(12. 3. 1917 - 30. 10. 1986)
And Alexis K. Kashtanov Guard second lieutenant, platoon commander of fire 158-th Guards Artillery Regiment, 78 Guards Rifle Division. Born March 12, 1917 in d. Osinovka Arkadak district of Saratov region. Russian. He graduated from the seven-year school and junior lieutenants. In the Soviet Army he served in 1939-1959, respectively.
Since the beginning of World War II victory over Germany fought on the South-West, Steppenwolf, 2 and 1 Ukrainian Front. Wounded in 1943. Participated in the Battle of Stalingrad, the liberation of Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Poland and Czechoslovakia. For military distinction and impeccable service in the Soviet Army awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 1 st degree (1945), two Orders of Red Star (1943.1954) and seven medals.
. W tion of the Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin and medal "Gold Star" Alexey Kashtanov awarded Oct. 26, 1943 for heroism in the battle for retention of the bridgehead across the Dnieper.
. After the war, until 1959 A
. K. Kashtanov served in the Soviet Army. Major stock, lived in Mr.. Drogobych. Died Oct. 30, 1986.
In September 1943, the fascist army, defeated by Soviet troops in the regions of Kursk and Belgorod, in the Donets Basin and at Orel, falling back to the Dnieper. The turn of this broad water hazard has been transformed into a powerful enemy of the "East Shaft," "soldier dreamed of," writes the former commander of the 47 th German Panzer Corps, General Foreman, "the protection and security of the Dnieper. The only sense in all the difficult battles that were fought over the past few months, he had seen to cross the river and, finally, to find peace.
But sit fascists of the Dnieper failed. Soviet forces relentlessly pursued the enemy, and at many sites overcome the river on the run. The first of Steppenwolf front crossed the Dnieper of 25-th Guards Rifle Corps, which included fighting Kashtanov. On the night of September 25, together with the vanguard of the infantry second lieutenant sent its guns on the island Glinsko-Borodaevsky. In the fierce battle, which lasted two days, our units drove the enemy from the island, crossed the narrow stream, separating the island from the shore, and seized a small bridgehead.
. The Nazis took all measures to regain lost ground
. One counterattack following another. Our soldiers have lost count of them. Especially strong was the onslaught of the enemy on October 5. On the narrow section of the front defending about two dozen marines and a platoon of Kashtanova, the Nazis threw four heavy battle tank "Tiger" with troops and several armored personnel carriers, submachine infantry. Shoot for "tigers" in the forehead with the long distances was impractical because the frontal armor of these vehicles at the firing range of over 300 meters is not the way even subcaliber projectiles 76-millimeter cannon. Kashtanov decided to wait until the enemy tank is not suitable for short distance. It was risky, the tanks can crush infantry, but true: when shooting at point-blank defeat tanks guaranteed. Kashtanov announced his decision to the infantry commander.
Like a huge turtle, the Tigers slowly crept forward. Already have seen their side. Gunner frozen in panoramas. Kashtanov lowered his raised hand, and the commanders of guns a loud voice: "Fire!" From the first shells explode a tank, enveloped in the smoke of another. More Tigers decided not to share the fate of their brethren, and backed off. Guns Kashtanova knocked out armored personnel carrier and then transferred to light infantry. Now the fire was not subcaliber shells and shrapnel. Leaving the battlefield more than a platoon of soldiers and officers killed, tommy retreated to the point of departure.
"Russian forced the fight where they want to admit-General Formann.-They defined the beginning and end of any battle. Instead of being the hammer, we have an anvil.
. In the future foothold of our troops in the area of Kremenchug was expanded and used for the release of Right-Bank Ukraine.
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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
