930s, he served in the Transcaucasian military district. In 1939, he graduated from the Command Staff improvement courses. He went to the front in September 1941 as the Regimental Commander of the 157th Rifle Division (renamed the 76th Guards by order of the NKO of the USSR on March 1, 1943). He had fought on the Southern, Stalingrad, Central and Belorussian fronts. He had participated in the battles near Odessa, in the Crimea, at Stalingrad, on the Kursk bulge. In 1943, Colonel A.V. Kirsanov was awarded the military rank of Major General by the decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR. Alexander Kirsanov especially distinguished himself when crossing the Dnieper river in the Braginsky district of the Polessky (now Gomel) region of the Byelorussian SSR. On the night of September 28, 1943, soldiers of the Guards division under the command of General Kirsanov crossed the Dniepe River, captured a bridgehead and successfully repelled numerous counterattacks by superior enemy forces. Subsequently, by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on January 15, 1944, Major General Alexander Kirsanov was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star Medal for his skilful and successful command of the Rifle division, exemplary performance of combat tasks of the command on the front of the fight against the German-fascist invaders and on June 24, 1945, Major General Kirsanov participated in the historic Victory Parade on Red Square in Moscow. After the end of the war, he continued to serve in the army in command positions. In 1949, he graduated from the Military Academy of the General staff. After his retirement, he worked as a Vice-rector of the Belarusian state University from the early 1960s until 1974. He died on November 16, 1994. He was buried in Minsk at the Eastern ("Moscow") cemetery.

The war of 1941-1945 was too difficult of a test for the whole country and for every person. Every aspect was tried: love for the homeland, loyalty to one’s ideals, one’s friends. The Soviet people stood up for their homeland. Belarus, Ukraine, and the Baltic States had already taken the heaviest blow from the German-fascist invaders. The call "Motherland is calling" stirred up the whole country. General mobilization began. The call to protect the country reached Buryatia. The Burgaltai did not remain idle, either. Among them was our great-grandfather Umoja Radkevich Bancaracas. Born 1986, he went to the front in 1941. In February 1942 he died, fought on the Volkhov front. And our beloved grandfather Chaggar Magapolis Bancaracas, he was born in 1923 in the village of Heden Dgidinskogo district. In 1942, he was drafted into the Red Army in the Chita region, where the 399th Siberian rifle division was being formed around Khada-Bulag. There he received military training for two months. In July 1942, his division was sent to the frontline. My grandfather would recall: "We had a long way to go to Saratov. Before we could reach the city of Saratov, we were bombed. I lost a lot of friends there. After burying them, we went on. At each station there were traces of the war: the wounded, the destruction, the fires, the ruins… In this way, we got to Stalingrad." There Chagdar Yumozhapovich took part in the famous battle of Stalingrad, which marked the beginning of the mass expulsion of the enemy from Soviet land. He fought from February 1942 to July 1945 as part of the 511th medical battalion, from July 1945 to August 1946 in the 83rd artillery brigade, 669th independent car battalion. He was both a medical orderly and a driver. In his ZIS-5 car, he brought ammunition to the frontline and carried the wounded away. In June 1944, the Belarusian offensive operation has begun. Chagdar Yumozhapovich as part of the troops of the 3rd Belorussian front took part in the battles for the liberation of Belarus (Bobruisk, Minsk), Poland, the fortress city of Konigsberg. For a accomplishing a military feat, his personal bravery, he was awarded the Order of the Red Star, Order of the Patriotic War of the II degree, medals "For Military Merit", "For Defense of Stalingrad", "For Capture of Koenigsberg", "For Victory over Germany" and many anniversary medals. He celebrated the victory in Poland. After returning from the war, he, first, worked as a mechanic, then as a foreman of the meadow reclamation unit, as the manager of unit 1 of the collective farm "Mir", was elected deputy of Dgidinskiy Aimachniy Council and awarded the title "Veteran of Labor". Wherever he worked, he was always, always entertained an endless interest in all the events taking place in the world, the republic, the village. His heart ached for the young. Of course, he had experienced joys and sorrows, victories and defeats. And all these years, next to him was his wife, our grandmother, Suren Tsydenzhapov. We know that the Victory was forged not only at the frontline. Those who remained out of the battles had a hard time. All the hardships of the war and post-war years fell on the fragile shoulders of women and teenagers. From the age of 12, my grandmother went to help her mother Pagma Sosorovna. Together with her, she plowed, sowed, reaped, mowed, and worked in logging. After the war, she worked as a milkmaid and shepherd on a collective farm. She was awarded the medal "For Valiant and Selfless Work during the Great Patriotic War", the title "Veteran of Labor". Together with my grandfather they raised two children, seven grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. My grandfather was a unique, passionate, interesting individual; an intelligent, modest, kind, caring, wise, and fair person. In the center of the village of Burgaltay there is a monument. On it, carved are the names of soldiers who did not return from the war, including the name of the father of my grandfather Yumozhap Radnaevich Banzaraktsaev. Solely from Burgaltay 120 people did not return home.

Rank: Petty Officer War… It brought so much grief, fear and suffering to people. Her bloody wing striked my family, too. Unfortunately, my great-grandfather Mikhail Matveyevich Kostsov did not live long enough for me to see him alive, but the memory of him and his military service lives on in our family. My grandfather, grandmother, mother, godfather – all my relatives tell me a lot about my great-grandfather. My grandfather Mikhail Matveyevich Kostsov was born on October 1, 1913 in a large family of railway workers. His father fought on the frontline in the civil war, so after the announcement of the beginning of the Great Patriotic War in October 1941, my great-grandfather, without hesitation, went to the frontlines. He fought fairly and bravely for the freedom of our Motherland and was repeatedly awarded medals. I want to tell you about two of his awards: the medal "For Military Merit" and the medal "For Bravery", which are especially dear to us, because they reveal the character of my great-grandfather, his humanity and kind soul. In April 1944, an order was signed to award my great-grandfather M. M. Kostsov the medal "For Military Merit". While his company was working on a mission on construction of dams, controlling and maintenance of the bridge across the Sivash in the area of Kosa Gromovskiy district of Zaporzhskaya region from 30 January to 28 March 1944, my great-grandfather, being the foreman of the company, showed fatherly concern for the members of the company, in difficult combat conditions, in the absence of a source of drinking water and fuel in close proximity, he was able to find food for the his people, providing hot meals three times a day under any military conditions. The award list states: "The courageous sergeant personally delivered food to the place of combat missions, providing hot meals to the company in a timely manner, despite the enemy's artillery fire and aerial bombing. Despite the difficulty of the conditions, he organized a bathhouse, systematically letting the company's personnel through it. For the fatherly care for the personnel, contributing to the exemplary performance of combat tasks, he is worthy of the Government award the medal "For Military Merit". Great-grandfather was awarded the medal "For Bravery" on September 3, 1945. During the combat operations of the Trans-Baikal frontline, foreman M. M. Kostsov delivered timber for the construction of wells in a semi-desert area, thereby ensuring the supply of water to passing parts of the army. During the construction of the bridge over the Liaohe river near the city of Tongliao (Manchuria), my great-grandfather organized the filling and transportation of bags of earth to save the bridge, which enabled all types of transport to pass across the river. Grandfather did not ignore the grief and misery of other people. Once, during a heavy bombardment, people ran haphazardly trying to save themselves. My great-grandfather also ran towards the forest, but suddenly saw a man drowning in the swamp. He immediately rushed to save him and barely made it himself. This man was their company commander. My great-grandfather walked the whole of our country on foot! He had to fight in the Japanese War. My grandfather did not return home until the end of 1946. I am proud of my great-grandfather! He was a smart, honest, fair, courageous, resourceful, brave man! He will always be alive in our hearts!

Nikolay Fedorovich Balushkin, was born on March 30, 1921 in the village of Diaghilevskaya, Arkhangelsk region. At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, he was 20 years old. In 1939, N. F. Balushkin moved to Ukhta and in May 1941 was drafted into the army as part of the Northern sea fleet. Nikolai Fyodorovich began serving in the training unit of the Northern fleet on the Solovetsky Islands. From January 1942, N. F. Balushkin took part in military operations in the Northern fleet, and in August of the same year he enlisted as a volunteer in the 92nd naval brigade of the Northern fleet, which was sent to the Stalingrad front. In the battle of Stalingrad, the 92nd Naval brigade fought to the death: out of 9 thousand volunteers, 136 were left alive, including Nikolai Fedorovich. In the summer of 1943, he was sent from the Stalingrad front to the Black sea fleet. Great-grandfather participated in the liberation campaign on the Danube. He fought, advancing to Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Austria (Appendix 1). In 1943, Nikolai Fedorovich Balushkin was awarded the title of "Foreman of the II article". For excellent combat in the battles for the capture of the cities of Ackermann, Sulina, Tulcea, Constanta (August 1944), Budapest (February 1945), Estergon, Komarko (March 1945), Bratislava, Vienna, Karneiburg, Florisfor (April 1945) and the liberation of Belgrade (October 1944) by order of the Supreme commander-in-Chief of the Generalissimo of the Soviet Union, comrade Stalin IV he was praised for his work. On top of this praise, great-grandfather was rewarded with the order of the Red Star, the medal "For the Capture of Budapest", the medal "For the Capture of Vienna", the medal "For Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945", the Romanian cross of Faith "For crossing the Danube" (Annex 2). After the war, Nikolai Fedorovich Balushkin was awarded jubilee awards for the tenacity and courage shown in the Great Patriotic War. Among these awards are the order of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree, the Zhukov medal, "300 years of the Russian Navy" (Appendix 3). Also, in honor of the liberation of the beautiful city of Vienna, its residents immortalized the names of the living and the fallen soldiers in a memorial. The names of the crew members of the armored boat BK-242, including Nikolai Fedorovich Balushkin, are carved on it.

Date of conscription: December 1, 1933 Place of service: 51 Guards Transport Aviation regiment 21 Guards Transport Aviation division 12 air army Rank: Guards’ Major. Navigator of the aviation squadron of the 51st Guards Transport Aviation regiment of the 21st Guards’ Transport Aviation division. Awarded with the order of the Red Star (1925063). Awarded with the order of the Red Star (2938974). Order of The Red Banner (446238). Medal "For Military Merit". For years of Service in the red Army (1618401). Participated in the Finnish company and subsequent combat operations to protect the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics from December 23, 1939 to March 12, 1940. Participated in the Great Patriotic War from June 22, 1941 to May 9, 1945. Participated in the War with Japan. Had been in the Red army since December 1933, in the Soviet Army until 1955. Had been called up by the Oryol city military Commissariat. Member of the all-Union Communist party of the Bolsheviks since 1940. Russian. Date of death: September 1, 1995 Brief recount of the battle feats or merits: As he received the combat mission from the commander of the 21st Guards Transport Aviation division to provide the 6th tank army with fuel and lubricants located on the territory of Manchuria, comrade Bagryantsev applied all his knowledge, previous practical combat experience and was able to prepare the air navigation for the squadron's flight personnel on August 10, 1945. The squadron, consisting of 9 crews flew on a combat mission to transport and provide fuel and lubricants to the 6th tank army. Despite the complexity of the flights, the squadron made 68 sorties for the delivery of fuel and lubricants over six days, delivering 108,800 kg, which made it possible to get out of the predicament and continue further defeating the enemy. Captain Bagryantsev made 12 sorties, transported a cargo of 15,800 kg. The commander's battle order was executed perfectly. For excellent and skillful training of flight personnel to ensure the fulfillment of the combat mission of the 6th tank army, comrade Bagryantsev is presented the order of the Red Star. Commander of the 51st Guards Transport Aviation regiment of the Guards Colonel Potekaev

A participant in the Great Patriotic War, a labor veteran, Phlegont Nikanorovich Bylin was born on January 4, 1918 in the village of Ambartsevo, Molchanovsky district, in a large family with five children. His mother, Anna Ivanovna Suhushina was a native of the village Togur, Molchanovsky district, Tomsk region. His father, Nikanor Ivanovich Bylin was engaged in the delivery of provision, essential goods, and fishing gear, as well as hunting ammunition for residents of the coast of the lower Ob river in the territory of the Tomsk province. Then the delivered goods were exchanged for furs and fish of valuable breeds with subsequent sale at the wholesale base of Kukhterin merchants in the city of Tomsk. This work brought a sufficient level of income for supporting the family and managing a farm. During the formation of the Soviet regime in Siberia, Nikonor Ivanovich donated all his cash savings and real estate, in particular a large house, which was later transported across the Ob river to the village of Sokolovka. At first, the house was used for a school, then for the village Council, and nowadays it is the social center of the village. Little Phlegont was only 3 years old when his father died of typhus. The children were raised by their mother and stepfather Stepan Andreevich Bylin (namesake). Despite that he had to work a lot on the collective farm since childhood, help with household chores and in the upbringing of my younger sisters, Phlegont Nikanorovich received a good education. For active social activities he was sent to study in the city of Kolpashevo, in the school of combine operators by the collective farm. In August 1941, he was sent straight from the school to the frontline. During the war, he fought on the Western, Central and Belorussian fronts as a junior sergeant as a signalman, telephone operator, and letter carrier. He was wounded twice and contused. Once, while performing a combat mission, Phlegont Nikanorovich and two soldiers were bombed. A shell that exploded nearby completely covered him with earth, so much so that he could not get out himself. Fortunately, his comrade remained alive. It was he who unearthed Phlegont Nikanorovich and saved his life. For participation in military operations, he was awarded the Order of the Red Star, medals "For Bravery", "For the Defense of Moscow", "For the Capture of Konigsberg"," For the Victory over Germany " 1941-1945, was marked with the guardsman badge, received 12 commendations from the Supreme commander. The Central Archive of the Ministry of Defense has preserved documents on the presentation of Phlegont Nikanorovich Bylin with awards. Here is an entry from November 7, 1943: "Award Ph. N. Bylin guards’ private, telephone operator of the 2nd division, 31st guards’ artillery brigade with the medal "For Bravery". Being at the frontlines since the beginning of the Patriotic War, he showed courage and bravery in performing combat tasks. Distinguished himself in the battles near village Old Tuksha and Ivanovshina. In 21.10.43, provided communication between settlements under the machine-gun and mortar fire of the enemy, repaired the line three times, thereby the division supported the infantry offensive in time." Entry from October 31, 1944: "Comrade Bylin works as a division postman, performing his duties exclusively in good faith. He delivers newspapers, magazines, and mail to the batteries under any combat conditions, under enemy fire. During the period of his work as a postman, there was not a single case that, due to his fault, correspondence was not delivered on time to the divisions. Bylin takes great care of the fighters, on his own initiative helps the fighters find their relatives, helps illiterate fighters write letters. Comrade Bylin constantly explains the inadmissibility of disclosing military secrets in sent letters to the soldiers, enforces the rules for filling in the address and checks them for errors. To be awarded the order of the Red Star". After the victory over Germany, Phlegont Nikanorovich continued his military service in Poland until March 20, 1946. After demobilization, he returned to his small homeland, to the village of Ambartsevo, where he assumed the duties of the commissioner for the delivery and sale of food on the collective farm. In the fall of 1946, he married a young countrywoman, Anastasia Yakovlevna Mikheeva. In 1947, under an agreement with the forestry enterprise, Phlegont Nikanorovich and his family moved to create a logging site in the village of Sulzat, where he was one of the first to build a large house. During his career, he worked as a tractor driver and a mechanic, simultaneously taking crash course training courses, graduated from a school in the city of Krasnoyarsk, receiving a mechanic's degree. Phlegont Nikanorovich has been a member of the CPSU since 1944. Being an advanced worker, he took an active part in the public life of the timber industry, was repeatedly elected to the district and regional party committees. During his lifetime, he was an exemplary husband and father of a large family. With Anastasia Yakovlevna, they raised seven children: 4 sons and 3 daughters. Their motto for raising their children was: "Work, learn and learn again! » Despite the difficult post-war years, all children received education, five of them graduated from universities. Being overjoyed by the success of children, admiring his growing grandchildren, Phlegont Nikanorovich was often saddened by the memories of the harsh years of the war, which affected his health. Frontline injuries and concussions had a visible effect, which subsequently led him to a disability of the II degree. In 1987, he and his wife moved to the village of Molchanovo. Their children and grandchildren did not forget them and visited often. Phlegont Nikanorovich died on August 14, 1988, but the good and bright memory of him is alive in the hearts of not only his relatives, but also many Molchanovites.