Red Army Sniper by Yevgeni Nikolaev

Author:Yevgeni Nikolaev [Nikolaev, Yevgeni]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Military, World War II, Europe, Eastern, Special Forces
ISBN: 9781784382384
Google: ZnSADwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
Published: 2017-11-30T22:20:26+00:00

Comrade Zhdanov finished, to thunderous applause. Then began the presentation of awards to the heroes who had been named.

First to be called was the name of sniper Feodosy Smolyachkov, to whom this high honour was awarded posthumously: Feodosy Artemyevich Smolyachkov, sniper of the 13th Rifle Division, who had wiped out 125 Nazis with 126 bullets but perished on 15 January 1942. Our heroes went up to the top table and Comrade Zhdanov presented the awards personally. He also pinned the Gold Star of ‘Hero of the Soviet Union’ and the Order of Lenin onto their tunics – for each of them. Among those who received this exalted title was my fellow-townsman, Vladimir Pchelintsev, who had wiped out 102 Nazis. Sniper Vezhlivtsev had accounted for 134 of them and Golichenkov for 140. The chief of the front’s general staff, Major General Gusev, rose and solemnly, with long pauses after every word, proceeded to read a command to the troops of the Leningrad Front. ‘On behalf of the Presidium of the USSR Supreme Soviet, in recognition of the initiative shown in launching military competition for extermination of the German invaders, the exemplary fulfilment of commissions to destroy enemy personnel and machinery, and the valour and courage demonstrated in the course of this … I award!’ he singled out this verb, made a big pause, looked out into the hall and, after this, loudly announced, ‘the Order of Lenin – to Deputy Political Adviser Babin, Alexander Vladimirovich.’

The deputy head of the Front’s general staff held out a little red casket and an equally red booklet to Comrade Zhdanov, who had been standing there all this time between the presidium table and the rostrum. Andrey Alexandrovich looked out into the hall and said, ‘I call on Comrade Babin to come up for the presentation.’

Alexander Babin climbed up onto the stage and walked up to Comrade Zhdanov, shook the hand extended to him, and with his other hand took the red casket from Andrey Alexandrovich’s hands. The, turning to the audience, he loudly and distinctly pronounced the words: ‘I serve the Soviet Union!’ The hall exploded in applause.

Following Babin the other named recipients proceeded to walk up to the presidium table one by one in alphabetical order. In ninth place was our Tambov Young Communist League representative, Yuri Semyonov. All in all, we counted twelve people awarded the Order of Lenin. Five of them were soldiers of our 21st Division.

‘Order of the Red Banner!’ the general once again solemnly proclaimed and began to name the recipients. They got up from their seats and headed for the table, red in the face from agitation and embarrassment.

But not all of them went up to the presidium table; many of them were still being treated for wounds. Vladimir Dudin, our sergeant-major and sniper, had the Order of the Red Banner presented to him in his hospital ward on the very same day. Others had perished, knowing neither of this solemn occasion or their own award.

And now the Order of the Red Banner was presented to Ivan Dobrik, while Ivan Karpov also emerged with the same award.

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