(13. 3. 1915 - 27. 11. 1954)
Mr. rigory Frolovich Shigaev, lieutenant, commander of the platoon firing 136-th Army cannon artillery Rezhitskoy Red Banner Order of Suvorov Brigade. Born March 13, 1915 in d. Kuvyke Tatischevskogo district of Saratov region. Russian. He graduated from the seven-year school. In 1935 - 1937 he studied at rabfak in Saratov, while working as unskilled workers in the port, fuel tankers, shoemaker. In 1937 - 1940 and 1941 - 1948 he served in the Soviet Army.
Attended the Soviet-Finnish War 1939 - 1940 period. In 1942 he graduated from the Kiev School of Artillery. During the Great Patriotic War, fought against the Nazi invaders in the West, Kalinin, 2 nd Baltic and the 1 st Belorussian fronts. Participated in the liberation of the Kalinin and Pskov regions, Latvia and Poland, in defeating the enemy in Germany. For military distinction was awarded the Order of the Red Star (1944), medals "For the liberation of Warsaw", "For the capture of Berlin" and "For Victory over Germany in World War II 1941 - 1945.
. W tion of the Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and medal "Gold Star" Gregory Frolovich Shigaeva conferred May 15, 1946 for valor and courage in the storming of Berlin.
. Fter the war, Lieutenant Shigaev commanded battery
. In 1948 he was dismissed from the Soviet Army in reserve. He worked in Saratov, chairman fishing Artel. Died Nov. 27, 1954.
On April 26, 1945, Soviet forces began fighting for the destruction of Berlin, surrounded by the enemy. Lieutenant Shigaev was ordered at daybreak on April 28 move out of one 152-mm howitzer-gun in the western part of the cemetery Tiergarten and direct fire to destroy the corner and standing next to the building, . Transformed into powerful enemy strongholds,
. Hidden behind thick stone walls of these houses, the Nazis hail of bullets and cartridges Faust stood in the way of our assault group, which included a company of infantry and tank platoon.
. Street, which moved to artillery, was littered with smashed cars, rubble, pitted with craters of shells and bombs
. Shigaeva with great difficulty managed to hold in the designated area of heavy truck vosmitonnym weapon on the trailer.
Since the range 400 - 500 meters gunners fired on the corner building six shots betonoboynymi shells. Accuracy was high hit. Part of the huge walls of the house collapsed, burying the scores of Nazis. They moved forward and tanks.
At this time Shigaev observed in the eastern part of the park Tiergarten Cluster enemy infantry, and by deploying a weapon, opened fire on it. Roth submachine chain moved into a handful of Soviet artillery, caught without cover.
The firing of guns was constrained: hampered trees and buildings, and when the Nazis came to a close distance, was altogether impossible. Shigaev ordered the settlement to take perimeter defense and the Nazis to exterminate the fire of small arms and hand grenades.
Meanwhile, the Nazis covered the gun with three sides. Gunners struck enemy friendly fire. Submachine press ahead and lay down in the 20 - 30 meters from the gun. The result is a tense situation.
At this critical moment, Lieutenant Shigaev, despising death, rose to his full height, threw a grenade into the midst of enemies, and with a cry of "For the Motherland!" ran forward. Inspired by the example of their commander gunners rushed to the Nazis, destroying their machine-gun fire and hand grenades. The Nazis did not stand a bold attack by Soviet soldiers and retreated into the park. In this battle Shigaev personally destroyed 13 enemy soldiers and officers.
By defeating submachine Shigaev continues to carry out basic tasks. Fire destroyed the guns he has several buildings, destroyed the machine guns and antitank guns faustnikov enemy. Path for infantry and tanks to the center of Berlin was opened.
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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
