Alexander Matrosov

Alexander Matrosov is a Red Army soldier, served as a submachine gunner in the 2nd separate rifle battalion of the 91st Separate Siberian Volunteer Brigade.Stalin. Member of the Komsomol. On June 19, 1943, he received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union (posthumously) for closing the embrasure of a fascist bunker, giving fellow soldiers the opportunity to capture a strong point.

Each generation has its own heroes and idols. Now, when the palm is held by various stars of the cinema and pop industry, when young people are increasingly trying to look like scandalous representatives of bohemia, I want to remember the names of those who became a real hero, who remained in the eternal memory of the people and history. One of such heroes is Alexander Matrosov, whose name is forever inscribed in golden letters in the chronicle of the Great Patriotic War, whose feat many fighters sought to repeat, not sparing their lives, in order for the Motherland to gain freedom and independence. Time passes, insignificant details of the events of those years are erased in memory.

In the active army since November 1942, he served as part of the 2nd separate Rifle Battalion of the 91st Separate Siberian Volunteer Brigade named after I.V. Stalin (later the 254th Guards Rifle Regiment of the 56th Guards Rifle Division, Kalinin Front). For some time the brigade was in reserve. Then she was transferred near Pskov to the area of Bolshoy Lomovaty Bor. Right from the march, the brigade entered the battle.

On February 27, 1943, the 2nd Battalion was tasked with attacking a strongpoint near the village of Pleten, west of the village of Chernushki, Loknyansky district of the Pskov region. As soon as our soldiers passed through the forest and came to the edge, they came under heavy enemy machine gun fire - three enemy machine guns in bunkers covered the approaches to the village. One machine gun was suppressed by an assault group of submachine gunners and armored fighters. The second bunker was destroyed by another group of armored trucks. But the machine gun from the third bunker continued to shell the entire hollow in front of the village. Attempts to silence him were unsuccessful. Then the Red Army soldier Alexander Matrosov crawled towards the bunker. He approached the embrasure from the flank and threw two grenades. The machine gun fell silent. But as soon as the fighters rose to attack, the machine gun came to life again. Then Matrosov got up, rushed to the bunker with a jerk and closed the embrasure with his body. At the cost of his life, he contributed to the fulfillment of the combat mission by the unit.

He was buried in the village of Chernushki, Loknyansky district, and in 1948 the ashes of A.M. Matrosov were reburied in the city of Velikiye Luki, Pskov region, on the left bank of the Lovat River at the intersection of Rosa Luxemburg Street and the Alexander Matrosov embankment.

A few days later, the name of Alexander Matrosov became known throughout the country. Matrosov's feat was used by a journalist who happened to be with the unit for a patriotic article. At the same time, the date of the Hero's death was postponed to February 23, timing the feat to the birthday of the Red Army. Despite the fact that Alexander Matrosov was not the first to commit such an act of self-sacrifice, it was his name that was used to glorify the heroism of Soviet soldiers. Subsequently, over three hundred people committed a similar heroic act. The feat of Alexander Matrosov became a symbol of courage and military valor, fearlessness and love for the Motherland.

By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated June 19, 1943, the Red Army soldier Alexander Matveyevich Matrosov was posthumously awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union for exemplary performance of combat missions of the command at the front of the struggle against the Nazi invaders and the courage and heroism shown at the same time.

Awarded the Order of Lenin (posthumously).