(1. 1. 1901 - 4. 5. 1983)
In asil I. Melnikov, a senior lieutenant, commander of the 5-th company 109 Infantry Regiment, 74 th Infantry Division, was born on January 1, 1901 in a. Treasury Myung Balakovo district of Saratov region. Russian, member of the CPSU since 1932. Primary Education. In the Soviet Army was in 1918 - 1924 and 1941 - 1946 respectively.
From August 1942 until the victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War, fought at Stalingrad, Central, Belorussian and 2 of the First Ukrainian Front. Participated in the battles of Stalingrad and Kursk, the liberation of Ukraine, Moldova, Romania and Hungary. Twice wounded and bruised. For military distinctions awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 1 st degree (1943), the medal "For Courage" (1943) and three other medals.
. W tion of the Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin and medal "Gold Star" Vasily Ivanovich Melnikov was awarded on Oct. 16, 1943 for bravery and courage in crossing the rivers Desna, Dnieper and Pripyat.
. In 1946, VI
. Melnikov for health reasons and was discharged from the Soviet Army. Captain of the reserve, the second group of disabled war veteran, lived in Mr.. Balakovo. Died May 4, 1983.
By the evening of September 19, 1943 Company Melnikov went to the gums in the area of Chernigov. It was necessary that whatever the cost to speed up the river, seize a bridgehead on its western bank, and provided transportation for the rest of the regiment. This is the order of the commander.
Ferrying funds was. Melnikov sought from local residents, two boats. In the middle of the night the first platoon set sail from the coast. The Germans opened machine-gun fire. Gunners rescued: they immediately covered the enemy firing points. Roth lossless crossed the Desna and daring night attack overthrew the enemy. Leaving the coastal fortifications, the Germans retreated.
During the day the enemy made one after the other four counterattacks, but it was too late: by this time at a base crossed the entire regiment. Situation is in our favor, but the Nazis here and there, still managed to wedge itself in battle formations of units. Particularly stubborn fight broke out on a plot companies Melnikova. This enemy is doing his main attack. Soviet soldiers showed the greatest resistance. Gun fire, Molotov cocktails and grenades set fire to a company of three tanks and destroyed more than a hundred Nazi. The regiment moved to the pursuit of the enemy. When attacking a host defense to. Obolon Melnikov personally destroyed 20 Nazi. His company is deeply penetrated the defenses of the enemy, defeated the headquarters of the infantry battalion and captured valuable documents.
September 21 in an area with. Mnev regiment went to the Dnieper. Melnikov decided to find fishing boats. To this end, he sent a sergeant with the two fighters in the nearby hamlet. Here our soldiers were waiting for the guerrillas. They raised a flooded creek in a boat and who wish to transfer company of the west bank of the river. Nazis did not expect such a quick action of our troops and ferry companies have not noticed. Meanwhile, the soldiers dug in on the coastal elevations, adjusting for the defense of old, abandoned trenches.
In the morning the enemy attempted to eliminate the bridgehead. The position of a company he threw a battalion of infantry. The Nazis were in full growth. Our soldiers, confident in their abilities, let a enemy at 200 - 300 meters and the signal Melnikova opened friendly fire from machine guns and submachine. Leaving the battlefield dozens of corpses, the Germans retreated.
Soon the beachhead crossed the entire regiment with artillery and mortars. On the shoulders of the retreating enemy fighters broke into a. Kolyban. In the brutal street fighting company Melnikov again showed samples of bold and decisive action: she first entered the village, and then the move forced the Pripyat river.
. By evening the next day our troops threw the enemy from the Dnieper to 35 kilometers.
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. Sources:
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1) Heroes of the Soviet Union: A Brief Biographical Dictionary. V.2. M.: Voeniz.1988.
2) Rumyantsev.N.M. People legendary heroism ". Saratov. 1968
