Victory day in Moscow 2012 - the Veterans

[Evgeni M]

Dear All,

Just want to share with you some pictures and stories of the veterans that are still alive and well. It was a pleasure to see that these people receive greatest respect and attention.

Hope you will enjoy it.

Cheers,

Evgeni

[Woolgar]

Do you have pics ?

Nick

[Evgeni M]

Coming up uploading them

[Woolgar]

Coming up uploading them

Sorry

Nick

[Evgeni M]

Air reconnaissance officer. Flew on various planes including La-5. Il-7 and american build Aerocobra. Destroyed 2 enemy fighters above Poland and assisted another aerial victory


Reconnaissance infantry. Took part in the battles in Karelia near Petrazovodsk. Was numerous times behind the enemy lines (more than for 3 years) and single-handedly destroyed an enemy unit send to clear up his reconnaissance unit (for that action he received the order of glory). Took more than 20 prisoners with his unit during reconnaissance operations.

Was severely wounded on his back in present day Finland by a grande. He ended the war in Poland present day Szczecin.



Counter-admiral, born in Far East of Russia. During the war commanded a destroyer (type "Buyny": Миноносцы типа «Буйный» — Википедия) (sadly info only in Russia) and took part in actions against Japan in August 1945. Later became commander of a battleship. Took part in the Cuba Crisis and knows Fidel Castro personally, was in ranks of the navy for 44 years.



Artillery man that commanded an antitank gun - 76mm. He started as a fireman in Moscow during the bombing raids when he was 16. Later received military education and went to the front age 17. He took part in the Kursk operation, operation Bagration (Belarus), fought in Poland (among others a battle for Warsaw), crossed the river Order and went on to Berlin. He fought the last days of war as part of the 1st Belorussian front under command of Zhukov.

The hardest battles were his first battles near Orel in the winter of 1943. His unit had to sleep in the snow at the temperature of -42 degrees and hold out against the enemy attacks. During these battles he was severely wounded during a tank attack and was send to the hospital in Cheliabinsk. In Poland his gun destroyed a Tiger tank and scattered another. In 1945 his unit was one of the first to cross the Order where his gun destroyed counter-attacking enemy unit. Several days later he was wounded by a heavy mortar fire, escaped from the field hospital and returned to his unit to take part in the Berlin operation. He finished the war at Potsdam near Berlin.




Highly decorated combat medic. Started the war at age 17 in Stalingrad, later took part in the battle of Prokhorovka (biggest tank battle of all times with more than 1000 participating tanks from both sides), participated in the battles in Ukraine, Jassy–Kishinev Operation and ended the war in Prague.

She participated during the whole battle of Stalingrad (200 days!) and was the first person to carry a wounded soldier across the 1 km long Volga that was just covered with first ice. She was there as part of the 62nd army of Chuikov (Vasily Chuikov - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) where the fighting was the heaviest of all. It was the same army where fought the famous sniper Vasily Zaitsev, known from the movie enemy at the gate.

Later at the battle of Prokhorovka in 1943 she carried of the battlefield 3 wounded soldiers and fell unconscious because of all the suffering she has seen there.

She is an honored citizen of 3 Ukrainian cities and 2 Czech cities including Prague.



Combat medic and a colleague of the other combat medic. She fought as well during the battle of Stalingrad and carried more than 10 soldiers across the Volga. She fought in the 57th army of Torobukhin



Machine gunner that took part in the battle of Moscow (near Kaluga as part of 1st cavalry corps of General Belov - this division played a pivotal role in the defense of Moscow), Kursk, crossed the Dniepr river where he helped to destroy an enemy counter-attack (he received an Order to Glory for this action), fought on in Ukraine and ended the war in Latvia, Kurland pocket. He fought even after the the Victory day on the Curonian Split (one of the last areas of resistance in Europe) against isolated enemy groups.



General-major of aviation. Participated in the battle for Stalingrad. Unfortunately there was no time to get to know more.




To the left an infantry man that fought from 1942, first in the Caucasus mountains against the German mountain division. Later he fought in Kuban, Kharkov and left bank Ukraine as well as in Vienna ending the war in Check Republic.




Worker of the rear. Worked in Moscow producing ammunition. Later educated as a lorry driver age 19. Transported all types of freight as well as wounded. She was driving a captured enemy truck.


Combat nurse that saved many lives during the war. She served during the battle of Kursk near Orel on the northern pincer of the enemy attack. Later participated in the battle for Warsaw and finished the war in Germany on the Elba where they met with the American and British forces.




Bolshoi theatre, where the veterans gather.

[GIZMO8Z]

Amazing!

[Woolgar]

Superb! Great to see those brave vets adorned with all their medals and awards

[Franz1944]

This is a very good thread thanks you very much. Ive talked to many us vets but not a russain vet. Totally different war in the east.

[Evgeni M]

Thanks for the feedback! There is great webpage where you can read more memories of the Russian veterans: I REMEMBER - I REMEMBER

[Salzburg]

Great report. Very informative and moving.