Stepped into immortality: little-known heroes of the Great Patriotic War

During the years of the Great Patriotic War, the highest Soviet award – the Gold Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union – was awarded to 11,657 soldiers and officers of the Red Army, 3,051 posthumously. Feats were performed on land, sea, in the air. Not all heroes are widely known. RIA Novosti recalls some of them.

Tankman
Guard Captain Vladimir Bochkovsky is a true ace in tank combat. During the war years, he destroyed 36 units of enemy armored vehicles. He was on the verge of death more than once, seriously wounded four times, burned five times. Continue reading →