(3. 5. 1925)
A natoly Semenovich Lapushkin, Guard staff sergeant, commander of the department of engineering-mine company, 22-th Guards Motorized Rifle Fastovsky Red Banner Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky Brigade. Born May 3, 1925 in d. Hodakovke Arkadak district of Saratov region. Russian. He graduated from the 7 classes Alexeyevsky school.
In 1942 he was drafted into the Red Army. From September 1943 until the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II fought on the Voronezh and 1 Ukrainian Front. Seriously injured on Dec. 29, 1943 in the battle of Fastov. He participated in the liberation of Ukraine, Poland, Czechoslovakia, defeating the enemy in Germany. For military distinctions awarded the Order of the Red Star (1944), medal "For Courage" (1943), "Service in Battle" (1944), "For the capture of Berlin", "For the liberation of Prague and three other medals.
. W tion of the Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and medal "Gold Star" Anatoly S. Lapushkina awarded June 27, 1945 for their courage and heroism in crossing the Oder River.
. In the postwar years, a
. S. Lapushkin finished 1-e Ryazan military road school and until 1953 he served in the Soviet Army. After the release of the reserve with the rank of lieutenant, he worked as a mechanic farm "yield" in the Stavropol Territory.
F ashisty called Oder "the river Germanic destiny". On its western shore, they pre-built powerful defensive line with the presence of reinforced concrete bunkers, multi-row minefields and barbed wire. By the time Soviet troops to the river to Hitler's command here has concentrated large forces: the combat units, Volkssturm battalions, back and rear part. Overcome the "Oder shaft" was not easy, but the Red Army's brilliantly coped with this difficult task.
. The brigade, which served Lapushkin, went to the Oder on the night of January 25, 1945, after fierce battles with the retreating enemy on the outskirts of the city Oppeln
. We had to cross the river and establish a bridgehead on its western bank.
On the eve of the enemy blew up the bridge across the Oder and the ice in the middle of the river. This complicated forcing. It was necessary immediately, without wasting a single moment, to explore, to know in what conditions are undermined by a bridge, find the most suitable site for the crossing units. This task was entrusted to a small group of engineers and intelligence officers led by Sergeant Lapushkina.
The enemy had the right bank under continuous artillery mortar fire. Ignoring the danger, Lapushkin made his way to the river and meter by meter began to verify the strength and thickness of ice. Double sank in the icy water, but did not stop work. Half an hour later he failed to find a jumper in the demolished enemy strip of ice: did not work here laid the charge. Defang it Lapushkin made his way to the bank occupied by the enemy, examined its demolition, and on the way back spotted enemy firing points.
. Returning to headquarters, the bold sapper refused to rest and he led the unit through a narrow passage of ice
. Before dawn the brigade crossed the river on the opposite bank. Because the ice was thin, light guns, on the advice Lapushkina, were placed on special sledges.
Shock Guard was irresistible. Team on a broad front "broke" the enemy's defenses and exploded south of the bridge crossing the Nazis seized a serviceable. This ferry was later used by the main forces of the 3rd Guards Tank Army.
After fighting on the Oder Lapushkin participated in the storming of Berlin and especially distinguished himself in forcing the Teltow-canal. As part of his company, he first crossed the water barrier and up the main forces of the brigade for several hours with his friends beat out a fierce enemy attacks. War sergeant graduated in Prague.
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Sources:
1) Heroes of the Soviet Union: A Brief Biographical Dictionary. V.1. M.: Voeniz.1987.
2) Rumyantsev.N.M. People legendary heroism ". Saratov. 1968
