Heroes and feats

Volkova Anna Matveevna_x000D_ _x000D_ A generation that survived the horror of the war years. From the memoirs of Anna Matveyevna Volkova. Recorded By Melentsova E. V. April 2019. Anya was born on December 28, 1930, in the village of Nazarino, Novgorod region in a large friendly family with 6 children. When the war began, the girl was less than 11 years old. She went to the 3rd grade, and could not study any more. Anna Matveyevna's father went to war on the second day, it was necessary to help her mother. Her mother had a baby at that time, but she was sent to logging, and Anya often replaced her mother. She worked in the woods with old people. When she arrived on the first day, they looked at her sceptically and one asked: "What can you do?" "Before you start cutting down a tree, you must first clear the snow from the trunk, then clean the paths in different directions, make a notch at the bottom of the trunk, and then start sawing a little higher," the lively girl replied. "What are the paths for?» To escape if the tree falls in the wrong place." Her dad taught her these skills. Experienced woodcutters were surprised by the girl's ingenuity and no longer laughed at her. Therefore, Anya became a woodcutter. The trees seemed to grow up to the sky, it was hard, her mother was very worried about her, but Annushka never complained. Such was her character. In the winter, she worked on clearing railway tracks, and in the spring, she dug ditches to drain water. Not far from the village, there was a military airfield, Anya went there to cut down Christmas trees, and they masked the planes. German planes flew daily, searched for the airfield, and bombed other places, but the airfield was never found. Sometimes planes, if they saw people in the fields and meadows, fired at them. For some reason, there was no fear. One day, an important man with beautiful shoulder straps came to the airfield where Anya worked, and when he saw little Anya, he asked if she could cook. "I can do anything," she said glibly. Then he asked her to become a daughter of the regiment. "Here is the son of a regiment, and you will be the daughter of a regiment." However, the girl flatly refused. She had a mother and siblings to feed. Then Anya's brother went to the front, he was a signalman. And Anya worked loading the forest, in spring and summer they ploughed, sowed, mowed the grass. She worked as a trailer driver, and thatched roofs with the grandfather. Whatever she had to do, she went where she was sent and always worked conscientiously. A little girl, just a child. There was no time for games because after work, you also had to help with the housework at home. All those years, her mother kept a cow, which gave very little milk, but it was there - for small. Not once was she "advised" to slaughter a cow for meat, but her mother refused point-blank. Newly born young animals were slaughtered for meat. The collective farm did not give money, only 200-300 g of grain per person per month, and small children were given coupons. They planted potatoes, vegetables, dried pipes, collected various herbs in the summer and worked... Together with her mother, Anya worked up to 1000 workdays a year. Then came the Victory. Her father came from the front, and her brother returned 3-4 years later. They were both twice wounded and concussed. Life became easier, but Annushka did not return to school, and a different, post-war life began. By the decree of the President of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR from 06.06.1945, Anna Volkova was awarded the medal "for valiant labour in the great Patriotic war of 1941-1945". At that time, she was 14 and a half years old! In total, this simple and very modest woman has 4 medals. And two beautiful sons, daughters-in-law, 2 grandchildren and 2 granddaughters, there are great-grandchildren. They are her pride. I wish you health and joy, Anna Matveyevna. A low bow to you from all of us who have not seen the war. And peace to all of us, so that this will never happen again. Never.

Vasiliev Ivan Petrovich_x000D_ _x000D_ Vasiliev Ivan Petrovich, a pontooner of the 9th separate motorized pontoon bridge battalion (60th army, Central front), Sergeant. Born on August 2, 1921, in the village of Turmanskoe, Cherepovets district, Vologda region, in a peasant family. Russian. After finishing seven classes, in 1937 he went to Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), graduated from an industrial training centre (ITC) at the Krasniy Treugolnik factory. Having received the fifth category of a locksmith, he worked as a locksmith at the Onega metallurgical plant in Petrozavodsk. In 1939, he returned to Leningrad and worked as a locksmith at the Bolshevik factory. Drafted into the army on 23.04.1941. He met the war on June 22, 1941, when the school of Junior commanders, located in summer camps almost at the border, was bombed by Nazi aircraft. The remaining cadets were loaded into cars and sent east. After a short training in pontoon and mine demolition, Junior Sergeant Vasiliev I. P. was sent to the ninth separate motorized pontoon bridge battalion. He fought on the Southwestern, Don, Stalingrad (medal "for the defence of Stalingrad"), Western, Central, first Ukrainian (medal "for the defence of Kyiv), first and second Belorussian fronts. The battalion was in either the army or front-line subordination and provided assault river crossing in the most important combat operations. He especially distinguished himself during the Chernihiv-Pripyat offensive operation (August 26-September 30, 1943) - an integral part of the Chernihiv-Poltava strategic operation, where, as part of the battalion, he ensured the crossing of the Dnieper by the troops of the 60th army, North of Kyiv. On the first day of the crossing, September 26, 1943, in the area of the village of Stary Glybov (Kozeletsky district of Chernihiv region), his squad ferried under enemy fire to the right Bank of the Dnieper to an infantry battalion with attached light artillery. During the crossing, I. P. Vasiliev, having installed an easel machine gun on his pontoon, covered the landing with machine-gun fire. By a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of October 17, 1943, for courage and heroism shown during the assault crossing of the Dnieper, Ivan Petrovich Vasiliev was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal. In 1944, Sergeant I. p. Vasiliev was sent to short-term courses, after which he was awarded the rank of Junior Lieutenant. He ended the war as the commander of a mine-blasting platoon. Since 1946, junior Lieutenant I. P. Vasiliev was in the reserve. He returned to Leningrad. He worked as a supervisor of fitters in the All-Union scientific research Institute of television. He put into operation TV centres in Tashkent, Komsomolsk-on-Amur and many others. For labour achievements, he was awarded the Order of the October Revolution, a certificate of Honor of the Central Committee of the Komsomol. For active participation in the construction of the Tashkent TV centre, he was awarded a Certificate of Honour by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Uzbek SSR. He died on August 22, 2010. He was buried at the Kolpinsky cemetery in Saint Petersburg.

Voronkov Sergey Pavlovich_x000D_ _x000D_ A participant of the Great Patriotic War. According to the roll of the 320 reserve rifle division from 25.03.1943 for 1,110 soldiers who were in Nazi captivity and encirclement, Sergey Pavlovich served as a private of a separate artillery division before the encirclement and after leaving the encirclement was sent as a telephone operator to the Third battalion of the Third company of a separate artillery division of the 478 rifle regiment of the 320 rifle division of the 44 army. Then he fought as a private in the 346 rifle regiment of the 63 rifle division. On December 11, 1943, during the offensive on Kakhovka, he was seriously wounded and sent to the hospital. In May 1944, he returned to his unit and was sent to the Belorussian front, where in June he distinguished himself in the battles during the breakthrough of the Vitebsk defence. Breaking through the first line of defence of the Germans, the platoon in which Voronkov was located occupied the enemy dugout. The next dugout was on the right and had a trench connecting these dugouts. Following the order of the platoon commander, Voronkov went to the dugout, where a German machine gunner was reloading a machine gun. Voronkov shot him with a rifle. When he heard the Germans talking in the dugout, he threw a grenade and killed two more Germans. With his feat, Voronkov secured the right flank and rear for the advancing units. From July 1944, as part of the same front and unit, as a corporal in the position of squad commander, in August, during the attack on the city of Konigsberg, he replaced the wounded platoon commander and conducted a successful battle. On October 22, 1944, he was slightly wounded. At home, he was long believed to have been killed on July 9, 1944, and buried near the town of Korve in the Mazhekiai district of the Lithuanian SSR. His name even appeared on the marble slabs at the Eternal flame in Kaspiysk. After the war, an All-Union Communist Party candidate corporal Voronkov served as an electrician for the technical battalion of the 9 separate reserve regiment of mechanical railway works. Was married. His wife Efrosinya Vasilyevna lived in Dvigatelstroy in 1944. On November 6, 1947, he was awarded the Order of Glory second grade for his feats.

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".

Vlasov Vyacheslav Mikhailovich_x000D_ _x000D_ Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Vlasov was born in 1924 in the city of Tula, in an ordinary working-class family. In 1940, he graduated from the eighth high school. When the Great Patriotic war began, he was 17 years old. And since he couldn’t be drafted into the army yet, Vyacheslav Mikhailovich participated in the labour front. He worked as a projectionist in the house of the Red Army. At this time, there were a large number of wounded soldiers in Tula. Tula was a rear city, so there were large sanitary and medical formations here. All the city schools were turned into hospitals. Vyacheslav Mikhailovich showed films to wounded soldiers. At the same time, he participated in defence construction: they built barricades, dug trenches and anti-tank ditches. In 1942, 18 years old, Vyacheslav Mikhailovich was drafted into the army. For a month, he was doing a training course of radio operators in Moscow, and having received specialization of the radio operator, was sent to the Don front in the third heavy guards of the Order of the Red Banner brigade named in honour of Kutuzov, which was the breakthrough brigade. The main tasks of the radio operator were to ensure uninterrupted communication with the infantry, regiment, battalion, adjustment of firing points, and elimination of accidents. For the heroic defence of Stalingrad, he was awarded the medal "For the defence of Stalingrad". The service of a radio operator was not easy, he had to work in a 40-degree frost when not only hands but also the radio station freezes. For good service and valour, Vyacheslav Mikhailovich was awarded the medal "For bravery" in 1942. The presentation of this medal was a memorable day for the fighter. Its presentation was held in the Kremlin. A hard soldier's life was united by friendship and mutual assistance between the soldiers. A Soviet soldier has a sense of solidarity with the soldiers of other countries. American and British soldiers were fighting alongside Soviet soldiers. They were sharing all the hardships and joys of war, shared one piece of bread and covered themselves with one greatcoat. In 1943, Vyacheslav Mikhailovich was accepted into the ranks of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. That solemn day of receiving a party ticket remained in his memory for life. While serving on the Western front, while performing a combat mission, Vyacheslav Mikhailovich was seriously wounded in the head. After treatment, V. M. continued to fight for our Motherland. He participated in the liberation of cities in Poland and Czechoslovakia, 12 German cities, for which he has four commendations of the Supreme commander. With fights reached Berlin, for which he was presented to the medal "For the liberation of Berlin". After the end of the war, Vyacheslav Mikhailovich was sent to the Kuril Islands. However, the service did not last long. The injuries suffered could not but affect health. In 1947, for health reasons, he was demobilized and is a Second World War disabled veteran.

Vasily Mikhailovich Volyntsev_x000D_ _x000D_ Vasily Mikhailovich Volyntsev was born into a peasant family. In October 1941, he was drafted into the Red Army. He participated in the battles with the German-fascist invaders since July 1942 on the Southwestern, Don, Steppe and First Ukrainian fronts. Junior Sergeant of Guards, commander of the communications department of the Second division of the 130 guards artillery regiment of the 58th guards Krasnograd rifle division. He was injured. He was awarded the medal "for bravery". V. M. Volyntsev died in October 1943 in one of the battles for the liberation of Ukraine. Junior Sergeant Volyntsev was ordered to establish a wire connection between the banks of the Dnieper. Volyntsev and his squad built a raft, took two signalmen and began to cross. From the raft, a telephone wire running from coils was lowered into the river. However, the Nazis discovered them and opened heavy artillery and mortar fire. Both signalmen were injured. Volyntsev threw himself into the autumn water and began pushing the raft ahead of him. Finally, they reached the shore. Volyntsev found a convenient place for observation, hastily dug a trench and connected the device. - "Volga", "Volga"! I'm “Dnipro”! – They heard on the left bank. The connection was established. Following the scouts, infantry units crossed under heavy fire and fought to expand the bridgehead. The division commander arrived with them, and the artillery began powerful processing of the front edge of the enemy's defence. The projectiles hit the target accurately. First, the enemy machine guns and mortars were silenced, and then two artillery batteries were destroyed. Taking advantage of this, the units of the division resumed the assault crossing. The fascists launched fierce counterattacks. Suddenly, the callsigns "Volga! Volga!” no one answered. Volintsev understood: the cable was broken. He ran along the line, wire in hand. The coastal wire was fine. That meant there was a break in the water. For an hour in cold water, under heavy fire, which was waged by the Nazis, Volyntsev was connecting the telephone wire breaks. The connection was continuous, and the division with its firepower helped the rifle units to overturn the enemy. The title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded on December 20, 1943.

Alexey Makarovich Vakulenko_x000D_ _x000D_ Title: Red army man Type of troops: Land forces, air force (except naval aviation), coast service, NKVD troops, border guards. My dad, Alexey Makarovich Vakulenko, was a responsible, purposeful guy. After graduating from high school, he enrolled in a tractor driver's course. After successfully completing it, Alexey began working as the tractor driver on a collective farm. And here he showed himself from the best side. He was sharp and smart at work. Therefore, he did everything at a high level. His parents and brothers were proud of his achievements. On June 22, 1941, the Nazis broke into our territory like angry dogs that broke loose. Alexey Makarovich Vakulenko worked at this time as a tractor driver on a collective farm. In 1941, he was not called up to the front but got an exemption. Tractor drivers were very necessary for a collective farm or a state farm. After all, they were the main suppliers of food for the Red Army. However, when the situation for the country was critical and dangerous, they also called male tractor drivers to the front. Therefore, women under the accelerated program mastered the profession of a tractor driver and sat at the wheel of iron horses, thereby replacing the men who went to the front. Alexandra Nikolaevna Rybalkina, the future wife of Alexey Makarovich Vakulenko, also took the wheel of one of the tractors in the village. At that time, she was already an experienced tractor driver, had experience at the wheel. Alexey Makarovich Vakulenko left to defend his Homeland. Alexey Makarovich was called to the front by the Lyubinsky district military Commissariat of the Omsk region. He was physically fit to go to the Navy. He was a little above average height, muscular, strong, courageous, bold and determined. Upon arrival at the front on the Crimean Peninsula, Alexey Makarovich was sent to the eighth marine brigade. What were they, the Marines? These are ordinary guys, carefully prepared for a fight with the Germans in close combat, physically very strong, mentally stable, desperate, brave and selflessly loving their Homeland. In a short time, a group of guys who arrived together with Alexey Makarovich Vakulenko, was taught by experienced commanders all the techniques of fighting with an arrogant enemy. I must say that the Marines were thrown to the part of the front where a critical situation was created. When the German soldiers had to come face to face with the Marines, the mere sight of a striped vest and a jacket, made them horrified. As the Germans themselves admitted, who remained miraculously alive, after meeting with the Marines: "He can kill with a machine gun, if he runs out of ammunition- he will stab with a knife-bayonet. The bayonet-knife flown off, he hits the head with the butt of the machine gun, hitting fatal blows. The butt of the machine gun flown off, it gives way to a sapper shovel, a shovel is out of order, a massive badge on a belt is used, a badge flew off – heavy fists are used and forged shoes and a head come to the rescue”. These were the Marines of the 8th brigade, in which Alexey Makarovich Vakulenko fought. The Marines of the 8th brigade fought with exceptional courage. More than once, they found themselves surrounded, but broke free. In two days of bloody fighting, the 8th brigade lost 1,700 personnel. However, the fascists wedged themselves into the defence of the 8th brigade. From June 23, 1942, to June 28, 1942, the 8th marine brigade of Marines fought in the area of Sakharnaya Golovka hill near the village of Novye Shuli. Having captured the Northern side on June 23, 1942, the troops of the 11th army of the fascists, after a five-day respite, early in the morning on June 29, 1942, began crossing the Main Bay on the section of the Shipside. At the same time, they launched an assault on Mount Sapun. Here in this fierce battle between the Soviet defenders and the German-fascist invaders, a brave man, a true patriot of the Soviet Motherland, an ordinary marine Alexey Makarovich Vakulenko, took an active part. The remaining Marines of the 8th brigade were taken to Novorossiysk by a torpedo boat. Alexey Makarovich Vakulenko was included in the Marines of the rifle regiment, where he fought with the Nazi invaders in the area of Novorossiysk until November 1942. And in the same month, Alexey Makarovich Vakulenko was seriously wounded in the right leg. Fortunately, a nearby comrade was not confused and provided assistance in time. Soon paramedics arrived and carried him to a safe distance. Then the medical instructor provided emergency assistance to Alexey Makarovich, loaded him on a car and sent him to a field hospital, but before that, he said: “Alexey, consider that you were born under the lucky star, the wound is very serious”. If the sanitary instructor had not arrived in time, it is unlikely that we would have had the opportunity to write about Alexey Makarovich now. Doctors, having well checked the condition and degree of damage to the right leg of the marine soldier, sent the wounded man to the military hospital № 2731. Amputation of the lower limb was in question. However, thank God, a heaven-born surgeon was operating, and Alexey Makarovich saved his leg. Alexey Makarovich was under treatment for a long time, and his leg function was restoring slowly. He was staying there from November 1942 to November 1943. After treatment, he rushed to the front again, believing that he had not yet fully paid off the Nazis. He wanted to continue to beat the fascists and defend his Homeland. But the military medical Commission at the hospital decided that the marine of the 8th marine brigade is not suitable for military combat service. And Alexey Makarovich Vakulenko was dismissed from the ranks of the Armed Forces of the USSR and sent home. Alexey Makarovich Vakulenko was awarded the medal "For military valour", the medal "For the defence of Sevastopol", the medal "For bravery", the medal "For the victory over Germany" for his courage and bravery during the Great Patriotic war of 1941-1945. This is the military path that our hero Alexey Makarovich Vakulenko went through, although not long, but hellish, and in which, fortunately, he miraculously managed to survive. In peacetime, Alexey Makarovich Vakulenko was awarded the "Veteran of labour" medal for high performance in labour and organizational skills. He was encouraged many times by the leaders of agriculture with thanks, certificates, valuable gifts, cash bonuses, and the right to purchase an unscheduled car. As a person, as a mid-level manager, he enjoyed unquestionable authority and great respect among those with whom he had to live and work. He left the brightest, kindest human memory of himself. I, Antonida Alekseevna, the youngest in the family, which had 8 children, do not know much about his military fate. My sisters and I, according to the recollections from my father's stories, restored his military path bit by bit. Dad didn't like to talk about the war. It was a very sore subject for him. And when I pestered him to tell me something, he always told me: “My daughter, it was a terrible time and God forbid you to know what war is”. Tears welled up in his eyes, which he furtively brushed away. He probably did not want to injure my childish psyche, and many military events were still taboo at that time. I remember how in the 5th grade we were given a task to write about the fighting path of our father, grandfather, and uncle. I really asked my father to tell me what war is and at least a small episode from military life. After some silence, dad picked up the accordion and began to play, singing his favourite front-line song "Oh, roads, dust and fog...”. There were tears running down his face, but he didn't hide them anymore. I remember my dad playing this tune from time to time, and it was always with pain in his eyes and tears. On Victory Day, May 9, after the rally, dad would come home and always pick up the accordion and play this tune, and I would sit next to him and listen, not understanding even then, because of my age, why dad had such pain in his eyes. It wasn't until I grew up that I realized how much my dad was hurt by the memories of the war. I know that during one of the fights, dad was injured. Shrapnel damaged the foot of his foot, and the hospital sewed it on, but the nerve was damaged. He had a big scar on his leg for the rest of his life. The wound often bothered him, but he tried not to show it to anyone. I also remember my dad going to the Victory day celebration on May 9. He was always in high spirits, dressed in his formal suit, which had awards on it. My dad always polished them, and they were very shiny. I loved watching it and asked my dad why he rubs them so hard. And dad said that these awards were very dear to him, that it was a memory. How proud I was of my father when I stood guard at the Obelisk on such a festive day and saw him on the podium with his head held high and medals shining on his jacket. And I remember the sense of responsibility and pride when we, the pioneers, gave a salute to war veterans and honour the memory of the fallen soldiers. It was very touching for us, schoolchildren, and it was considered an honour to stand guard. My father has always been an example of sincerity and decency for me. He was always very kind, caring, and loving. We, 7 daughters and 1 son, have never heard a rude word from dad, let alone cursing. Dad never scolded or beat us. If one of us did something wrong, he sat him down next to him and calmly explained the unsightliness of this act. We all grew up in the love and care of our parents. We children, in all the years we have lived in our parents' home, never heard a quarrel between our father and mother or a rude attitude towards each other. They always loved, respected and appreciated each other, setting an example for us. And we are very grateful to them for this. They invested in us, in their children, the kindness and sincerity and warmth of their hearts. The bright memory of my father and mother will always be in our hearts."

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.

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.

Vasina Maria Yakovlevna_x000D_ _x000D_ Type of troops: Land forces, air force (except naval aviation), coast service, NKVD troops, border guard. My mother Vasina Maria Yakovlevna (29.12.1925 – 10.11.2011) went through the entire war. She was called up when she was 15 years old. First, as a Komsomol member, to the hospital as a nurse. The hospital was located in a school (she no longer remembered the number) in Smolensk. She was born in the village of Volkovo, Yelninsky district, Smolensk region. According to my mother's stories, it was even worse than at the front later. They brought wounded soldiers: almost her age, the same age as her older brothers, the same age as her father, and the same age as her grandfather from a neighbouring farm. All the time: blood, parts of human bodies, the agony, the cries, dressings, basins, bandages. In addition, the smell of trouble that haunted her for so long... and the echo, the eerie echo, under the high ceilings in the hallways and classrooms. In moments of rest - reading, writing letters, amateur concerts. From fatigue, the girls did not even go home after duty; they slept in free utility rooms. In less than 18 years, she was already at the front. First in frontline intelligence. Since she knew German and Polish perfectly, "Vasya" made the transition with the reconnaissance group across the front line more than once. But after the liberation of Smolensk, she received a letter from her family … The news of the execution of her older brother Alexander, a partisan, and the attempt to steal her very young brother Mikhail and sister Zinaida to Germany, aroused in her only one indomitable desire to KILL FASCISTS. Which completely deprived her of caution, discretion. And ... they transferred her to a front-line bakery. There she received her third military specialty - a baker. Heavy cast-iron moulds, oven, wagon train, shelling, bombing-these are the "charms" of the front-line bakery. However, my mother didn't give up… She ended the war in 1945 in the city of Kaliningrad. She had many awards: medals, orders. Nevertheless, there is one special "For bravery". I would like to tell you more about this award. I read a lot about the war, about the exploits of Soviet soldiers in that war, but for some reason, they don't really try to talk about this episode - they observe political correctness! When the Soviet troops entered the city of Konigsberg (Kaliningrad), it was surprising to see such a detail – there were almost no people on the streets and in the houses. It was only a few days later that everything became clear. Women, the elderly, children were hiding in the city cemeteries to the tombs, among the graves. They were used as a human shield to hide the Nazis. (They were hiding behind peaceful German old men, women and children, not Russians, not Ukrainians, not Belarusians-as it used to be). They assured that the Red Army would shoot them, torture them, and rape them… Persuasion over the loudspeakers did not bring results. Then girls (including my mother) from intelligence, front-line hospitals, front-line bakeries, signalmen-who spoke languages-went to these city cemeteries. Personally, she led people out of the cemetery near some old Church of the 17th-18th century. There were large family vaults… Without weapons, with a smile, with a pure heart. As my mother told me, several girls were killed (unfortunately, she no longer remembered the exact number) by the Nazis hiding there. Every time she saw her older brother shot, and her younger siblings who had been given kerosene in the camp... There were tears in his eyes. Still, time after time, she went to talk, convince, save, bring out, take out... 70 years have passed. I really hope that someone else remembers this quiet feat of our young mothers-who saved hundreds of lives of Konigsberg citizens at the cost of their lives. To my great regret, I have no way to access the archives. Maybe someone is still alive. And I would love to see those for whom they sacrificed their lives! I hope that this information will be interesting in the overall picture of our VICTORY!

Andrey Dmitrievich Vodolazov_x000D_ _x000D_ Title: Sergeant Branch of the army: Artillery. This was an old soldier Vodolazov. There are events over which time has no control, and the further back the years go, the clearer their greatness becomes. Such events include the Great Patriotic war. When you look back at the historical path of the country, get acquainted with the fate of our people, make sure that the predictions about the fate of Russia are true – it is immortal. Any other state would not have withstood a tenth of the trials that our compatriots have befallen. What is the secret of life force? The strength of any state is in its citizens, in their ability and desire to protect their native land, to work honestly and creatively. The fate of a country and a citizen are inseparable. These are words about the older generation of my family – my great-grandfather. Andrey Dmitrievich Vodolazov – my great-grandfather, was born on September 3, 1916. His childhood was difficult, as he grew up without parents. His father died in the Civil war, and his mother died when he was 11 years old. He had to live on a farm, where he worked as a feeder: he fed the cattle, and in the summer, he worked as a shepherd. Everyone felt sorry for the early orphan, people helped in any way they could. In 1936, the Peskov district military enlistment office called him up to the Black sea Navy, where he served for 5 years on a cargo boat “Wolf”. The war found Andrey Dmitrievich in the city of Stalingrad, where he left his native village and worked at a factory. Under the law on labour service, he was assigned to his factory, which produced weapons for the front. When the enemy began to approach Stalingrad, he had to take up arms. Andrey Dmitrievich fought shoulder to shoulder with the Stalingrad militia, soldiers and sailors for every inch of Stalingrad land. With great joy, he learned about the Red Army's transition to the offensive and finished off the fascists in the city. After the end of the battle of Stalingrad, Andrey Dmitrievich was sent to train as an anti-aircraft gunner. In the early spring of 1943, he was appointed a commander of the 292 separate anti-aircraft artillery division. Andrey Dmitrievich had to go through the pitch-black heat of the battle of Kursk. The Central front under the command of K. K. Rokossovsky took the heaviest blow of the enemy's tank columns. In the same days, there were fierce battles for air supremacy between the Soviet and German aircraft. The task of the division was to provide maximum assistance to aviation by destroying enemy bombers and fighters. And all this in the conditions of ground combat, when it seemed that the earth was splitting from the explosions, and everything was burning around. For every soldier, the war does not pass without a trace; it leaves a wound in every heart. Here, in 1943, Andrey Dmitrievich received a severe concussion and spent a long time in the hospital. On discharge, he went back to the front, where he was appointed senior commander of the 293 separate anti-aircraft artillery division. So, in January 1945, the fighting for the liberation of Poland began. Expelling the Nazis from Warsaw, Krakow, freeing dozens of Polish cities, the first Belorussian front moved to Berlin, Andrei Dmitrievich remembers razed cities, miserable, poor Polish villages and joy in the eyes of people waiting for their liberators. Andrey Dmitrievich - a participant of the assault of Berlin. For two weeks, there were bloody battles in the city, but even here, the anti-aircraft gunners had enough work. The enemy threw the last remnants of their aircraft at the attacking troops and found death from the accurate fire of anti-aircraft gunners. For military services during the great Patriotic war, Andrey Dmitrievich was awarded medals: for participation in the battles for Rostov-on-Don 20.10.1941, the defence of the Volga on May 9, 1943, Warsaw January 1945, Berlin April 1945, the medal for the defence of Stalingrad, for the liberation of Warsaw, for the conquest of Berlin, for the victory over Germany. Returning from the front to his native village, a soldier who had been missing the land was happy to join the collective farm life. For many years, Andrey Dmitrievich worked as a tractor driver, then in animal husbandry and always conscientiously performed his duties. It was difficult for Andrey Dmitrievich and his wife Alexandra Yakovlevna: hard work on the collective farm and household, raising five children. In the evenings, neighbours gathered on benches near the house under the branches. Andrey Dmitrievich took out an old accordion, and long Ukrainian songs and fervent ditties poured over the village. The laughter continued until late at night. Happy is a man if he has managed to preserve the youth of his soul until old age. This is the role that the war played in my family's history. How many people died, how many children were orphaned, how many mothers lost their sons, and how many wives lost their husbands. How many destinies were destroyed by the war, how many hearts were torn apart. It hurts to think about it, but you can't stop thinking about it!

Vakhmenin Matvey Egorovich_x000D_ _x000D_ Matvey Vakhmenin, a participant of the battle of Stalingrad, was born in 1913 in the village of Solodniki in the Chernoyarsky district of the Astrakhan region. Guards corporal, commander of the sapper platoon, which was at that time part of the 57th and then 64th armies of the Don front. In September 1942, when the enemy began to advance on Stalingrad, he was called to the front by the Kirov district military Commissariat of Stalingrad. He joined the sapper company of the 50 guards rifle regiment of the 15th guards rifle division, the full name of which is the Kharkiv-Prague Order of Lenin, the Red Banner Order of Suvorov and Kutuzov division. The division was formed in September 1939 in Gorky as the 136 rifle division. On February 16, 1942, it was transformed into the 15 guards rifle division for military services. Sapper Wakhmenin participated in the demining of the Stalingrad earth. Under cover of darkness, knee-deep in snow, often under fire from Nazi snipers, together with sappers, he made passages in the barriers, removed minefields-prepared the way for advancing troops. On January 13, 1943, during the offensive of our troops near the village of Stary Rogachik in the Stalingrad region, under heavy machine-gun and rifle fire from the enemy in 40-degree frost, the fighter Vakhmenin provided passage for our infantry in a snow-covered area. The mines were frozen into the ground, covered with a thick layer of snow, but the hands did their job. On this day, sapper Vakhmenin personally removed 51 mines. For exemplary performance of a combat mission, he was awarded the medal "For military merit". In addition to mine clearance, his company built defensive lines, floating bridges, and put out fires. During the fierce fighting for the city of Stalingrad near the village of Dar-Gora, he was seriously wounded and taken to the hospital, where he lost his leg. In March 1943, he was dismissed from the Red Army due to a serious injury. At the age of 30, he became a disabled war veteran. He had combat awards: the Order of the Patriotic war, 1st rank, medals: "For the defence of Stalingrad", "For military merit" and 15 anniversary medals. He died in 2011 at the age of 98.

Vlasov Nikolai Dmitrievich_x000D_ _x000D_ Rank: Junior Sergeant. Branch of service: artillery. Division: 64th rifle division (1st formation). Junior Sergeant of Guards Nikolai Dmitrievich Vlasov, born in 1924, a native of the Chuvash ASSR, Shemurshinsky district, called up by The Shemurshinsky Regional Military Commissariat in August 1942, demobilized in 1947. He fought as part of the 134 guards artillery regiment, 64 guards rifle division of the Leningrad front as an artillery gunner. The following battle rewards are added to the account card: 1. Medal "for bravery" № 333940, TSAMO, f-33, f.a-686044, i-18254712, feat 22.07.1943-28.07.1943, 31.07.1943. Duty station: 134 GV. AP 64 GV. SD Lenf. Date of the feat: 22.07.1943-28.07.1943, 31.07.1943. Place of the feat: USSR, Leningrad, the Neva river near the 8th hydroelectric station Arbuzovo. Rank: Red Army guard. Operation Iskra (1943) (liberation of Leningrad). Rewarding of the gunner of the 6th battery – guard of the Red Army, VLASOV Nikolay Dmitriyevich, because he, in battle fromm 22 till 28.07.1943 year in the area of hydro electric power station Arbuzovo, thanks to the precise aiming of his weapon, destroyed 5 Bunkers, 3 observation posts and 3 machine-gun nests of the enemy. 31.07.1943 year when conducting artillery fire on the enemy, the latter began to conduct counter-battery fire on the strong point of our battery. Comrade VLASOV, risking his life, continued to shoot from his gun, without reducing the pace and accuracy of shooting. 2. Medal "for bravery" # 2400511, TSAMO, f-33, o-686196, z-25431669, feat 22.10.1944-24.10.1944 Place of service: 134 GV. AP 64 GV. SD Lenf. Date of the feat: 22.10.1944-24.10.1944. Location feat: Estonia, Finland, Moonsund archipelago, the Peninsula of sõrve. Title: red army soldier Unomzund operation (1944) (liberation of Estonia). Awarding of the signalman of the 6th battery-guard of the red army Nikolai Dmitrievich VLASOV, For the fact that he was in the battles with the German occupiers in the area of the p/o SYRVE from 22 to 24.10.1944 three times corrected the telephone communication between the NP battery commander and the OP under heavy mortar and artillery fire by the enemy, communication in his area worked smoothly.On the Syrve Peninsula, the following units of German troops were defeated: the 23rd, 218th and 215th infantry divisions, the 531st and 532nd coastal defense artillery divisions, the 583rd security battalion, and others. The enemy lost up to 7 thousand people killed and about 700 prisoners. The KBF sank or damaged about 100 enemy vessels. Hanila Vald laenemaa, Estonia Latitude 58°32 ' 36 "N (58.543402) Longitude 23°38' 10 "E (23.635996) 3. Medal "for the defense of Leningrad", TSAMO, f-424, o-10247, Z-1537220736. 4. Order of the Patriotic War second grade, No. 86.

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.

Vorobyova Agrippina Timofeevna_x000D_ _x000D_ Branch of the armed forces: Signal Troops. Vorobyova (Ermolina) Agrippina Timofeevna, was born on June 22, 1921, in the Altai territory, Altai district in the village of Torak. Mother-Ermolina Fiena Stepanovna. Father-Yermolin Timofey Zakharovich. It was an ordinary peasant family with 11 children. After sending five children to the front, the mother's heart failed, and she died in 1943. In 1942, Agrippina Timofeevna asked the Komsomol district Committee to take her to the front as a volunteer. On May 1, 1942, she went to Gorky for a 6-month special-purpose intelligence-training course and, after completing it, went to the front. She was assigned to the 541 radio division named after B. Khmelnitsky, as a scout-radio operator. Division "OSNAZ" led monitor the activities of enemy aircraft. My grandmother had a difficult task - to intercept and decipher the fascist radio messages. To do this, she had to learn Morse code and master the equipment in a short time. The radio division named after B. Khmelnitsky was "hunted" by the Germans because it was the only one on the entire front. In the winter of 1943, near the city of Leningrad, my grandmother intercepted an encrypted radio message that the Germans were planning to bomb our military hospital in the city of Valdai. For this, she received the Order of the Patriotic war and the Order of Military Glory second grade. My grandmother was on many fronts: the Northwestern front from 06.1941-02.1944, the 1st Belorussian front from 02.1944-11.1944, the first Ukrainian front from 11.1944-09.1945. By their actions, the division's soldiers made an invaluable contribution to the defenсe of the cities of Leningrad, Moscow, the liberation of Minsk, Brest, Warsaw, Prague, the defeat of Nazi Germany and the capture of Berlin! "It is pleasant to remember that on March 31, 1945, in commemoration of the Victory in the battles for the capture of the cities of Ratibor and Biscau, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, saluted the soldiers of the 1st Ukrainian front, including the soldiers of the 541 radio division "Osnaz". The Supreme commander-in-Chief, Marshal of the Soviet Union I. V. Stalin by the order №, thanked the entire staff. 321 of March 31, 1945 ".A retired Colonel I. V. Guslavsky. Military awards: The Order of the Patriotic war; the Order of Military Glory 3rd rank; medals: - a badge "Excellent scout»; - medal "For the liberation of Prague»; - medal "for the liberation of Warsaw" - medal "for the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945"; as well as commemorative medals in honour of Victory Day. After the capture of Berlin, a week later, the division was sent to the Czech Republic, and there until December 15, 1945, Czechoslovakia was being liberated. On December 15, 1945, she was discharged home. After going through the entire war, my grandmother was wounded during the bombing in Warsaw and spent 3 months in the hospital. After the war, my grandmother devoted her life to children, working as a math teacher at school № 29 for forty years. I am very proud to have such a grandmother. And I am very sorry that she has had so many trials. Thanks to the Victory won in that war, we now live under a peaceful sky.