(8. 7. 1918 - 18. 12. 1942)
And lya Makarovich Kaplunov, Guard soldier, anti-tank riflemen 260-th Guards Rifle Regiment, 86 Guards Rifle Division. Born July 8, 1918 in d. Chapushke Arkadak district of Saratov region. Russian. Graduated 6 classes Arkadak School. Before conscription worked at the factory laborer Б•ї 7, fitter and striker in the agricultural school.
In 1938 he joined the Armed Forces, served in the Pacific Fleet. In December 1942, arrived in Stalingrad Front, took part in battles in the 2-th Guards Army.
. W tion of the Hero of the Soviet Union, Ilya Makarovich Kaplunova conferred posthumously on Oct. 26, 1943 for the destruction of 9 enemy tanks in the battle at the hamlet Upper Kuma and shown courage and bravery.
. In early 1943 the Komsomol Arkadak district collected money to build a tank Ilya Kaplunov "
. This tank was awarded tankman-Saratovtsev Major VM. Muravleva, which led him from the shores of the Volga to Berlin. Feat Elijah Kaplunova praised by poets, was captured on the canvases of artists. Order of the troops of the Southern Front of May 13, 1943 IM. Kaplunov ever enrolled in the lists of the Guards regiment of which made their achievement.
In mid-December 1942 the situation was tense at Stalingrad. Surrounded by our troops, I 6-fascist army continued to resist. At its revenues from the South rushed the newly created Army Group Don, which was composed of ten divisions, hundreds of tanks and planes.
Under the farm Upper Kuma enemy's path was blocked by the regiment, which served as Ilya Kaplunov. December 18 in the height of 137,2 Guard rescued four enemy attacks with heavy losses. However, the enemy was not satisfied. In the afternoon on a narrow section of the front he had thrown in his last reserve-17 Panzer and 65 th battalion of heavy tanks "Tiger". These tanks were used in combat for the first time, and the Nazis had pinned great hopes on them.
In this unequal battle, killed all the men company, and Kaplunov left alone. One to five medium tanks moving on the snowy field to a height of 137,2. Daring anti-tank riflemen boldly entered into an unequal fight, and well-aimed shots knocked out two enemy tanks T-W.
Remaining fascist machine slowly approaching the height. Two of them turned to the right. Armor-piercing incendiary bullets Kaplunova easily patched thin side armor. Both the tank initially shrouded in smoke, then flashed a bright flame.
The Nazis saw the courageous anti-tank riflemen and decided to destroy it. At high speeds the fifth, the last tank ran straight to the trench Kaplunova. Shoot from the anti-tank rifle was nothing: run out of bullets. Kaplunov seized anti-tank grenade, but it did not have time to throw: armored vehicle throughout its multi-ton weight overwhelmed at the trench. The roar of the engine drowned out all ...
When the tank passed the trench, Kaplunov shook off the lumps of snow recovered from his momentary fear, and one after another, threw two grenades at the motor part of the machine. The awesome power of the explosion shook the air detonate ammunition. Tower of the tank was torn off and thrown aside.
There was a lull, but not for long. Soon from the beam crawled four tank. Kaplunov did not flinch this time. He knocked out three tanks, however, and he received two severe wounds: in the leg and arm. Ilya bled, leaving his forces. However, growled menacingly in front of another Nazi tank. It was a "tiger". No one from the Soviet soldiers did not merilsya ourselves with such armored fortress.
. Kaplunov barely got out of the trench and a grenade in his hand crawled across the path of the steel leviathan, leaving a trail of blood on the snow ...
. P odospevshie in battleground our tanks found Ilya Kaplunova caterpillar tamed them "tiger."
. After several days of bloody battle at the turn of the rivers Aksai Esaulovsky ended in complete victory for the Soviet troops.
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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
