The regiment in which Seryozha was located took part in the Battle of Stalingrad. The boy, as usual, was behind the front line, always next to the regiment commander Mikhail Vorobyov, who by this time had become like a father to him. One day he set out from the dugout, where the regimental headquarters was located, on an errand.
As soon as Seryozha moved away from the dugout, the air raid began. All the fighters hid and did not notice that one of the bombs hit right into the shelter. Only Seryozha noticed this. Despite the explosions, he ran to the destroyed dugout and began calling Mikhail. Realizing that he could not move the collapsed logs, the boy, right under the bombing, ran for help and brought sappers, who dismantled the logs and saved everyone who was under the rubble.
Mikhail Danilovich escaped with a slight concussion and was not injured. But while he was being pulled out, according to the recollections of eyewitnesses of those events, 6-year-old Guard Private Sergei Alekshkov stood nearby and roared loudly, and when they pulled out the commander, he rushed to hug him shouting “Folder-folder!” and couldn't say anything more.
After this, the boy was solemnly awarded the medal “For military merits" IN award list They made a mistake by writing the wrong ending in his last name:
“To reward the regiment’s graduate Sergei Andreevich Aleshkin for the fact that during his stay in the regiment from September 8, 1942, he went through a responsible combat path with the regiment. On November 18, 1942 he was wounded. As a child, always cheerful, he fell in love with the regiment, the command and everyone around him. With his cheerfulness, love for his unit and those around him, in extremely difficult moments he instilled cheerfulness and confidence in victory. Comrade Aleshkin was the regiment’s favorite.”
Vasily Zhurakhov After a book about the history of the injury and death of our fellow countryman, General Vatutin, I decided to prepare a photo album about military exploits for the 70th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War outstanding commander. I started collecting material. And in Vatutin’s family album, which the staff officers presented to his commander, I saw a photograph of a boy in the uniform of a Red Army soldier. The baby looked to be about five or six years old. And the signature: “Seryozha Aleshin, Rostov region.” Who is that boy? Why is his picture in the general's album? What kind of medal is on his chest? What is the future fate of the boy?
To find answers to these questions, Vasily Zhurakhov, a former criminal investigation officer, contacted former colleagues from Rostov. But they could not help: they knew nothing about this man. The writer sent a request to central archive Ministry of Defense in Podolsk. Talked with specialists from the diorama museum “ Battle of Kursk. Belgorod direction". I called the grandson of the commander - a candidate historical sciences Alexander Vatutin. I was looking for traces of the boy in Kharkov, for which I contacted local state security veterans. But the search was fruitless. A happy accident helped.
Once Zhurakhov was invited to a ceremony honoring Emma Doroshenko, who was awarded the title “ Honorable Sir city of Belgorod". I approached the writer Aida Evgenievna Volkova- the oldest employee of the Belgorod cultural department - and asked to sign the congratulatory address intended for Doroshenko.
“Okay, but I don’t sign with other people’s pens,” Zhurakhov answered and opened his briefcase to find his signature red pencil.
“And I know this boy,” Aida Evgenievna suddenly said, seeing a photograph of the little fighter lying on top of other documents. – This is Seryozha Aleshkov, the youngest son of the regiment. There should be information about him in the “Young Defenders of the Motherland” museum, which is located in Kursk.
Volkova clarified the boy’s last name and said that he was not from Rostov region, that’s why no traces of him were found there. Aleshkov, already an adult, came to Kursk. This meeting was preserved in Aida Evgenievna’s memory.
Zhurakhov just needs to contact the Kursk residents to find out amazing story six-year-old defender of the Motherland. It turned out that a lot was written about him in the sixties and seventies of the last century. But in Lately his name is practically forgotten.
Let her be my mother!
Seryozha Aleshkova was 6 years old when the Germans executed his mother and older brother for their connection with the partisans. It happened in Kaluga region. Seryozha was saved by a neighbor. She threw the child out of the window of the hut and shouted for him to run as fast as he could. The boy ran into the forest. This was in the fall of 1942. It is difficult to say how long the child wandered, hungry, exhausted, frozen in the Kaluga forests. Scouts from the 142nd Guards came upon him. rifle regiment, commanded by Major Vorobyov. They carried the boy in their arms across the front line. And they left him in the regiment.
The hardest thing was choosing clothes for little soldier: Well, where can you find boots in size thirty? However, over time, both shoes and uniforms were found - everything was as it should be. Young unmarried major Mikhail Vorobyov became a second father for Seryozha. By the way, he later officially adopted the boy.
“But you don’t have a mother, Serezhenka,” the major said somehow sadly, stroking the boy’s short-cropped hair.
“No, it will be so,” he replied. – I like the nurse Aunt Nina, she is kind and beautiful.
So with light hand child, the major found his happiness and lived with Nina Andreevna Bedova, senior medical officer all his life.
Seryozha helped his senior comrades as best he could: he carried mail and ammunition to the soldiers, and sang songs between battles. Serezhenka turned out to have a wonderful character - cheerful, calm, he never whined or complained about trifles. And for the soldiers, this boy became a reminder of peaceful life, each of them had someone left at home who loved them and was waiting for them. Everyone tried to caress the child. But Seryozha gave his heart to Vorobyov once and for all.
Seryozha received the medal “For Military Merit” for saving the life of his named father. Once, during a fascist raid, a bomb destroyed the regiment commander’s dugout. No one except the boy saw that Major Vorobyov was under the rubble of logs.
Swallowing tears, the boy tried to move the logs to the side, but only tore his hands bloody. Despite the ongoing explosions, Seryozha ran for help. He led the soldiers to the littered dugout, and they pulled out their commander. And Guard Private Seryozha stood next to him and sobbed loudly, smearing dirt over his face, like the most ordinary little boy, which he, in fact, was.
Commander of the 8th guards army General Chuikov, learning about young hero, awarded Seryozha with a military weapon - a captured Walther pistol. The boy was later wounded, sent to the hospital and never returned to the front line.
It is known that Sergei Aleshkov graduated from the Suvorov School and Kharkov law school. For many years he worked as a lawyer in Chelyabinsk, closer to his family - Mikhail and Nina Vorobyov. IN last years worked as a prosecutor. He died early, in 1990. The years of war took their toll.
Instead of an afterword
The story of the regiment's son Aleshkov seems like a legend, if not for the old black and white photograph from which a smiling, round-faced boy with a cap pulled jauntily over one ear looks at us trustingly. Guard Private Serezhenka. A child who fell into the millstones of war, survived many troubles and became a real person. And for this, as you know, you need not only strength of character, but also a kind heart.
Victoria Perederiy
Seryozha Aleshkov was 6 years old when the Germans executed his mother and older brother for their connection with the partisans. This happened in the Kaluga region.
Seryozha was saved by a neighbor. She threw the child out of the window of the hut and shouted for him to run as fast as he could. The boy ran into the forest. This was in the fall of 1942. It is difficult to say how long the child wandered, hungry, exhausted, frozen in the Kaluga forests. He was encountered by scouts from the 142nd Guards Rifle Regiment, commanded by Major Vorobyov. They carried the boy in their arms across the front line. And they left him in the regiment.
The hardest thing was to choose clothes for the little soldier: where can you find size thirty boots? However, over time, both shoes and uniforms were found - everything was as it should be. The young unmarried Major Mikhail Vorobyov became a second father for Seryozha. By the way, he later officially adopted the boy.
“But you don’t have a mother, Serezhenka,” the major said somehow sadly, stroking the boy’s short-cropped hair.
“No, it will be so,” he replied. – I like the nurse Aunt Nina, she is kind and beautiful.
So, with the light hand of a child, the major found his happiness and lived with Nina Andreevna Bedova, a senior medical officer, all his life.
Seryozha helped his senior comrades as best he could: he carried mail and ammunition to the soldiers, and sang songs between battles. Serezhenka turned out to have a wonderful character - cheerful, calm, he never whined or complained about trifles. And for the soldiers, this boy became a reminder of a peaceful life; each of them had someone left at home who loved them and was waiting for them. Everyone tried to caress the child. But Seryozha gave his heart to Vorobyov once and for all.
Seryozha received the medal “For Military Merit” for saving the life of his named father. Once, during a fascist raid, a bomb destroyed the regiment commander’s dugout. No one except the boy saw that Major Vorobyov was under the rubble of logs.
Swallowing tears, the boy tried to move the logs to the side, but only tore his hands bloody. Despite the ongoing explosions, Seryozha ran for help. He led the soldiers to the littered dugout, and they pulled out their commander. And Guard Private Seryozha stood next to him and sobbed loudly, smearing dirt over his face, like the most ordinary little boy, which he, in fact, was.
The commander of the 8th Guards Army, General Chuikov, having learned about the young hero, awarded Seryozha with a military weapon - a captured Walther pistol. The boy was later wounded, sent to the hospital and never returned to the front line. It is known that Sergei Aleshkov graduated from the Suvorov School and the Kharkov Law Institute. For many years he worked as a lawyer in Chelyabinsk, closer to his family - Mikhail and Nina Vorobyov. In recent years he worked as a prosecutor. He died early, in 1990. The years of war took their toll.
The story of the regiment's son Aleshkov seems like a legend, if not for the old black and white photograph from which a smiling, round-faced boy with a cap pulled jauntily over one ear looks at us trustingly. Guard Private Serezhenka. A child who fell into the millstones of war, survived many troubles and became a real person. And for this, as you know, you need not only strength of character, but also a kind heart.
Read more.
GUARDS PRIVATE SEREZHENKA - the youngest soldier of the Great Patriotic War . Seryozha Aleshkov was 6 years old when the Germans executed his mother and older brother for their connection with the partisans. This happened in the Kaluga region. Seryozha was saved by a neighbor. She threw the child out of the window of the hut and shouted for him to run as fast as he could. The boy ran into the forest. This was in the fall of 1942. It is difficult to say how long the child wandered, hungry, exhausted, frozen in the Kaluga forests. He was encountered by scouts from the 142nd Guards Rifle Regiment, commanded by Major Vorobyov. They carried the boy in their arms across the front line. And they left him in the regiment. The hardest thing was to choose clothes for the little soldier: where can you find size thirty boots? However, over time, both shoes and uniforms were found - everything was as it should be. The young unmarried Major Mikhail Vorobyov became a second father for Seryozha. By the way, he later officially adopted the boy. “But you don’t have a mother, Serezhenka,” the major said somehow sadly, stroking the boy’s short-cropped hair. “No, it will be so,” he replied. – I like the nurse Aunt Nina, she is kind and beautiful. So, with the light hand of a child, the major found his happiness and lived with Nina Andreevna Bedova, a senior medical officer, all his life. Seryozha helped his senior comrades as best he could: he carried mail and ammunition to the soldiers, and sang songs between battles. Serezhenka turned out to have a wonderful character - cheerful, calm, he never whined or complained about trifles. And for the soldiers, this boy became a reminder of a peaceful life; each of them had someone left at home who loved them and was waiting for them. Everyone tried to caress the child. But Seryozha gave his heart to Vorobyov once and for all. Seryozha received the medal “For Military Merit” for saving the life of his named father. Once, during a fascist raid, a bomb destroyed the regiment commander’s dugout. No one except the boy saw that Major Vorobyov was under the rubble of logs. - Folder! – Seryozha shouted in a voice that was not his own, jumped up to the dugout and pressed his ear to the logs. A muffled groan was heard from below. Swallowing tears, the boy tried to move the logs to the side, but only tore his hands bloody. Despite the ongoing explosions, Seryozha ran for help. He led the soldiers to the littered dugout, and they pulled out their commander. And Guard Private Seryozha stood next to him and sobbed loudly, smearing dirt over his face, like the most ordinary little boy, which he, in fact, was. The commander of the 8th Guards Army, General Chuikov, having learned about the young hero, awarded Seryozha with a military weapon - a captured Walther pistol. The boy was later wounded, sent to the hospital and never returned to the front line. It is known that Sergei Aleshkov graduated from the Suvorov School and the Kharkov Law Institute. For many years he worked as a lawyer in Chelyabinsk, closer to his family - Mikhail and Nina Vorobyov. In recent years he worked as a prosecutor. He died early, in 1990. The years of war took their toll. The story of the regiment's son Aleshkov seems like a legend, if not for the old black and white photograph from which a smiling, round-faced boy with a cap pulled jauntily over one ear looks at us trustingly. Guard Private Serezhenka. A child who fell into the millstones of war, survived many troubles and became a real person. And for this, as you know, you need not only strength of character, but also a kind heart. (information from the Internet)
Aleshkov Sergey Andreevich born 1936-1990 son of the regiment Battle of Stalingrad
In April 1943 awarded a medal"For military merit"
From the order for the 142nd Guards. joint venture No. 013/P dated 04/26/1943 on awarding medals “For Courage” and “For Military Merit”:
... During his stay in the regiment from September 8, 1942, he went through a responsible combat path with the regiment. On November 18, 1942 he was wounded... With his cheerfulness, love for his unit and those around him, in extremely difficult moments he inspired cheerfulness and confidence in victory. Comrade ALESHKIN is the favorite of the regiment.
Do you think there is a report to the political commander? No. Although, in a sense, perhaps, yes.
... The dust raised by the explosion cleared away. Comrade Alyoshkin realized with horror that the shell had hit the regiment commander’s dugout exactly. Having run up, he realized that he could not cope with the rolling logs alone, and rushed to the sappers. Sappers quickly dismantled the ceiling; the overwhelmed regiment commander was alive and even intact, only stunned. And the fighter Alyoshkin stood nearby and, without hiding his joy, roared into three streams.
When you lose your second father, and your heart, out of despair, quickly falls into the already familiar abyss, and then flies up, because this time - fortunately, he remained alive - it is no wonder. And of course there is no shame, even for a seasoned fighter.
Especially at six years old.
On September 8, 1942, a reconnaissance group of the 142nd Guards Rifle Regiment (more precisely, at that time - still the 510th “simple”; it will become a guards regiment in December following the renaming of “its” 154th Guards Rifle Regiment into the 47th Guards) in the forest in the Ulyanovsk district of the Oryol (now Kaluga) region, she discovered an extremely emaciated, scabbed, half-naked child who looked to be about five years old, and brought him to her location.
Regiment commander Mikhail Danilovich Vorobyov recalled:
Seryozha could barely stand on his thin legs and looked scared and pleading. Everyone in the dugout seemed speechless. I wanted to rush there, to the line of trenches, to grab the throat of the first fascist that came across. I walked up to him, stroked him on the head and asked
- What is your name?
- Seryozha.
- And do you remember your last name?
- We are Alyoshkin.
Seryozha got a little confused with his last name, which became clear later: in fact, he was Aleshkov. And his story was ordinary at that time.
He lived with his mother and older brothers in the remote village of Gryn almost in the middle between Kaluga and Orel, near the border with Tula region. When he was 5 years old, the war began. Two older brothers went to the front. The Germans have arrived. It is not known why ten-year-old Petya Aleshkov, the last of Seryozha’s older brothers, did not like them, but they were installing in the village new order German soldiers he was killed. And the mother who rushed to her murdered son was also killed. And they spared the bullets for Seryozha, who was frozen in shock, and simply kicked him aside so as not to get in the way.
The people ran from the Germans into the forest, Seryozha ran with the people, but quickly got lost. How long he wandered through the forest, he never remembered; maybe five days, or maybe a whole week. If it weren’t for wild berries, he would have perished there; when the scouts found him, he couldn’t even cry.
The regiment commander, not unreasonably, reasoned that, even though it was dangerous at the front, the child would get stronger, be well-fed, clothed, and under the constant supervision of his elders.
Sergei became a student of the regiment (the term “son of the regiment” would come into use later, towards the end of the war, apparently at the suggestion of the writer Kataev), in which everyone knew his sad story. Personally, of course, I didn’t sit on the front line and didn’t shoot at the Germans (although I dreamed about it). But he was not ballast either: every morning he came to headquarters and reported on his arrival for duty. And there were many things to do, including those that he could do. He carried mail and ammunition to the soldiers, read poetry and sang songs in between marches and battles. And, I think, it strengthened the morale of the regiment’s fighters in a way that no political officer or detachment could simply do.
On November 18, 1942, Seryozha and his soldiers came under artillery fire and were wounded in the leg by shrapnel. After treatment, to the joy of the entire regiment, he returned to his own. And then, when the Battle of Stalingrad ended, the commander, much to Seryozha’s joy, decided to adopt him. Soon he had new mom- the division commander allowed Lieutenant Colonel Vorobyov to marry his chosen one, senior medical officer Nina Andreevna Bedova.
And they lived together for a long time and happy life. And Seryozha had to be sent to the rear - the command (up to the Supreme Commander) was not enthusiastic about the presence of minors in the combat zone. And in 1944 he was included in the first intake of Tula cadets Suvorov School. Together with him, in November 1944, 83 Leningraders and more than 30 sons of the regiment and young partisans began their studies. Sergei graduated from the school in the sixth graduating class, in 1954 (and in 1960 it was disbanded).
ABOUT future fate There is little information about Sergei Andreevich Aleshkov. We only know that he always came to visit his adoptive father during the holidays and then on vacation, served in the army, and recently lived in Chelyabinsk and met with schoolchildren. The youngest guardsman and holder of the medal “For Military Merit” died early, in 1990.