Representatives of the Soviet air force made a huge contribution to the defeat of the Nazi invaders. Many pilots gave their lives for the freedom and independence of our Motherland, many became Heroes of the Soviet Union. Some of them forever entered the elite of the Russian Air Force, the illustrious cohort of Soviet aces - the threat of the Luftwaffe. Today we remember the 10 most successful Soviet fighter pilots, who accounted for the most enemy aircraft shot down in air battles.
On February 4, 1944, the outstanding Soviet fighter pilot Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub was awarded the first star of the Hero of the Soviet Union. By the end of the Great Patriotic War, he was already three times Hero of the Soviet Union. During the war years, only one more Soviet pilot was able to repeat this achievement - it was Alexander Ivanovich Pokryshkin. But the war does not end with these two most famous aces of Soviet fighter aviation. During the war, another 25 pilots were twice nominated for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, not to mention those who were once awarded this highest military award in the country of those years.
Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub
During the war, Ivan Kozhedub made 330 combat missions, conducted 120 air battles and personally shot down 64 enemy aircraft. He flew on La-5, La-5FN and La-7 aircraft.
Official Soviet historiography listed 62 downed enemy aircraft, but archival research showed that Kozhedub shot down 64 aircraft (for some reason, two air victories were missing - April 11, 1944 - PZL P.24 and June 8, 1944 - Me 109) . Among the trophies of the Soviet ace pilot were 39 fighters (21 Fw-190, 17 Me-109 and 1 PZL P.24), 17 dive bombers (Ju-87), 4 bombers (2 Ju-88 and 2 He-111), 3 attack aircraft (Hs-129) and one Me-262 jet fighter. In addition, in his autobiography, he indicated that in 1945 he shot down two American P-51 Mustang fighters, which attacked him from a long distance, mistaking him for a German plane.
In all likelihood, if Ivan Kozhedub (1920-1991) had started the war in 1941, his count of downed aircraft could have been even higher. However, his debut came only in 1943, and the future ace shot down his first plane in the battle of Kursk. On July 6, during a combat mission, he shot down a German Ju-87 dive bomber. Thus, the pilot’s performance is truly amazing; in just two war years he managed to bring his victories to a record in the Soviet Air Force.
At the same time, Kozhedub was never shot down during the entire war, although he returned to the airfield several times in a heavily damaged fighter. But the last could have been his first air battle, which took place on March 26, 1943. His La-5 was damaged by a burst from a German fighter; the armored back saved the pilot from an incendiary shell. And upon returning home, his plane was fired upon by its own air defense, the car received two hits. Despite this, Kozhedub managed to land the plane, which could no longer be fully restored.
The future best Soviet ace took his first steps in aviation while studying at the Shotkinsky flying club. At the beginning of 1940, he was drafted into the Red Army and in the fall of the same year he graduated from the Chuguev Military Aviation School of Pilots, after which he continued to serve in this school as an instructor. With the beginning of the war, the school was evacuated to Kazakhstan. The war itself began for him in November 1942, when Kozhedub was seconded to the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 302nd Fighter Aviation Division. The formation of the division was completed only in March 1943, after which it flew to the front. As mentioned above, he won his first victory only on July 6, 1943, but a start had been made.
Already on February 4, 1944, Senior Lieutenant Ivan Kozhedub was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, at that time he managed to fly 146 combat missions and shoot down 20 enemy aircraft in air battles. He received his second star in the same year. He was presented for the award on August 19, 1944 for 256 combat missions and 48 downed enemy aircraft. At that time, as a captain, he served as deputy commander of the 176th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment.
In air battles, Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub was distinguished by fearlessness, composure and automatic piloting, which he brought to perfection. Perhaps the fact that before being sent to the front he spent several years as an instructor played a very large role in his future successes in the sky. Kozhedub could easily conduct aimed fire at the enemy at any position of the aircraft in the air, and also easily performed complex aerobatics. Being an excellent sniper, he preferred to conduct air combat at a distance of 200-300 meters.
Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub won his last victory in the Great Patriotic War on April 17, 1945 in the skies over Berlin, in this battle he shot down two German FW-190 fighters. The future air marshal (title awarded on May 6, 1985), Major Kozhedub, became a three-time Hero of the Soviet Union on August 18, 1945. After the war, he continued to serve in the country's Air Force and went through a very serious career path, bringing many more benefits to the country. The legendary pilot died on August 8, 1991, and was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow.
Alexander Ivanovich Pokryshkin
Alexander Ivanovich Pokryshki fought from the very first day of the war to the last. During this time, he made 650 combat missions, in which he conducted 156 air battles and officially personally shot down 59 enemy aircraft and 6 aircraft in the group. He is the second most successful ace of the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition after Ivan Kozhedub. During the war he flew MiG-3, Yak-1 and American P-39 Airacobra aircraft.
The number of aircraft shot down is very arbitrary. Quite often, Alexander Pokryshkin made deep raids behind enemy lines, where he also managed to win victories. However, only those that could be confirmed by ground services were counted, that is, if possible, over their territory. He could have had 8 such unaccounted victories in 1941 alone. Moreover, they accumulated throughout the war. Also, Alexander Pokryshkin often gave the planes he shot down at the expense of his subordinates (mostly wingmen), thus stimulating them. In those years this was quite common.
Already during the first weeks of the war, Pokryshkin was able to understand that the tactics of the Soviet Air Force were outdated. Then he began to write down his notes on this matter in a notebook. He kept a careful record of the air battles in which he and his friends took part, after which he made a detailed analysis of what he had written. Moreover, at that time he had to fight in very difficult conditions of constant retreat of Soviet troops. He later said: “Those who did not fight in 1941-1942 do not know the real war.”
After the collapse of the Soviet Union and massive criticism of everything that was associated with that period, some authors began to “cut down” the number of Pokryshkin’s victories. This was also due to the fact that at the end of 1944, official Soviet propaganda finally made the pilot “a bright image of a hero, the main fighter of the war.” In order not to lose the hero in a random battle, it was ordered to limit the flights of Alexander Ivanovich Pokryshkin, who by that time already commanded the regiment. On August 19, 1944, after 550 combat missions and 53 officially won victories, he became a three-time Hero of the Soviet Union, the first in history.
The wave of “revelations” that washed over him after the 1990s also affected him because after the war he managed to take the post of Commander-in-Chief of the country’s air defense forces, that is, he became a “major Soviet official.” If we talk about the low ratio of victories to sorties, it can be noted that for a long time at the beginning of the war, Pokryshkin flew on his MiG-3, and then the Yak-1, to attack enemy ground forces or perform reconnaissance flights. For example, by mid-November 1941, the pilot had already completed 190 combat missions, but the vast majority of them - 144 - were to attack enemy ground forces.
Alexander Ivanovich Pokryshkin was not only a cold-blooded, brave and virtuoso Soviet pilot, but also a thinking pilot. He was not afraid to criticize the existing tactics of using fighter aircraft and advocated its replacement. Discussions on this matter with the regiment commander in 1942 led to the fact that the ace pilot was even expelled from the party and the case was sent to the tribunal. The pilot was saved by the intercession of the regiment commissar and higher command. The case against him was dropped and he was reinstated in the party. After the war, Pokryshkin had a long conflict with Vasily Stalin, which had a detrimental effect on his career. Everything changed only in 1953 after the death of Joseph Stalin. Subsequently, he managed to rise to the rank of air marshal, which was awarded to him in 1972. The famous ace pilot died on November 13, 1985 at the age of 72 in Moscow.
Grigory Andreevich Rechkalov
Grigory Andreevich Rechkalov fought from the very first day of the Great Patriotic War. Twice Hero of the Soviet Union. During the war he flew more than 450 combat missions, shooting down 56 enemy aircraft personally and 6 in a group in 122 air battles. According to other sources, the number of his personal aerial victories could exceed 60. During the war, he flew I-153 “Chaika”, I-16, Yak-1, P-39 “Airacobra” aircraft.
Probably no other Soviet fighter pilot had such a variety of downed enemy vehicles as Grigory Rechkalov. Among his trophies were Me-110, Me-109, Fw-190 fighters, Ju-88, He-111 bombers, Ju-87 dive bomber, Hs-129 attack aircraft, Fw-189 and Hs-126 reconnaissance aircraft, as well as such a rare car as the Italian Savoy and the Polish PZL-24 fighter, which was used by the Romanian Air Force.
Surprisingly, the day before the start of the Great Patriotic War, Rechkalov was suspended from flying by decision of the medical flight commission; he was diagnosed with color blindness. But upon returning to his unit with this diagnosis, he was still cleared to fly. The beginning of the war forced the authorities to simply turn a blind eye to this diagnosis, simply ignoring it. At the same time, he served in the 55th Fighter Aviation Regiment since 1939 together with Pokryshkin.
This brilliant military pilot had a very contradictory and uneven character. Showing an example of determination, courage and discipline in one mission, in another he could be distracted from the main task and just as decisively begin the pursuit of a random enemy, trying to increase the score of his victories. His combat fate in the war was closely intertwined with the fate of Alexander Pokryshkin. He flew with him in the same group, replacing him as squadron commander and regiment commander. Pokryshkin himself considered frankness and directness to be the best qualities of Grigory Rechkalov.
Rechkalov, like Pokryshkin, fought since June 22, 1941, but with a forced break of almost two years. In the first month of fighting, he managed to shoot down three enemy aircraft in his outdated I-153 biplane fighter. He also managed to fly on the I-16 fighter. On July 26, 1941, during a combat mission near Dubossary, he was wounded in the head and leg by fire from the ground, but managed to bring his plane to the airfield. After this injury, he spent 9 months in the hospital, during which time the pilot underwent three operations. And once again the medical commission tried to put an insurmountable obstacle on the path of the future famous ace. Grigory Rechkalov was sent to serve in a reserve regiment, which was equipped with U-2 aircraft. The future twice Hero of the Soviet Union took this direction as a personal insult. At the district Air Force headquarters, he managed to ensure that he was returned to his regiment, which at that time was called the 17th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. But very soon the regiment was recalled from the front to be re-equipped with new American Airacobra fighters, which were sent to the USSR as part of the Lend-Lease program. For these reasons, Rechkalov began to beat the enemy again only in April 1943.
Grigory Rechkalov, being one of the domestic stars of fighter aviation, was perfectly able to interact with other pilots, guessing their intentions and working together as a group. Even during the war years, a conflict arose between him and Pokryshkin, but he never sought to throw out any negativity about this or blame his opponent. On the contrary, in his memoirs he spoke well of Pokryshkin, noting that they managed to unravel the tactics of the German pilots, after which they began to use new techniques: they began to fly in pairs rather than in flights, it was better to use radio for guidance and communication, and echeloned their machines with the so-called “ bookcase."
Grigory Rechkalov won 44 victories in the Airacobra, more than other Soviet pilots. After the end of the war, someone asked the famous pilot what he valued most in the Airacobra fighter, on which so many victories were won: the power of the fire salvo, speed, visibility, reliability of the engine? To this question, the ace pilot replied that all of the above, of course, mattered; these were the obvious advantages of the aircraft. But the main thing, according to him, was the radio. The Airacobra had excellent radio communication, rare in those years. Thanks to this connection, pilots in battle could communicate with each other, as if on the phone. Someone saw something - immediately all members of the group are aware. Therefore, we did not have any surprises during combat missions.
After the end of the war, Grigory Rechkalov continued his service in the Air Force. True, not as long as other Soviet aces. Already in 1959, he retired to the reserve with the rank of major general. After which he lived and worked in Moscow. He died in Moscow on December 20, 1990 at the age of 70.
Nikolay Dmitrievich Gulaev
Nikolai Dmitrievich Gulaev found himself on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War in August 1942. In total, during the war years he made 250 sorties, conducted 49 air battles, in which he personally destroyed 55 enemy aircraft and 5 more aircraft in the group. Such statistics make Gulaev the most effective Soviet ace. For every 4 missions he had a plane shot down, or on average more than one plane for every air battle. During the war, he flew I-16, Yak-1, P-39 Airacobra fighters; most of his victories, like Pokryshkin and Rechkalov, he won on Airacobra.
Twice Hero of the Soviet Union Nikolai Dmitrievich Gulaev shot down not much fewer planes than Alexander Pokryshkin. But in terms of effectiveness of fights, he far surpassed both him and Kozhedub. Moreover, he fought for less than two years. At first, in the deep Soviet rear, as part of the air defense forces, he was engaged in the protection of important industrial facilities, protecting them from enemy air raids. And in September 1944, he was almost forcibly sent to study at the Air Force Academy.
The Soviet pilot performed his most effective battle on May 30, 1944. In one air battle over Skuleni, he managed to shoot down 5 enemy aircraft at once: two Me-109, Hs-129, Ju-87 and Ju-88. During the battle, he himself was seriously wounded in his right arm, but concentrating all his strength and will, he was able to bring his fighter to the airfield, bleeding, landed and, having taxied to the parking lot, lost consciousness. The pilot only came to his senses in the hospital after the operation, and here he learned that he had been awarded the second title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
The entire time Gulaev was at the front, he fought desperately. During this time, he managed to make two successful rams, after which he managed to land his damaged plane. He was wounded several times during this time, but after being wounded he invariably returned back to duty. At the beginning of September 1944, the ace pilot was forcibly sent to study. At that moment, the outcome of the war was already clear to everyone and they tried to protect the famous Soviet aces by ordering them to the Air Force Academy. Thus, the war ended unexpectedly for our hero.
Nikolai Gulaev was called the brightest representative of the “romantic school” of air combat. Often the pilot dared to commit “irrational actions” that shocked the German pilots, but helped him win victories. Even among other far from ordinary Soviet fighter pilots, the figure of Nikolai Gulaev stood out for its colorfulness. Only such a person, possessing unparalleled courage, would be able to conduct 10 super-effective air battles, recording two of his victories by successfully ramming enemy aircraft. Gulaev's modesty in public and in his self-esteem was dissonant with his exceptionally aggressive and persistent manner of conducting air combat, and he managed to carry openness and honesty with boyish spontaneity throughout his life, retaining some youthful prejudices until the end of his life, which did not prevent him from rising to the rank of rank of Colonel General of Aviation. The famous pilot died on September 27, 1985 in Moscow.
Kirill Alekseevich Evstigneev
Kirill Alekseevich Evstigneev twice Hero of the Soviet Union. Like Kozhedub, he began his military career relatively late, only in 1943. During the war years, he made 296 combat missions, conducted 120 air battles, personally shooting down 53 enemy aircraft and 3 in the group. He flew La-5 and La-5FN fighters.
The almost two-year “delay” in appearing at the front was due to the fact that the fighter pilot suffered from a stomach ulcer, and with this disease he was not allowed to go to the front. Since the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, he worked as an instructor at a flight school, and after that he drove Lend-Lease Airacobras. Working as an instructor gave him a lot, as did another Soviet ace Kozhedub. At the same time, Evstigneev did not stop writing reports to the command with a request to send him to the front, as a result they were nevertheless satisfied. Kirill Evstigneev received his baptism of fire in March 1943. Like Kozhedub, he fought as part of the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment and flew the La-5 fighter. On his first combat mission, on March 28, 1943, he scored two victories.
During the entire war, the enemy never managed to shoot down Kirill Evstigneev. But he got it twice from his own people. The first time the Yak-1 pilot, carried away by air combat, crashed into his plane from above. The Yak-1 pilot immediately jumped out of the plane, which had lost one wing, with a parachute. But Evstigneev’s La-5 suffered less damage, and he managed to reach the positions of his troops, landing the fighter next to the trenches. The second incident, more mysterious and dramatic, occurred over our territory in the absence of enemy aircraft in the air. The fuselage of his plane was pierced by a burst, damaging Evstigneev’s legs, the car caught fire and went into a dive, and the pilot had to jump from the plane with a parachute. At the hospital, doctors were inclined to amputate the pilot’s foot, but he filled them with such fear that they abandoned their idea. And after 9 days, the pilot escaped from the hospital and with crutches traveled 35 kilometers to his home unit.
Kirill Evstigneev constantly increased the number of his aerial victories. Until 1945, the pilot was ahead of Kozhedub. At the same time, the unit doctor periodically sent him to the hospital to treat an ulcer and a wounded leg, which the ace pilot terribly resisted. Kirill Alekseevich was seriously ill since pre-war times; in his life he underwent 13 surgical operations. Very often the famous Soviet pilot flew, overcoming physical pain. Evstigneev, as they say, was obsessed with flying. In his free time, he tried to train young fighter pilots. He was the initiator of training air battles. For the most part, his opponent in them was Kozhedub. At the same time, Evstigneev was completely devoid of any sense of fear, even at the very end of the war he calmly launched a frontal attack on the six-gun Fokkers, winning victories over them. Kozhedub spoke of his comrade in arms like this: “Flint pilot.”
Captain Kirill Evstigneev ended the Guard War as a navigator of the 178th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. The pilot spent his last battle in the skies of Hungary on March 26, 1945, on his fifth La-5 fighter of the war. After the war, he continued to serve in the USSR Air Force, retired in 1972 with the rank of major general, and lived in Moscow. He died on August 29, 1996 at the age of 79, and was buried at the Kuntsevo cemetery in the capital.
Information sources:
http://svpressa.ru
http://airaces.narod.ru
http://www.warheroes.ru
From the Monroe Doctrine to the Marshall Plan: Why Europe Became Increasingly Dependent on the United States On June 5, 1947, US Secretary of State George Catlett Marshall gave a speech at Harvard University outlining a plan to help European countries. The United States allocated a lot of money for the restoration of Europe, and the goal was to eliminate trade barriers, supply its goods and products to Europe, and oust communists from power structures. The US State Department considers this initiative one of the most successful in foreign policy. Vladimir Sverzhin talks about how and why the United States came to the Marshall Plan. In the history of cinema, there is a genre that was extremely popular in the 1960-1970s. It was called "spaghetti western". Dashing cowboys rush across the endless prairies, shoot without missing, save beauties, carry out the law and punish scoundrels. They are always in the minority and always win. They push the boundaries of the civilized world and sweep away evil bandits and insidious scoundrels from the path of progress. And so that in general plans the audience does not confuse the main character with the main villain and his gang, the first wears a white hat, his enemies wear black ones. Of course, the audience followed the exploits of the owner of the white hat. Monroe's Three Points If you remember the history of the United States of America and look at a map, it is easy to see that on the day of independence the new power occupied a relatively small territory along the Atlantic coast. The expansion of the country deep into the mainland occupied almost the entire 19th century. It was then that the brave “border pushers” created a living myth of the conquest of the Wild West and, thanks to this, became the idols of millions. But one fine day there was nowhere to carry universal goodness. It should be noted that in this case, “universal good” was indeed not an empty phrase. At that time, the United States was created as a country with the most perfect political system. It was originally the fruit of the joint creativity of brilliant thinkers and organizers of its time, and the laws that formed the basis of the constitution were a true masterpiece of freedom-loving thought of the Enlightenment. Of course, any business related to the will of many people is doomed in advance to global problems, but the vector for the development of society has been given. And suddenly the lands where the torch of freedom, equality and brotherhood should have been carried ended. But the question “what to do when America reaches natural boundaries” has long been asked, and the answer has been given. Back in 1823, the country's fifth president, James Monroe, in an address to Congress, shared his views on the country's politics in his contemporary world. The Monroe Doctrine contained three clauses, two of which were proclaimed openly, the other was “for official use.” First, the President of the United States stated: As a principle to which the rights and interests of the United States are bound up, we declare that the American continents, in view of the free and independent condition which they have achieved and maintained, should not hereafter be considered as an object for future colonization. As you can see, the owners of white hats did not want anything bad. On the contrary, they acted as a guarantor that not a single European monarch would encroach on the freedom and independence of the countries of the Americas. Otherwise, it will be considered an “unfriendly” step towards the United States, in fact, a pretext for war. The second point was also logical and direct: We have never taken part in the wars of the European powers, in matters concerning themselves, and this is consistent with our policy... We have not interfered and will not interfere in the affairs of existing colonies or dependent territories of any European state . But in the case of governments which have declared their independence and have succeeded in maintaining it, and whose independence we have recognized upon mature reflection and in accordance with the principles of justice, we cannot contemplate interference in their affairs by any European power with a view to their subjection or control by any in any other way they are anything but a manifestation of an unfriendly attitude towards the United States. And again, the protection of the weak and disadvantaged on the territory of both Americas and, if we abandon diplomatic verbal laces, “don’t meddle in our hemisphere, and we won’t meddle in yours.” The third principle - the principle of “non-transition” - asserted the right to fight against the transfer of the territories of both Americas to the rule of other states. One may ask, on what is such an expanded understanding of one’s own rights based? But the answer is simple: the most progressive society in the world with the most advanced social system has the inalienable right to have the right as it wants. During the 19th century, the Monroe Doctrine at least satisfied the American leadership. Although the further you go, the less. Business interests constantly dictated amendments and additions to it. From Mexico (where most of the black hats came from in Westerns), this doctrine made it possible to bite off about 55% of the territory, send troops into Panama, overthrow the government in Nicaragua, plant a puppet in Cuba... But when it came to Haiti and the colonial possessions of Spain, it turned out that The American continent is too small for serious business people (it was at that time that the United States acquired Haiti, Costa Rica and Guam). Wilson's 14 points The situation turned out to be not very beautiful; the reality no longer aligned with the once declared doctrine. But while lawyers and politicians were wondering how to explain the actions of the state, political turmoil received a solution worthy of the white hat of the heroes of the Wild West. The First World War destroyed the previous world order. The Russian, Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian and German empires collapsed before our eyes, the British survived, but were deeply knocked down. This is where a new fateful document appeared that completely annulled the Monroe Doctrine - the so-called “14 points”, the peace settlement program of American President Wilson. By taking on the role of global peacemaker, Wilson actually shaped the new European reality in the way he considered correct and fair. Since the United States entered the First World War at the very end, it represented the only real military force, moreover, almost all the warring countries were connected with the industry and banks of the United States, which had thoroughly risen in the overseas carnage. No one could oppose anything to Wilson’s peace initiative, and no one wanted to. The war exhausted everyone except the United States. And therefore Woodrow Wilson could dictate to Europe “the only possible program for universal peace”: Basic: - Open peace treaties, no secret international agreements; - Absolute freedom of navigation; - The removal, as far as possible, of all economic barriers and the establishment of equal conditions of trade for all nations who stand for peace...; - Fair guarantees that national armaments will be reduced to the minimum that guarantees security; - Free, frank and absolutely impartial resolution of all colonial disputes...; - Liberation of all Russian territories... ensuring her a warm welcome in the community of free nations under the form of government that she chooses for herself...; Belgium, - the whole world will agree, - must be evacuated and restored, without attempting to limit its sovereignty...; -All French territory must be liberated and the occupied parts returned...; -The correction of Italy's borders should be carried out on the basis of clearly distinguishable national borders; -The peoples of Austria-Hungary, whose place in the League of Nations we want to see protected and secured, must receive the broadest opportunity for autonomous development; Romania, Serbia and Montenegro must be evacuated. Occupied territories must be returned. Serbia must be given free and reliable access to the sea; -The Turkish parts of the Ottoman Empire, in its modern composition, must receive secure and lasting sovereignty; -An independent Polish state must be created; -A general association of nations should be formed on the basis of special statutes for the purpose of creating a mutual guarantee of the political independence and territorial integrity of both large and small states; Now no one was embarrassed by the open, albeit peacekeeping, intervention of the United States in European affairs. The roles have changed. If before America was still perceived by Europeans as a distant place where they went in search of a better life, now it showed itself as a global regulator. The opinion of the US President - the architect of the post-war world - should have been interpreted as the most correct possible. Despite the apparent honesty and fairness of Wilson’s memorandum, it contained a number of obvious “BUTs” that seemed quite natural to the President of the United States himself. So, let’s say, “absolute freedom of navigation”, and the elimination of “all economic barriers”, and “establishing equality for trade” sounded very nice, but only the USA at that time had a serious merchant fleet, and an active industry, and an economy, received the maximum benefit from the war going on overseas. However, the European structure resulting from Wilson’s memorandum still turned out to be unstable. The League of Nations, formed at Wilson's insistence, never gained real power. European powers, as they emerged from their economic peak, began to acquire and defend their own interests, which often did not coincide with the interests of the United States. And then production, which had been heated up during the war years, lost its usual volume of orders. And a crisis broke out, remaining in American history as the Great Depression. Millions of people were unemployed, the economy was on its last legs, and the years of the First World War were remembered with nostalgia. Meanwhile, the situation in Europe was once again becoming more and more explosive. The role of the United States in the brewing military storm is the topic of a separate investigation. First of all, because American business, which was keenly interested in sales markets and actually built the German economy in the interwar period, did not always reflect the political interests of the United States. It turned out that the United States supported both sides. It is incorrect to forget or reduce the importance of America's assistance under Lend-Lease during the Second World War, but in fairness it is worth recalling the fuel for German submarines supplied by Standard Oil, and the gold of Holland transferred to the Nazis... But still during the Second World War World War II, the USA and the USSR were on the same side, and the meeting on the Elbe once again clearly showed that the nice guys on one side and the other easily find a common language with each other. Marshall Plan But the end of the war again gave rise to a reality that both sides desperately wanted to transform at their own discretion. The plan for a new world order was invented by the US Secretary of State, and most recently Army General George Marshall. In April 1947, returning from Moscow, he publicly announced that Central and Western Europe were in dire need of US economic assistance. But such a gesture of goodwill did not smell of charity. America had at least two compelling reasons for active action: the strengthening of the communists and leftist parties, as well as the galloping inflation of national European currencies. Western Europe had been considered a semi-colony in the United States for 30 years, and the idea that Soviet ideology could prevail there was unbearable for the American establishment. And the instability of currencies created the precondition for the introduction of a common monetary unit for mutual settlements - the American dollar. As part of the Marshall Plan, over 4 years, Europe was provided with $12.317 billion in the form of grants, cheap loans and long-term leasing. The largest financial injections went to five countries: England received 2.8 billion, France - 2.5 billion, Italy - 1.3 billion, Germany - 1.3 billion and the Netherlands - 1 billion. But, of course, every dollar had political significance. In fact, the state administrations of the largest European countries have turned into local management companies. The new world was built like the American world. And, from Washington’s point of view, this was the best choice for Europe, promising it a well-fed and calm future. But at this moment, the vital interests of the Western world collided head-on with the interests of the Soviet Union. And here Stalin had his own dazzling white hat - the fight for the bright future of all progressive humanity, for the freedom of the proletariat. War became possible again. Vladimir Sverzhin
The concept of “twice, three times, four times Hero” seems somewhat strange today; it would probably be more correct to talk about awarding several Gold Star medals. But this is a fact of our history, and it cannot be ignored.
For the first time, three pilots became twice Heroes for military exploits shown in battles with Japanese invaders on the Khalkhin Gol River in 1939: Major Sergei Ivanovich Gritsevets and Colonel Grigory Panteleevich Kravchenko (Decree of August 29), as well as Corporal Corporal Yakov Vladimirovich Smushkevich (Decree dated November 17). The fate of all three was tragic.
Marshal of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Army H. Choibalsan congratulates twice Hero of the Soviet Union S. I. Gritsevets on his high government award
Gritsevets shot down 11 enemy aircraft in the sky of Khalkhin Gol. He died in a plane crash less than a month after the award. Kravchenko, who commanded a fighter aviation regiment at Khalkhin Gol and shot down 7 Japanese aircraft during the conflict, in 1940 became the youngest lieutenant general of the Red Army. During the Great Patriotic War, he successfully commanded an air division, but on February 23, 1943, he died after jumping out of a downed plane and failing to use a parachute (his pilot cable was broken by shrapnel). Smushkevich was arrested in the summer of 1941 and executed in the fall of the same year.
Kravchenko and Gritsevets became the first twice Heroes of the Soviet Union
In 1940, the number of twice Heroes increased by two people: the head of the rescue expedition to remove the icebreaker Georgy Sedov from the ice, Hero of the Soviet Union Ivan Dmitrievich Papanin became a twice Hero (Decree of February 3), received a second “Gold Star” for battles in Finland pilot divisional commander Sergei Prokofievich Denisov (Decree of March 21).
I. D. Papanin at the drifting station SP-1
During the Great Patriotic War, 101 people became Heroes twice, seven of them posthumously. Pilot Hero of the Soviet Union, Lieutenant Colonel Stepan Pavlovich Suprun, by Decree of July 22, 1941, was the first to be awarded the second Gold Star medal during the Great Patriotic War. On June 14, 1942, the first twice Hero appeared, both times awarded this title during the war. This was also a pilot, commander of the fighter aviation regiment of the Northern Fleet of the Guard, Lieutenant Colonel Boris Feoktistovich Safonov.
Among the twice Heroes were three Marshals of the Soviet Union - Alexander Mikhailovich Vasilevsky, Ivan Stepanovich Konev and Konstantin Konstantinovich Rokossovsky, one Chief Marshal of Aviation - Alexander Alexandrovich Novikov, 21 generals and 76 officers. There were no soldiers or sergeants among the twice-Heroes.
During the Second World War, 101 people became Heroes twice, 7 of them posthumously
It should be noted that in 1944, Decrees were promulgated on awarding the navigator of the fighter aviation regiment, Major Nikolai Dmitrievich Gulaev (during the war years he made 250 sorties, in 49 air battles he personally shot down 55 enemy aircraft) with the third “Golden Star”, as well as a number of pilots of the second “Gold Star”, but none of them received awards due to the row they created in a Moscow restaurant on the eve of receiving them. The decrees were annulled.
Nikolay Dmitrievich Gulaev
After the war, the number of Twice Heroes continued to increase. In 1948, Lieutenant Colonel, future Chief Marshal of Aviation of the USSR, Alexander Ivanovich Koldunov was awarded the second Gold Star medal. During the war, Koldunov made 412 combat missions and personally shot down 46 enemy aircraft in 96 air battles.
In September 1957, the famous pilot Vladimir Konstantinovich Kokkinaki was awarded the title of twice Hero of the Soviet Union for testing aviation technology, the first he received back in 1938.
A total of 154 people became Heroes of the Soviet Union twice
Marshals of the Soviet Union Semyon Konstantinovich Timoshenko, Rodion Yakovlevich Malinovsky, Ivan Khristoforovich Bagramyan, Kirill Semenovich Moskalenko and Matvey Vasilyevich Zakharov received the second “Gold Star” after the war in connection with various anniversaries, and Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Sergei Georgievich Gorshkov, Marshals of the Soviet Union Kliment Efremovich Voroshilov and Andrei Antonovich Grechko generally became twice Heroes only in peacetime.
G. T. Beregovoy on a stamp of the USSR Post
In November 1968, pilot-cosmonaut Georgy Timofeevich Beregovoy was awarded the title of twice Hero of the Soviet Union, and he received his first award during the Great Patriotic War for 186 combat missions on the Il-2 attack aircraft. In 1969, the first cosmonauts appeared - twice Heroes, who received both “Stars” for space flights: Colonel Vladimir Aleksandrovich Shatalov and Candidate of Technical Sciences Alexey Stanislavovich Eliseev (Decree of October 22). In 1971, they were both the first in the world to make a space flight for the third time, but they were not given the third “Golden Stars”: perhaps because this flight was unsuccessful and was interrupted on the second day. Subsequently, cosmonauts who made their third and even fourth flight into space did not receive additional “Stars”, but were awarded the Order of Lenin. A total of 35 people received the title of twice Hero for space exploration.
The last twice Hero was the commander of the tank brigade, Major General Azi Agadovich Aslanov, who was awarded the second title posthumously (Decree of June 21, 1991).
A. I. Pokryshkin - the first three times Hero of the Soviet Union
A total of 154 people became Heroes of the Soviet Union twice. The vast majority of them - 71 people - pilots, 15 tank crews, 3 sailors, 2 partisans. The only woman among the twice Heroes is pilot-cosmonaut Svetlana Evgenievna Savitskaya, daughter of twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Air Marshal Evgeny Yakovlevich Savitsky.
Svetlana Evgenievna Savitskaya
On August 19, 1944, Colonel Alexander Ivanovich Pokryshkin became the first three times Hero of the Soviet Union, who during the war years made 650 sorties, conducted 156 air battles, and personally shot down 59 enemy aircraft. In 1945, Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov, who received the fourth “Star” on his 60th birthday anniversary (Decree of December 1, 1956), and Guard Major Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub became three Heroes.
After the war, in connection with various anniversaries, Marshal of the Soviet Union Semyon Mikhailovich Budyonny became a Hero three times and Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev became a Hero four times.
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c The most successful and FURIOUS PILOT of the century: twice a Hero in the sky and Stenka Razin on the ground...
Nikolai Gulaev was born on February 26, 1918 in the village of Aksai, which has now become the city of Aksai in the Rostov region.
The daring Don freemen were in the blood and character of Nicholas from the first days to the end of his bright life.
He arrived at the front in August 1942 and immediately demonstrated both the talent of a combat pilot and the capricious, frantic character of a native of the Don steppes.
The first episode: Gulaev did not have permission to fly at night, and when on August 3, 1942, Nazi planes appeared in the area of responsibility of the regiment where the young pilot served, experienced pilots took to the skies.
But then the mechanic egged Nikolai on: What are you waiting for? The plane is ready, fly!
The 24-year-old guy, deciding to prove that he was no worse than the “old men,” jumped into the cockpit and took off - in the very first battle, without experience, without the help of searchlights, he destroyed a German bomber!
When Gulaev returned to the airfield, the arriving general said: “For the fact that I flew out without permission, I reprimand, and for the fact that I shot down an enemy plane, I am promoting him in rank and presenting him for a reward” - this became the code of life for our hero.
The second episode, much later: a slap in the face to the Romanian diplomat who dared to insult the hero.
There were many such episodes, which is why the life path of the frantic pilot was not smooth...
Furious Gulaev. The story of the most effective pilot of World War II
One of the best Soviet aces, Nikolai Gulaev, was not afraid of enemies, superiors, or foreign diplomats.
The names of the Soviet aces of the Great Patriotic War, Ivan Kozhedub and Alexander Pokryshkin, are known to everyone who is at least superficially familiar with Russian history.
Kozhedub and Pokryshkin are the most successful Soviet fighter pilots. The first has 64 enemy aircraft shot down personally, the second has 59 personal victories, and he shot down 6 more planes in the group.
The name of the third most successful Soviet pilot is known only to aviation enthusiasts. During the war, Nikolai Gulaev destroyed 57 enemy aircraft personally and 4 in a group.
An interesting detail - Kozhedub needed 330 sorties and 120 air battles to achieve his result, Pokryshkin - 650 sorties and 156 air battles. Gulaev achieved his result by carrying out 290 sorties and conducting 69 air battles.
Moreover, according to award documents, in his first 42 air battles he destroyed 42 enemy aircraft, that is, on average, each battle ended for Gulaev with a destroyed enemy aircraft.
Fans of military statistics have calculated that Nikolai Gulaev’s efficiency coefficient, that is, the ratio of air battles to victories, was 0.82. For comparison, for Ivan Kozhedub it was 0.51, and for Hitler’s ace Erich Hartmann, who officially shot down the most aircraft during World War II, it was 0.4.
At the same time, people who knew Gulaev and fought with him claimed that he generously recorded many of his victories on his wingmen, helping them receive orders and money - Soviet pilots were paid for each enemy aircraft shot down. Some believe that the total number of planes shot down by Gulaev could reach 90, which, however, cannot be confirmed or denied today.
Twice Hero of the Soviet Union pilot Nikolai Dmitrievich Gulaev
Heroes of the Soviet Union pilots Alexander Pokryshkin (second from left), Grigory Rechkalov (center) and Nikolai Gulaev (right) on Red Square
Nugget
His star shone especially brightly during the battles on the Kursk Bulge. On May 14, 1943, repelling a raid on the Grushka airfield, he single-handedly entered into battle with three Yu-87 bombers, covered by four Me-109s. Having shot down two Junkers, Gulaev tried to attack the third, but ran out of ammunition. Without hesitating for a second, the pilot went to ram, shooting down another bomber. Gulaev’s uncontrollable “Yak” went into a tailspin. The pilot managed to level the plane and land it at the leading edge, but on his own territory. Having arrived at the regiment, Gulaev again flew on a combat mission on another plane.
At the beginning of July 1943, Gulaev, as part of four Soviet fighters, taking advantage of the surprise factor, attacked a German armada of 100 aircraft. Having disrupted the battle formation, shooting down 4 bombers and 2 fighters, all four returned safely to the airfield. On this day, Gulaev’s unit made several combat sorties and destroyed 16 enemy aircraft.
July 1943 was generally extremely productive for Nikolai Gulaev. This is what is recorded in his flight log: “July 5 - 6 combat sorties, 4 victories, July 6 - Focke-Wulf 190 shot down, July 7 - three enemy aircraft shot down as part of a group, July 8 - Me-109 shot down , July 12 - two Yu-87s were shot down.”
Hero of the Soviet Union Fedor Arkhipenko, who had the opportunity to command the squadron where Gulaev served, wrote about him: “He was a genius pilot, one of the top ten aces in the country. He never hesitated, quickly assessed the situation, his sudden and effective attack created panic and destroyed the enemy’s battle formation, which disrupted his targeted bombing of our troops. He was very brave and decisive, often came to the rescue, and sometimes one could feel the real passion of a hunter in him.”
Flying Stenka Razin
On September 28, 1943, the deputy squadron commander of the 27th Fighter Aviation Regiment (205th Fighter Aviation Division, 7th Fighter Aviation Corps, 2nd Air Army, Voronezh Front), Senior Lieutenant Nikolai Dmitrievich Gulaev, was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
At the beginning of 1944, Gulaev was appointed squadron commander. His not very rapid career growth is explained by the fact that the ace’s methods of educating his subordinates were not entirely ordinary. Thus, he cured one of the pilots of his squadron, who was afraid of getting close to the Nazis, from fear of the enemy by firing a burst from his on-board weapon next to the wingman’s cabin. The subordinate’s fear disappeared as if by hand...
The same Fyodor Archipenko, in his memoirs, described another characteristic episode associated with Gulaev: “Approaching the airfield, I immediately saw from the air that the parking lot of Gulaev’s plane was empty... After landing, I was informed that all six of Gulaev had been shot down! Nikolai himself landed wounded at the airfield with the attack aircraft, but nothing is known about the rest of the pilots. After some time, they reported from the front line: two jumped out of planes and landed at the location of our troops, the fate of three more is unknown... And today, many years later, I see the main mistake Gulaev made then in the fact that he took with him into combat the departure of three young pilots who had not been shot at at once, who were shot down in their very first battle. True, Gulaev himself won 4 aerial victories that day, shooting down 2 Me-109, Yu-87 and Henschel.”
He was not afraid to risk himself, but he also risked his subordinates with the same ease, which sometimes seemed completely unjustified. The pilot Gulaev did not look like the “aerial Kutuzov”, but rather like the dashing Stenka Razin, who had mastered a combat fighter.
But at the same time he achieved amazing results. In one of the battles over the Prut River, at the head of six P-39 Airacobra fighters, Nikolai Gulaev attacked 27 enemy bombers, accompanied by 8 fighters. In 4 minutes, 11 enemy vehicles were destroyed, 5 of them by Gulaev personally.
In March 1944, the pilot received a short-term leave home. From this trip to the Don he came withdrawn, taciturn, and bitter. He rushed into battle frantically, with some kind of transcendental rage. During the trip home, Nikolai learned that during the occupation his father was executed by the Nazis...
The Soviet ace was almost killed by a pig
On July 1, 1944, Guard Captain Nikolai Gulaev was awarded the second star of the Hero of the Soviet Union for 125 combat missions, 42 air battles, in which he shot down 42 enemy aircraft personally and 3 in a group.
And then another episode occurs, which Gulaev openly told his friends about after the war, an episode that perfectly shows his violent nature as a native of the Don.
The pilot learned that he had become a twice Hero of the Soviet Union after his next flight. Fellow soldiers had already gathered at the airfield and said: the award needed to be “washed,” there was alcohol, but there were problems with snacks.
Gulaev recalled that when returning to the airfield, he saw pigs grazing. With the words “there will be a snack,” the ace boards the plane again and a few minutes later lands it near the barns, to the amazement of the pig owner.
As already mentioned, the pilots were paid for downed planes, so Nikolai had no problems with cash. The owner willingly agreed to sell the boar, who was loaded with difficulty into the combat vehicle.
By some miracle, the pilot took off from a very small platform together with the boar, distraught with horror. A combat aircraft is not designed for a well-fed pig to dance inside it. Gulaev had difficulty keeping the plane in the air...
If a catastrophe had happened that day, it would probably have been the most ridiculous case of the death of a twice Hero of the Soviet Union in history.
Thank God, Gulaev made it to the airfield, and the regiment cheerfully celebrated the hero’s award.
Another anecdotal incident is related to the appearance of the Soviet ace. Once in battle he managed to shoot down a reconnaissance plane piloted by a Nazi colonel, holder of four Iron Crosses. The German pilot wanted to meet with the one who managed to interrupt his brilliant career. Apparently, the German was expecting to see a stately handsome man, a “Russian bear” who would not be ashamed to lose... But instead, a young, short, plump captain Gulaev came, who, by the way, in the regiment had a not at all heroic nickname “Kolobok”. The German's disappointment knew no bounds...
Fight with political overtones
In the summer of 1944, the Soviet command decided to recall the best Soviet pilots from the front. The war is coming to a victorious end, and the leadership of the USSR begins to think about the future. Those who distinguished themselves in the Great Patriotic War must graduate from the Air Force Academy in order to then take leadership positions in the Air Force and Air Defense.
Gulaev was also among those summoned to Moscow. He himself was not eager to go to the academy; he asked to remain in the active army, but was refused. On August 12, 1944, Nikolai Gulaev shot down his last Focke-Wulf 190.
Medal "Golden Star" of the Hero of the Soviet Union. Heroic story. The first Hero of the USSR was a pilot, and the last - a diver
There are at least three versions of what happened, which combine two words - “debauchery” and “foreigners”. Let's focus on the one that occurs most often.
According to it, Nikolai Gulaev, already a major by that time, was summoned to Moscow not only to study at the academy, but also to receive the third star of the Hero of the Soviet Union. Considering the pilot’s combat achievements, this version does not seem implausible. Gulaev’s company included other honored aces who were awaiting awards.
The day before the ceremony in the Kremlin, Gulaev went to the restaurant of the Moscow Hotel, where his pilot friends were relaxing. However, the restaurant was crowded, and the administrator said: “Comrade, there is no room for you!”
It was not worth saying such a thing to Gulaev with his explosive character, but then, unfortunately, he also came across Romanian soldiers, who at that moment were also relaxing in the restaurant. Shortly before this, Romania, which had been an ally of Germany since the beginning of the war, went over to the side of the anti-Hitler coalition.
The angry Gulaev said loudly: “Is it that there is no place for the Hero of the Soviet Union, but there is room for enemies?”
The Romanians heard the pilot’s words, and one of them uttered an insulting phrase in Russian towards Gulaev. A second later, the Soviet ace found himself near the Romanian and hit him in the face.
Not even a minute had passed before a fight broke out in the restaurant between the Romanians and Soviet pilots.
When the fighters were separated, it turned out that the pilots had beaten members of the official Romanian military delegation. The scandal reached Stalin himself, who decided to cancel the awarding of the third Hero star.
If we were talking not about the Romanians, but about the British or Americans, most likely, the matter for Gulaev would have ended quite badly. But the leader of all nations did not ruin the life of his ace because of yesterday’s opponents. Gulaev was simply sent to a unit, away from the front, Romanians and any attention in general. But how true this version is is unknown.
General who was friends with Vysotsky
Despite everything, in 1950 Nikolai Gulaev graduated from the Zhukovsky Air Force Academy, and five years later from the General Staff Academy.
He commanded the 133rd Aviation Fighter Division, located in Yaroslavl, the 32nd Air Defense Corps in Rzhev, and the 10th Air Defense Army in Arkhangelsk, which covered the northern borders of the Soviet Union.
Nikolai Dmitrievich had a wonderful family, he adored his granddaughter Irochka, was a passionate fisherman, loved to treat guests to personally pickled watermelons...
He also visited pioneer camps, participated in various veterans’ events, but still there was a feeling that instructions were given from above, in modern terms, not to promote his person too much.
Actually, there were reasons for this even at a time when Gulaev was already wearing general’s shoulder straps. For example, he could, with his authority, invite Vladimir Vysotsky to speak at the House of Officers in Arkhangelsk, ignoring the timid protests of the local party leadership. By the way, there is a version that some of Vysotsky’s songs about pilots were born after his meetings with Nikolai Gulaev.
Norwegian complaint
Colonel General Gulaev retired in 1979. And there is a version that one of the reasons for this was a new conflict with foreigners, but this time not with the Romanians, but with the Norwegians.
Allegedly, General Gulaev organized a hunt for polar bears using helicopters near the border with Norway. Norwegian border guards appealed to the Soviet authorities with a complaint about the general's actions. After this, the general was transferred to a staff position away from Norway, and then sent to a well-deserved rest.
It is impossible to say with certainty that this hunt took place, although such a plot fits very well into the vivid biography of Nikolai Gulaev.
Be that as it may, the resignation had a bad effect on the health of the old pilot, who could not imagine himself without the service to which his whole life was dedicated.
http://www.aif.ru/society/people/neistovyy_gulaev_istoriya_samogo_effektivnogo_letchika_vtoroy_mirovoy_voyny
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Even among far from ordinary fighter pilots, the figure of Nikolai Gulaev stands out for its colorfulness. Only he, a man of unparalleled courage, managed to carry out 10 highly effective battles, winning 2 of his victories by ramming. His modesty in public and in self-esteem was discordant with his exceptionally persistent, aggressive manner of conducting air combat, and he carried his honesty and openness with boyish spontaneity throughout his life, retaining some youthful prejudices to the end. In March 1942, Nikolai Gulaev, among the 10 best pilots, was sent to the defense of Borisoglebsk. There, the main enemy air raids took place at night, and he had to retrain for night work. In June 1942, Gulaev was transferred to the 487th Air Regiment, where soon, on August 3, 1942, he took part in his first battle. He won his first victory without orders, taking off at night for the first time in his life, amid the howl of an air raid raid and encouraging remarks from mechanics. He got lucky. Against the background of the lunar sky, he saw silhouettes familiar from the tables and diagrams - Heinkels. Speeding up the engine of his "Yak", he approached the enemy vehicle so that the flaming engine exhaust became clearly visible, and pressed the trigger. The turn turned out to be successful: the track sparkled with fast red arrows, suddenly blossoming into a growing fiery tail in the night. The bomber slid onto the wing, which was spewing out crimson clouds of burning fuel, and, spinning randomly, rushed to the ground... The commander's reaction to his victory was extraordinary: Nikolai was announced a punishment and presented with a reward. Thus began one of the brightest military destinies in our aviation. It was everyday fighting. Gulaev gained experience. Now he acted more competently, boldly and decisively. One day, a group of fighters under the command of Gulaev, flying out on patrol, met more than 20 Ju-87s going without cover to attack our troops. In the ensuing battle, Nikolai shot down the leader of the enemy group, and his pilots shot down 2 more planes. The rest began to hastily flee behind the front line, randomly dropping bombs. A little later, a new group of Ju-87s appeared - 36 aircraft, now guarded by 18 Me-109s. Despite the enemy's huge advantage in strength, our pilots attacked them, crashed into a Ju-87 formation and shot down 5 enemy aircraft, forcing the rest to flee. In February 1943, after completing the flight commander course, Lieutenant N.D. Gulaev was sent to the 27th Fighter Aviation Regiment. As part of this regiment, he lived his “stellar” year, shooting down more than 50 enemy vehicles in the air, “creating” a dozen aces, becoming twice a Hero of the Soviet Union. Pilot of the 27th Fighter Aviation Regiment (205th Fighter Aviation Division, 2nd Air Army, Voronezh Front) Senior Lieutenant N.D. Gulaev especially distinguished himself at the Kursk Bulge in the Belgorod region. On the eve of the Battle of Kursk, the Luftwaffe concentrated about 1,000 aircraft there to support its 4th Panzer Army under General Hoth and Task Force Kempf. Along with new armored vehicles, the Wehrmacht for the first time widely used the latest FW-190 A-4, A-5 and A-6 fighters, which usually carried 4 - 6 cannons and 2 machine guns. In the first battle on May 14, 1943, repelling a raid on the Grushka airfield, Nikolai single-handedly entered into battle with 3 Ju-87 bombers, covered by 4 Me-109s. Having accelerated the plane at low altitude, Nikolai made a “slide” and, approaching the lead bomber, shot it down in the first burst. The infantrymen of the 52nd Infantry Division - witnesses to this heroic feat - carried the pilot out of the cockpit in their arms, thinking that he was wounded. But the brave fighter did not receive a single scratch. They took the pilot to the airfield in their car. Arriving at the regiment, Nikolai Dmitrievich did not say a single word about the feat accomplished. Only a few hours later, from a report from the infantrymen, the aviators learned about his courage. At the meeting dedicated to this event, Gulaev did not say much: The commander immediately ordered the pilot to be given a new car, and on the same day he again participated in the battle... For this feat, N.D. Gulaev was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. The awareness of his own authority not only strengthened his confidence, but significantly increased his internal discipline and self-control, and increased his demands on himself. He carefully studied the literature that came into his hands, if time permitted, he could spend hours discussing the vicissitudes of conducted or imagined air battles. Now he wins victories in every second of his interceptions: on May 22 he shoots down a Ju-88, on the 29th - a Ju-87, on June 8 and 25 - 2 Me-109s. One day, four fighters led by Gulaev had a very successful battle. Suddenly and boldly they attacked a large group of 100 enemy aircraft. Having disrupted the battle formation, shooting down 4 bombers and 2 fighters, all four returned safely to their airfield. On the same day, Gulaev’s unit made several combat missions and destroyed 16 enemy aircraft. On July 9, in the Belgorod area, Nikolai Gulaev made his second ram and again landed safely by parachute. In total, on the Kursk Bulge, he destroyed 17 enemy aircraft. On August 9, 1943, after a brief briefing, he made his first flight in an Airacobra. On the very first combat flight in the new vehicle, Nikolai destroyed another Laptezhnik, two days later he shot down a Ju-88 with a powerful burst into the cockpit, the next day - 2 Me-109, October 29 - another Messer and ended the month by shooting down a modified Ne- 111 with enhanced weapons and armor. Let us note that Gulaev did not win all his victories in the “free hunt” mode: most of his combat sorties were recorded as covering ground troops, less often - airfields or crossings; he also officially has up to 10 interceptions and reconnaissance missions. In one of them he wrote: Do not rest on your laurels, constantly and persistently improve - this is what Nikolai Gulaev called his comrades to do. And he himself served as an example of a creatively thinking air combat master. In November 1943, from the Zelenaya airfield, not far from Pyatikhatki, he managed to destroy 2 reconnaissance spotter FW-189 “frames” that were especially hated by the soldiers and on the last day of the month shot down his 3rd Heinkel-111. In the New Year's battles for Kirovograd, Gulaev won 3 double victories and shot down another Ju-88. Having assessed the situation, Gulaev made a daring decision: he himself, as part of two pairs, would attack the bombers, and Pyotr Nikiforov’s pair would engage the covering fighters in battle, thereby facilitating the execution of the main task - the destruction of the bombers. In this battle, in 4 minutes of battle, our pilots destroyed 11 enemy vehicles, 5 of them by Gulaev personally. The main task - to prevent the enemy from dropping bombs on our troops - was successfully completed. During the Korsun - Shevchenko operation and near Uman, he shot down an Me-109, FW-189 and a transport Ju-52. In March 1944, Guard Captain N.D. Gulaev was granted leave to travel to his homeland... His mother and sister survived the occupation, but his father, a quiet man who was always busy with housework, was hanged by the Nazis. The previously cheerful and mischievous squadron commander returned to his unit gloomy and unsociable. In April 1944, he was especially indomitable; never before had he sought meetings with the enemy with such tenacity and fury, and never before or after this period had he managed to shoot down 10 enemy aircraft in 2 weeks. At the same time, he carried out 2 of his super-effective battles: on April 18, covering ground troops in the Cher area, he shot down 2 Ju-87s and Me-109s, and on the 25th, near Dubossary, he pretty much pinched the Fokkers, destroying 4 enemy vehicles. This is how Gulaev himself recalled this fight a year later: N. D. Gulaev near his Airacobra. Having made two circles and passed with a heading of 260 - 270°, I discovered a group of aircraft flying under the clouds with a heading of 90°, at an altitude of 2000 to 2500 meters in a column formation consisting of three nines. The battle formation of the nines was a wedge. Above and behind us were, apparently belatedly, 8 Me-109s. Having caught up on oncoming courses, I attacked one group with two pairs with a right turn at an angle of 2/4 from a distance of 150 - 200 meters and shot down one FW-190. When exiting the attack with a combat turn to the right, I again attacked the FW-190, which caught fire and went into a steep dive towards the ground. Due to the surprise of the attack, the first nine lost 4 FW-190s: I shot down 2 and one each by Lieutenant Bookchin, my wingman, and Senior Lieutenant Kozlov. The enemy, seeing the burning planes, began to leave with a right turn with a course of 230 - 250°. When turning around, one plane turned on my stomach, I opened fire with lightning speed and shot down the 3rd FW-190... At the same time, I saw a burning Me-109, shot down by Captain Nikiforov. Soon, scattered enemy planes and pairs began to approach the site of the air battle again. But the enemy, apparently, had little faith in their own strength, since the FW-190 aircraft had 37-mm outboard cannons, which did not allow them to fight on vertical lines, but forced them to take the defensive. The actions of the German pilots were uncertain; they opened fire from long distances. When reading the passage, there is a feeling of organic ease with which Gulaev conducts an air battle. Everything flows as if by itself: “one plane exposed my stomach,” another “fell out of the clouds, exposing its tail,” and one manages to escape from the blow of a pair of Me-109s with “a quick movement of the rudders.” This external lightness is probably a manifestation of the highest skill and art, be it an air battle, a piece of music or a sports match. Gulaev was constantly looking for new methods of air combat, fought bravely, imposing his will on the enemy. He often took risks based on a solid knowledge of technology and tactics, and precise calculations. Many times he had the opportunity to accompany groups of our bombers flying on missions deep behind enemy lines.
It is not customary to talk about Gulaev’s “school,” but his special, inspired and risky, outwardly completely devoid of any practicality, manner of fighting makes him at least a “symbol” of the romantic trend in the art of aerial combat. Like no one else, he knew how to be effective: on May 30, 1944, he shot down 5 planes; twice (07/5/1943, 04/25/1944) he scored 4 victories per day, three more times (07/7/1943, 07/12/1943, 04/18/1944) he destroyed 3 aircraft and in 6 battles (05/14/1943, 10/24/1943, 10/28/1943, 12/15/1943, 12/17/1943, 01/8/1944) did a double. It has 8 twin-engine bombers (5 He-111 and 4 Ju-88), 3 “frame” FW-189 spotters, 14 “Stuka” Ju-87 dive bombers. Such a significant distribution of trophies is not typical for front-line aviation pilots, whose list of victories was mainly made up of fighter aircraft.
The shooter of the second Junkers opened fire on him. Then Gulaev shot him down too. He tried to attack the third, but ran out of ammunition, and then Nikolai decided to ram him. With the left wing of his Yak-1, he hit the right plane of the Junkers and it fell apart. The uncontrollable fighter went into a tailspin. After several attempts, Gulaev managed to level the plane and land it at the leading edge.
- In my place, each of you would do exactly the same. It’s just a pity that he remained “horseless”...
Gulaev marked the beginning of the Battle of Kursk, which became the bloodiest day of the Second World War, with 4 personal victories won in 6 sorties to cover airfields. The next day, Gulaev shot down an FW-190, on July 7 - a Ju-87, as well as an Hs-126 and FW-189, recorded as group victories, on the 8th - an Me-109, on the 12th - 2 Ju-87s. On July 12, Nikolai Gulaev made his “double”, having already been appointed commander of the 2nd squadron of the 27th fighter aviation regiment.
By mid-July, when the greatly depleted regiment was withdrawn from the front for replenishment and rearmament, its flight record book stated that by that time it had made 147 landings on the Yak-1 and 4 landings on the Yak-7.
On September 28, 1943, for the courage and courage shown in battles with enemies, Nikolai Dmitrievich Gulaev was awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union. By that time, he already had 27 enemy aircraft shot down. At a meeting in the regiment, Hero gave his comrades his word to double this number. In the front-line newspaper "Wings of Victory" Nikolai published a series of articles about best practices.
“Even though you have won several victories, do not think that you have already achieved perfection, that you have become a first-class fighter pilot. While you are sitting and self-confidently counting your victories, the enemy will overtake you, he will find something new that you missed due to your arrogance, and in the next in a duel he will catch you in a cunning maneuver."
At the beginning of 1944, Gulaev became a squadron commander and took part in the liberation of Right Bank Ukraine. On January 8, four fighters under his command, covering ground troops, attacked a large group of enemy bombers and fighters (up to 50 aircraft). Using cloud cover, our pilots suddenly shot down 4 German planes from the very first attack. In this short-lived battle, Nikolai Gulaev destroyed 2 enemy vehicles.
He also fought a remarkable battle in the spring of 1944. In those days, troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front crossed the Prut River and created a bridgehead on its western bank. On March 5, six Airacobras under the command of Gulaev flew out to cover our ground forces. Soon the pilots discovered a large group of enemy aircraft. The bombers marched in three nines in a wedge formation, guarded by 8 fighters. The command came from the ground: “Intercept the enemy and under no circumstances allow him to reach our defense line.”
Yes, it was a risk, but a sober risk, based on precise calculations and the confidence of the squadron commander N.D. Gulaev in the skill of his subordinates, in their courage.
The task assigned to the leader of the pair, Nikiforov, was especially difficult. The success of the planned battle depended on how it was carried out. But Gulaev knew Nikiforov’s skill very well and relied on him. And not in vain. This couple did a great job. She boldly attacked enemy fighters and engaged them in battle. The enemy quickly became unable to provide cover for his bombers.
Meanwhile, Gulaev and his wingmen quickly crashed into the battle formations of the bombers and, one after another, set fire to 3 enemy aircraft. Coming out of the attack, Nikolai saw the enemy in a panic throwing bombs anywhere and turning back. Taking advantage of the enemy's confusion, the four made a second approach to the departing aircraft.
“At 15:30, 6 Airacobra aircraft took off under my command to cover ground troops in the area of the bridgehead. Having gained an altitude of about 4000 meters along the route, I arrived in the given area and established contact with the guidance radio station. When performing the task, I walked with the right around, going 10 kilometers deep into enemy territory.
Still having superiority in altitude and speed, we continued to fight, despite the imminent depletion of fuel and ammunition. Junior Lieutenant Gurov attacked the Me-109 head-on on a collision course; As a result of the attack, the plane tilted sharply, started smoking, went into a vertical dive and crashed into the ground not far from our radio station. At this time I was attacked by 2 Me-109s from above - from behind; but thanks to my wingman, who warned me in a timely manner, I managed to escape from the impact with a quick movement of the rudders. When leaving towards the clouds, one FW-190 fell on me from the clouds, exposing its tail, as a result of which it was shot down. Thus, another downed plane appeared on my account - the fourth.
The battle was heating up. Senior Lieutenant Kozlov, with an energetic turn, managed to get behind the Me-109 and, from a distance of 100 - 150 meters, light it with a short burst. Junior Lieutenant Akinshin, wingman of Captain Nikiforov, shot down one Me-109 on a turn, from a distance of 50 - 70 meters. Due to the running out of fuel and ammunition, I asked the corps commander for help. The commander, who was at the radio guidance station, lifted 18 Airacobra aircraft into the air from the nearest airfield. Less than 3-4 minutes passed before these planes entered the battle, which made the situation easier for our six.
My ammunition was completely spent, but I did not leave the battle, but made false attacks, scaring the German pilots. My wingman managed to shoot down another FW-190 in one such false attack, following me. Our six returned to their airfield without losses or significant damage... In this air battle, 7 FW-190s and 4 Me-109s were shot down."
Short, strong (due to his athletic training), with golden eyes, agile “like mercury,” quick with a sharp word and always ready for daring youth, Nikolai Gulaev was a born air fighter. His exceptional talent was even more fully manifested in a highly organized and strong regiment, which was the 129th Sandomierz Order of Alexander Nevsky and Bohdan Khmelnitsky Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. The regiment's pilots shot down about 500 enemy aircraft in air battles, among them were 13 Heroes of the Soviet Union. The regiment was commanded by famous aces - V. I. Bobrov, and from February 1944 - V. A. Figichev.
...The aviation regiment was located at the field airfield of Right Bank Ukraine. It was warm spring days. One morning a German fighter appeared over the airfield. As soon as our planes took off, he flew away without accepting the fight. And the next day at the same time he appeared again. And again he quickly flew away, seeing our planes. This went on for 3 - 4 days. At the same time, the German pilot always appeared with special precision: exactly at 11 o’clock.
The regiment commander summoned Gulaev and demanded an end to the German pilot’s morning walks. Nikolai decided to shoot him down at any cost. In the morning I went to my plane and at 10:50 am I started the engine. He took off, gained altitude and, moving a little to the side, began to wait.
At exactly 11:00 an uninvited guest appeared over the airfield. Gulaev rushed at the enemy, pointing the car directly at his forehead. The distance was quickly closing. The enemy was the first to falter - he turned sharply to the side, but did not retreat. Turning sharply, Gulaev tried to take an advantageous position and get behind the enemy. Failed. Skillfully performing various maneuvers, he escaped the attack. Chasing each other, the planes either soared skyward or went into a dive.
Finally, Gulaev managed to construct his maneuver in such a way that he ended up in the enemy’s tail. The “Ace of Spades”, painted on the side of the enemy plane, appeared in the crosshairs. Fire! And the enemy plane, sharply nodding, fell down. But the pilot managed to jump out with a parachute almost at the very ground. Nikolai circled him until he landed. It was 11:14 am.
After some time, the German pilot was taken to headquarters. It turned out to be the Colonel, on whose jacket there were four Iron Crosses. He turned out to be quite talkative: “I was in France, Italy. I was lucky everywhere, but here, on the Russian front, I was shot down. I would like to see the person who did it...” They called Gulaev. The German ace expected to see a giant, a kind of “Russian bear”, and in front of him stood a young, not very tall man...
On May 30, 1944, over Skuleni, N.D. Gulaev shoots down 5 enemy aircraft in one day: Hs-126, 2 Me-109, Ju-88 and Ju-87. At the same time, he shot down a Ju-87 and a Me-109 in one attack with his “signature move”: sharply turning the Cobra after a deadly burst at the Junkers to meet the fighter attacking it. He himself was seriously wounded in the right arm; concentrating all his strength and will, he managed to bring the fighter to his airfield, taxied to the parking lot and lost consciousness. He came to his senses only in the hospital, after the operation. Here I learned that he had been awarded the title of twice Hero of the Soviet Union.
Nikolai Gulaev made his last combat flight from the Turbya airfield in Poland on August 14, 1944, already as a Guard major, navigator of the 129th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. The day before, for 3 days in a row - August 10, 11, 12, he shot down one plane each in battle.
https://topwar.ru/28299-gulaev-nikolay-dmitrievich.html
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Many books have been written and many films have been made about Alexander Pokryshkin and Ivan Kozhedub, three times Heroes of the Soviet Union, air marshals.
Nikolai Gulaev, twice Hero of the Soviet Union, was close to the third “Golden Star”, but never received it and did not become a marshal, remaining a colonel general. And in general, if in the post-war years Pokryshkin and Kozhedub were always in the public eye, engaged in the patriotic education of youth, then Gulaev, who was practically in no way inferior to his colleagues, remained in the shadows all the time, not receiving well-deserved honors to the same extent as his colleagues.
Perhaps the fact is that both the war and post-war biography of the Soviet ace was rich in episodes that do not fit well into the image of an ideal hero.
But what a Russian man of a broad soul he was, this short, imperfect, frantic and unsurpassed hero pilot, Nikolai Gulaev.
Hero of the Soviet Union is the highest title, the greatest distinction and achievement that could be achieved in the USSR. The award in the form of a gold star, universal respect and honor were received by those who accomplished a real feat during the war or other hostilities, as well as in peacetime, but, most likely, this was a rare exception rather than the rule. It was not easy to receive such a title once, what to say about those who received it several times?
Twice Hero of the Soviet Union... There were as many as 154 such exceptionally brave people. Of these, 23 have survived to this day - this is data as of November 2014.
The first twice heroes of the USSR
They became pilots. They received their awards back in 1939 during clashes with Japanese fighters. These are Colonel Kravchenko, Major Gritsevets and Corporal Smushkevich. Unfortunately, fate was merciless to them. The pilot, twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Gritsevets, having shot down a dozen enemy fighters in the sky, died a month after receiving the award.
The plane crash also claimed the life of Kravchenko. By the way, he became the youngest lieutenant general in the USSR. He was only 28 years old then. During the war, he commanded an entire air division and eliminated 7 enemy aircraft in Japanese skies. During one of the flights, he jumped out of a burning car, but his parachute did not open due to a cable broken by a shell fragment.
As for Smushkevich, after all the valor he showed in Spain in 1937 and receiving the highest awards, he was taken into custody in June 1941 by representatives of the NKVD. The hero was accused of conspiracy and campaigning aimed at reducing the defense capability of the Red Army. He was shot a few months after his arrest.
Boris Safonov
One of those who was the first to receive the title “Twice Hero of the Soviet Union” was this world-famous pilot. He distinguished himself already in the first air battles with the Nazis in 1941. They say that the Germans, when they noticed his plane on the horizon, transmitted a message to each other: “Safonov is in the air.” This was the signal for all enemy fighters to immediately return to base. Not only were they afraid to go into battle one-on-one with a Soviet pilot, even a whole group of planes tried not to collide with him in the sky.
Soviet attack aircraft, whose combat vehicles were brightly painted, became the first targets of the Nazis. They were easy to notice, they irritated and caused aggression in the enemy. Safonov had two huge inscriptions on board: “Death to the Nazis” and “For Stalin.” Despite this, he managed not only to survive for a long time, but also to have the highest rate of downed enemy fighters. Safonov’s exploits were also noted in the UK. He received this country's highest aviation award, "For Distinguished Flying Achievement." The hero died in May 1942 in battle.
Leonov Viktor Nikolaevich
There were two namesakes who received this high award. And I want to tell you about these courageous people, so different, but such significant exploits of which are inscribed in golden letters in the history of our homeland. The first is twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Viktor Nikolaevich Leonov. In 1944, his detachment, fearlessly attacking the enemy and capturing the Germans, created all the conditions for the Soviet landing force to successfully land in the port of Liinakhamari and liberate the cities of Finnish Petsamo and Norwegian Kirkenes.
The second time he showed valor and courage was actually in peacetime. In 1945, during the continuation of the confrontation between the Soviet and Japanese states, his detachment captured thousands of soldiers and officers several times, fought with the enemy for many days in a row and captured ammunition depots. For all these merits he again received the highest award. Twice Hero of the Soviet Union Viktor Nikolaevich Leonov continued to serve for the benefit of the Motherland after the war. He died in 2003.
Leonov Alexey Arkhipovich
Viktor Nikolayevich’s namesake did not run under bullets and did not blow up dugouts, but his actions not only glorified him, but the entire Soviet Union. Alexey Arkhipovich is a famous cosmonaut. He received a high award for being the first in the history of mankind to decide to go into outer space. His famous "walk" lasted 12 minutes and 9 seconds. He showed his valor when, due to a damaged, bloated spacesuit, he could not return to the ship. But taking strength into his fist and showing ingenuity in unforeseen conditions, he figured out how to pump out the excess pressure from his clothes and got on board.
For the second time, he was awarded the title “Hero of the Soviet Union” for the fact that, as commander of the Soyuz 19 spacecraft, he successfully completed the docking operation with the American Apollo. Neither the Soviet cosmonauts nor their fellow astronauts had seen this before. Therefore, Leonov’s feat gave impetus to further active exploration of the starry expanses. He became an example for all young cosmonauts, and still is, as he is one of the living heroes. In 2014 he turned 80 years old.
Feat of the Kazakhs
This nation played a big role in the destruction of fascism and the Third Reich. Like other republics of the USSR, Kazakhstan did everything for the front during World War II. More than a million ordinary soldiers volunteered for the battlefields. 50 regiments and battalions, 7 rifle brigades, 4 cavalry and 12 rifle divisions were mobilized. The Kazakhs were among the first to break into the Berlin City Hall and paint the walls of the Reichstag. Many of them, without thinking about themselves, covered enemy pillboxes with their bodies and dropped their planes on German freight trains.
Five of them received the highest award several times. Twice heroes of the Soviet Union are Kazakhstanis: Leonid Beda, Sergei Lugansky, Ivan Pavlov. For example, the first on this list, an ace attack aircraft, shot down hundreds of enemy aircraft. There are legends about the pilot Begeldinov even today. Another Kazakh, Vladimir Dzhanibekov, became fifth on this list, but after the war. He became famous as an outstanding cosmonaut. In addition, during the war years, about 500 representatives of this nation became one-time heroes of the USSR, and their exploits will also never be forgotten.
Svetlana Savitskaya
There are 95 names of representatives of the fair sex in the list of Heroes of the USSR. But only one of them managed to receive the highest award several times. A woman, twice Hero of the Soviet Union, she imbibed with her mother's milk the desire to be the best. Many character traits were passed on through genes, and many were cultivated by this strong personality herself.
Her father, Evgeny Savitsky, by the way, was also a twice Hero and was an air marshal during the war. Behind my mother’s back there are also many combat missions and shot down fascist planes. It is not surprising that the daughter of such parents entered flight school. But the woman never used her father’s connections, and achieved everything herself. She became the second female cosmonaut after Tereshkova. She worked in outer space more than once, rubbing the noses of American astronauts. She has nine world records in jet aircraft, three in group jumps from the stratosphere with a parachute. Savitskaya received the title of world champion in aerobatics on piston aircraft.
Amet-Khan-Sultan
The famous pilot is remembered and revered in his native Dagestan. The airport, streets, squares and parks are named in his honor. But many years ago, Soviet citizens argued that Twice Amet Khan Sultan also had another homeland: the city of Yaroslavl. He was recognized as an honorary citizen of this locality, and a monument was erected to him. Old-timers remember this young boy of the 21st, who was not afraid to ram an enemy plane right over the roofs of houses and thereby save the city from bombing.
The ejected pilot was picked up by local residents and his wounds were bandaged. And the German Messer he had shot down was dragged to the center and put on public display as an example of the valor and courage of a simple Soviet youth. Throughout the war, he showed his heroism more than once, so the awards he received were absolutely deserved. The twice Hero of the Soviet Union reached Berlin and fought his last battle on April 29, 1945, just a week before the Great Victory.
Ivan Boyko
There were heroes not only among the pilots. In the Great Patriotic War, tankers, including Ivan Boyko, distinguished themselves more than once. He fought in Belarus, in the Smolensk direction and commanded a tank regiment, which distinguished itself on the Ukrainian front during the Zhitomir-Berdychev operation. Having traveled almost 300 kilometers, the tankers liberated a hundred cities. They captured 150 Germans with all their guns and fighting vehicles. They defeated several enemy echelons, from which they captured strategically important cargo.
The second time the tank regiment distinguished itself near the Ukrainian cities of Chernivtsi and Novoselitsa. The soldiers under the leadership of Boyk not only liberated these settlements, but also captured many enemy soldiers and officers. Twice Hero of the Soviet Union ended the war on the ruins of the Reichstag. In the city of Kozatyn, a memorial bust was erected to the valiant tanker; he became an honorary citizen in Chernivtsi. He has many medals, orders and other awards. He died in 1975 in Kyiv.
Sergey Gorshkov
Not many soldiers and officers received the title “Hero of the Soviet Union” among the naval brethren. But Sergei Gorshkov succeeded. He led the landing of the first amphibious assault on the Black Sea, which subsequently contributed to the successful counter-offensive of the Red Army units in this area. Commanded the Azov and Danube military flotillas. In 1944 he was promoted to vice admiral.
Sergei Gorshkov took part in the battles for the liberation of Hungary from the occupiers. His last military operation was the capture of Gerjen, which he called an ideal springboard for an attack on Lake Balaton. After all, having reached the lake, the Red Army could surround Budapest and drive the enemy out of there. Operation was successfully completed. And at the beginning of 1945, Gorshkov was assigned to command the Black Sea Fleet. In this rank he met the victory over the Third Reich. He received the highest awards for exceptional courage, bravery and valor during the fight against the invaders, for the skillful leadership of the troops entrusted to him.
Afanasy Shilin
The first time he received the highest award was in the winter of 1944 for his successful performance. Here he showed courage, which helped our soldiers maintain a bridgehead on the right bank. In this battle, Shilin independently managed to eliminate two German machine-gun crews, two officers and 11 soldiers. When the Fritz surrounded him, he did not hesitate to call fire on himself. Thanks to this, our troops managed to gain a foothold on the bridgehead and push the enemy far back.
The second time he was awarded as the leader of a group that successfully reconnoitered the territory and destroyed the Nazis’ weapons. As a result, the enemy's plan to capture the Magnushevsky bridgehead was thwarted. He personally stormed enemy strongholds, and in battles on Polish soil, being wounded and almost unconscious, he threw a bunch of grenades into a bunker and destroyed it. Thanks to this, the Red Army launched an offensive.
Twice Heroes of the Soviet Union... The list includes the names of pilots and cosmonauts, sea dogs and tank crews, artillerymen and partisans. But there are even more of those who, having shown exceptional courage, died unknown, were exiled or repressed, despite their merits and faithful service to the Fatherland. We need to remember not only the decorated participants in the war, but all privates and officers without exception, each of whom is a Hero.