(19. 11. 1915 - 22. 6. 1980)
With tepan Ilyich Podgainy, Guard lieutenant, commander of the 4 th Battery 276-legkoartilleriyskogo Red Guards Regiment GDH, was born November 19, 1915 in g. Kalininsk Saratov region. Russian. He graduated from the 6 classes of secondary school. Worked at Balandinskom distillery, while he studied at evening rabfak. In the Soviet Army, he served from 1937 to 1946. In 1940 he graduated from the one-year course at the military-political school named M.V. Frunze in g. Kuibyshev.
Great Patriotic War began on the Western Front Commissioner artillery battery. August 14, 1941 was seriously wounded and the end of the year had been treated in hospital. After recovery was found to be limited fit of degree 2 and sent for further service in one part of Mr.. Novosibirsk. From December 1942 until May 1943 he studied at the Artillery Training Courses of. From June 1943 until 14 August 1944 fought in the Central, Belorussian, and 1 st Belorussian fronts. Took part in the Battle of Kursk, the liberation of Belarus and Poland. He was wounded four times and twice wounded. For military distinctions awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky (1945), World War 2 nd degree (1944), Red Star (1944) and three medals.
. W tion of the Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and medal "Gold Star" Stepan Ilyich Podgaynovu awarded Nov. 16, 1943 for bravery and courage, . shown in repelling the enemy tank attacks on the Orel-Kursk direction.,
. In 1946, for health SI
. Podgainy was fired from the Soviet Army. Captain retired. Disabled veteran 2-nd group. Lived in Mr.. Kalininsk. Died June 22, 1980.
We Troma 5 July 1943 the enemy took the offensive in the strip of the 13th Army, which occupied the northern defenses fase Kursk salient. At the height of 254.6, which housed one of the battalions of 81-th Infantry Division and the observation post of captain Podgaynova, the enemy threw into the attack 35 tanks with the infantry. Boiled hot battle. About a hundred Nazi bombers circled over the height and dropped bombs on military orders units.
The engagement lasted three hours. The battalion was firmly reflecting the furious attacks of a superior opponent, but after outflank had to retire on the southern slopes of the height. Departure infantry covered fire batteries Podgainy. He remained at the observation post for as long as not a thing of the past groups of infantry. Submachine enemy approached the observation post close. Reconnaissance and communications personnel repelled the enemy fire from handguns and grenades. Podgainy mowed the Nazis from a light machine gun. However, the forces were unequal, and the Nazis burst into the observation point. Podgainy caused the fire on himself. Battery released for the observation post about 500 rounds. Attack the enemy was repulsed.
Soon the Nazis went around the observation post Podgaynova right and left, and surrounded the handful of artillerymen. Podgainy raised fighters platoon control in the attack, machine-gun fire and hand grenades personally destroyed the Nazi officer and 17 soldiers and escaped from the enemy's ring. Battery immediately opened fire on the advancing enemy and knocked out three medium tank.
. At dawn on July 7 Podgainy came to the firing position gun sergeant Jidkova and read the men a special order of the Military Council of the Central Front, where the artillerymen 13th Army expressed gratitude for the excellent fighting
. At this point, the enemy began to attack. At gun Jidkova moved 7 heavy tanks. "Tigers" were cautiously probing a suspicious fire every bush and hillock. Jidkova gun from a distance of 500 meters on the team Podgaynova took the first shot. One of the "tigers", substituting the board, caught fire.
The Nazis have discovered a weapon Jidkova and concentrated fire on him from the six tanks. Zhidkov knocked out another tank, but was immediately struck by enemy bullet. Killed and gunner. The guns fell Podgainy. He almost point blank armor flashed third "tiger" kinetic energy ammunition projectile. The remaining tanks withdrew to their original positions.
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Sources:
1) Heroes of the Soviet Union: A Brief Biographical Dictionary. V.2. M.: Voeniz.1988.
2) Rumyantsev.N.M. People legendary heroism ". Saratov. 1968
