МBEI «Krasnogvardeiskaya gymnasium»
Essay
“My great-grandfather’s memories of war”
made by: Elfimov Aleksey,
the student of the 9th form “A” МBEI
«Krasnogvardeiskaya gymnasium »
supervisor: Davletova A.T.
Donskoe – 2013
My great-grandfather’s memories of war
I want to tell you about my great-grandfather. His name is Salikov Petr Efimovich. He was born on 28th, June in 1912 in the village of Yapryntsevo in the Orenburg region, in a peasant family. He was a participant of a Great Patriotic War during 1941-1945 years. He made a lot of feats during this war. I like to listen to my great-grandfather’s stories about his life. I must say that I’m proud of my great-grandfather very much. However, what to say, listen to the memories of my great-grandfather of this Great War.
“My childhood was difficult. My family sowed grain, hay, vegetables, engaged in animal husbandry. It consisted of eight people. There were horses, cows, sheep, pigs and poultry. Surplus sold in the market. It was a salary. We sowed flax, hemp and sunflower. At first, it was hard to learn, because I went to school in the third grade, but in the seventh grade I had a good knowledge and assessment. I took part in Great Patriotic War 1941-1945 years. The war began on 22 June 1941. It was about 12 p.m. when I heard warning sirens from a loudspeaker. This was the statement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Molotov, who said that Nazi Germany suddenly attacked the Soviet Union. It was the people's war. Later I was assigned to the Infantry School Volsk. We drove through Orenburg, Uralsk, and Saratov. Representative from tank school came up and asked if anybody wanted to learn to be the tanker. Four of us agreed. We arrived in the second Saratov tank school. Study was not easy. Everyday we studied the unit of T-34 tanks, weapons, tactics, topography, engineering, policy manuals. Finally we graduated from tank school. In September 15, 1942, we built a battalion and were said we were all given the rank of lieutenant, and some - junior lieutenant. It was decided who the commander of the T-34 was, and who the commander of the KV was. In July 1942, I was an intern in the city of Chelyabinsk in the tank factory where I got an officer uniform and tarpaulin boots and the T-34. With many other people I was taken to district Yelets of Orel region, closer to the front. We arrived at the place on 30 December in 1942. It was winter, it was very cold. Soldiers were housed in an oak forest near the village. It was going to be a fight later…”
“In January 19, 1943 our battalion received an order to marsh at night. In the way a tank company commander died. I was left with another crew to repair the tank…”
“Before we go on the attack, we began to study the terrain (reconnaissance). Everything was white in winter. The ground was open. When we returned from reconnoitering the enemy saw us and opened machine-gun and mortar fire. At that time, I had no fear, I went to my full height, and then the commander said, and gave acceleration. The first fight was successful for me; I had shot the enemy at close range and crushed by caterpillars. One tank was captured; several machine guns, mortars were captured. I moved forward to 500 meters from the main body. The fight came to the end… light Tank T-70 is stuck somewhere, saw me, and thought that I was the German and opened fire on the back of my tank. German hit in the forehead, and our hit on the back. I had to return to my original position, the old place. I had to fight for a long time. Enemy mine was exploded, the hatch blast was opened and I was wounded in the face, splinters hit the face and left eye. The tank was destroyed. The tank was shot down, water tanks; oil and fuel were pierced by shrapnel. Tears flooded the face, it was wet. The first night I had to be with the commander of the regiment at the same table. I reported to him that the order was fulfilled...”
“In April 1943 the regiment moved to Tula. Tanks. In July 6, 1943 on the radio we had heard that the Germans launched an offensive at Kursk… In July 8, 1943, we left the village and came to Cherepanovo in July 10, 1943, I immediately got the tank. In July 12, 1943 we arrived in the area Sukhinichi Kozelsk. In July 17, 1943 we joined the battle. We were fighting in the direction of the north of Eagle, Karachi, Bryansk, Gomel and Novozybkov… For winter battles I received my first combat award - the Medal of Honor. In the east of the town of Karachev we were ordered to capture the village. About the evening we were ordered to attack, and to capture the village. When we came to the village, the Germans opened a fire. We also opened a fire with guns and machine guns. We entered a village, the village was on a fire, it was the smoke, and we couldn’t see anything. Everywhere people shouted: “I am wounded”. We were given the order to reverse. Radio operator and loader were seriously injured. Suddenly the bomb fell down lower machine gun. The tank was badly damaged: splinter pierced radiator and fuel tank. I and a driver were unharmed. Operator and mechanic were wounded. Radioman lost his right hand… We drove away in a safe place. We waited for end of the fight. The wounded were taken to hospitals. I was taken into the crew of another tank...”
“It was in summer in the Oryol region. We were ordered to capture the village. When we came to the village, the Germans opened a heavy fire. We went back. We had to give volley "Katyusha". The Germans left the village. We (there were 5 tanks) raided the village, 4 tanks were blown up by mines, but I was lucky, my tank was not blown. I decided to attack next village. I went to the outskirts of the village, our infantry lain down. Then I gave a shot out of cannon 3, and shelling of the Germans was subsided. The infantry went freely for the tank. When I arrived at the next village, on the opposite side there was a German car. I still gave the fire, and it became very quiet. We spent the night in the village. Later we went back to the village, where our tanks were blown up by mines. And then I saw a flying armada of 100 German planes, suddenly one plane saw us. We were scattered. I clung to the tank under the wing; he fired at us from a machine gun. I saw that he was making a third visit. We ran away, I crawled under the tank. The Germans ran into this village, heavily bombed it, looking for the "Katyusha". But they did not find any "Katyusha" and flew away.”
“At the end of August 1943 we had to cross the river Desna River, a tributary of the Dnieper. I would say the river was deep. I crossed the river, and the other tank was got stuck in the middle of the river. We were forced to leave the tank. Willingly we went through Bryansk. I pulled away from Bryansk and my tank was out of order. Later on the tanks we drove into the village. We stood about three weeks. Then I was transferred to the 16th separate tank regiment, which was formed in the city of Bryansk. They gave me a tank. Gypsies went through the city, they were predicting a fate, and they told me that I would be hurt, so it was happened. In September 7, 1943 we arrived at the station Novozybkov. Later we arrived to the river transportations. The first night we camped on the banks of the river, it was cold. In November 10, 1943 I was visited by representatives of the regimental staff, Lieutenant, and he ordered me to drive a tank across the bridge and pull the rope on the T-70. I told him, the bridge would break down and collapse. The answer was: to do, or to be shot. They hitched tank T-70 to my tank I and drove over the bridge. I walked in front of five meters. The bridge was in a terrible state. When my tank stopped at the bridge, the T-70 was on a soft hitch and it went to the right, a driver hit the brakes, my tank has stalled, the bridge was collapsed. My tank was in the water. We didn’t fight until March 1944…”
“Our part was fighting for Gomel. My crew was assigned to accompany combat arms to Moscow and Kazan. Ta last we reached Moscow. We had to go to the city of Kazan. We returned to Gomel. We were sent to the city of Tula, to the headquarters of the General Office of the Armored Forces. In October 10, 1944 the 230 Tank Brigade came, and we were taken to the unit. I got T-34 tank and crew. We were getting ready for the next fights to make a breakthrough in the defense of East Prussia from the territory of Lithuania. There was an order of Stalin's task for the armored brigade to enter into the breach and take the territory of East Prussia, ignoring the fire, to move forward. There were 64 tanks in our brigade, and one day we lost 61 tanks. Only three tanks escaped including mine. I was ordered to be closed and act as a tow truck. When I arrived, one tank had already been on fire. At that time, I also fought a battle.”
“On the second day, the authorities found out about the death of a tank brigade, 12"Katyusha" machines came. They fired a volley, the earth was trembled. I was ordered to go with the three tanks in the battle. We drove through the town. There was not a soul. In January 12, 1945 it was ordered to make a breakthrough defense and go with the fighting in the direction of Konigsberg. In February 13, 1945 the platoon was ordered to attack the settlement tanks. We drove up to the forest and I stopped the tank. I was watching from the commander's turret, thermal shell landed in a small tower, I was shell-shocked and splinters hit in the head. The loader was killed in the head. Nearby a tank stood, I gave the order, and I was evacuated from the battlefield, I was bandaged. I had severe headaches. Then I got a tank with a crew, and in February 24, 1945 I was ordered to go into battle. At the distance of 13 kilometers from Konigsberg we were fired at naval artillery shelling. I left on the battlefield, and saw that the gun shoots at us. I gave 5 shots, it was destroyed. I changed my position. I had not looked at the right side then a shot followed. The tank went up in flames, I managed to jump out, and then the tank was exploded. I got a concussion and a wound in my right leg. The loader was killed, a driver was slightly injured. Tank, which was standing on the left, was shooting, I went on one leg and climbed onto the tank, I asked them to open the hatch. I was at a tank platoon commander and asked for a brigade headquarters to be evacuated from the battlefield. The resolution was received, and I was evacuated from the battlefield to the starting line. I met the Victory day in the hospital number 3071. The wounds have healed, the appetite appeared, and I was discharged from the hospital and I was sentenced to 10 days of vacation to recover. The picture showed me, it was about a thousand fragments; I met Victory Parade while on vacation. The Medal for Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 was presented to me in 26 separate tank regiment April 7, 1946.”
Later my great-grandfather participated in the war with Japan, raised a family, was educated, worked hard and long. But that's another story. I'm proud of my great-grandfather. I want to be look like him, be strong, be courageous and be brave.
AWARDS OF MOTHERLAND
1. Medal of Honor 1943
2. Red Star 1944
3. Order of the Patriotic War II degree in 1945
4. Medal for Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941 - 1945 in 1946
5. Medal 20 Years of Victory over Germany in 1967
6. Medal 25 Years of Victory over Germany in 1970
7. Medal 30 Years of Victory over Germany in 1975
8. Medal 40 Years of Victory over Germany in 1985
9. Medal 50 Years of Victory over Germany in 1995
10. Veteran of Labour Medal 1980
11. Medal 50 years of the Armed Forces of the USSR in 1969
12. Medal 60 Years Armed Forces of the USSR in 1979
13. Medal 70 years the armed forces of the USSR 1988
14. Order of the World War I level in 1995
15. Marshal Zhukov Medal 1996
16. Medal of Honor (awarded in January 2000) 1943
1 385
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