(18. 9. 1917 - 23. 10. 1943)
And Wang Ya Loktev, Guard lieutenant, platoon leader, 106-Guards Sapper Battalion separate 92-th Guards Rifle Division. Born September 18, 1917 in a. Donguz Baltayskogo Russian region of Saratov region. He graduated from junior high school, before being called up for military service he worked on the farm. Autumn 1938 he was drafted into the Red Army.
From August 1942 until the day of death - October 23, 1943 fought at Stalingrad, Voronezh and Steppe Fronts. He participated in the battles of Stalingrad and Kursk and the liberation of Ukraine. For military distinction was awarded the Order of the Red Star (1942) and the medal "For Defense of Stalingrad.
. W tion of the Hero of the Soviet Union Ivan Yakovlevich Loktev awarded on Dec. 20, 1943 for bravery and courage in crossing the Dnieper.
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September 28, 1943 Guard Lieutenant Loktev has been tasked to conduct an engineering reconnaissance of the island with a mark of 60, . 8, and ford across the channel, . separates this island from the western shore of the Dnieper in the Derievki,
. On the island of Germans had a battle outpost, but on the opposite shore - well-trained field-type position with trenches full profile, bunkers and various kinds of barriers.
. In the middle of the night group Loktev, composed of engineers scouts on a fishing boat sailed away from shore
. It was a dark rainy night, and the Nazis hid in the dugout, believing that in such weather, our men would not risk a proactive. Everything went according to plan, but when the scouts came to the island, in 10 - 15 meters away from the trench, the observer on duty fired a flare bomb. Loktev and intelligence Simbirtsev acted decisively: not yet managed to illuminate the missile area, as they attacked the Nazis and dumped his butt blow. Fascist dragged into the bushes, the scouts went through the channel.
On the west bank of the Dnieper Loktev found barbed wire in two rows of stakes, and anti-personnel mines. Made an opening in the wire and a minefield, he left for his protection of the four miners, while he and the scouts moved to the first trench of the enemy. There were seen two machine guns. Then the whole group was plunged into standing near the shore two large boats Nazis and returned to the left bank.
Based on the report Lokteva command decided to force the. Despite the weariness, the lieutenant himself led across the river for the first time unit. In a brief firefight, our infantrymen killed in the island battle outpost of the enemy. Now they had to cross the stream, for once it was not possible: the Nazis substituted for duct barrage of artillery. Within 30 minutes, a wall of fire and fountains of water blocked the road to our office, and when the fire subsided, Loktev held shooters in proven ford. By the morning of the bridgehead was captured.
Two days later, the guardsmen were deployed to another location - in the area north of Keleberda. Here Loktev under constant enemy fire for several days in a row shipped to the western shore of infantry, artillery, vehicles, ammunition. Serving the ferry, he and his platoon for the period from 1 October po10 threw on a base two infantry battalions and two artillery battalions with full arms.
. October 2 during a raid by enemy aircraft ferry Loktev was damaged, the blast tore off its mooring and suffered the river
. Despite the still ongoing bombing and machine gun fire from airplanes, bold sapper jumped into the boat, caught the ferry and with the help of three men approached him to shore.
. October 15 troops of the 37 th Army, which included fighting Loktev, began an offensive in the direction of Krivoy Rog
. A week of fighting with the guards have been fighting over a hundred kilometers.
October 23 in repelling a counterattack enemy tanks I.YA. Loktev died a heroic death.
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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
