They defended our homes

There are events in history which are never to be forgotten: they are kept in human memory.

Every year on the 9th of May the veterans of the Great Patriotic war put on their orders and medals and go out on the festive streets. Every year on this day the country saved by them is celebrating the Great Victory.

We recall the deeds of our great-grandfathers. All peoples show feelings of deep respect, love, admiration and thanks to the soldiers for their contributions to our lives and to society.

The war and everything that is bound up with it in memories of older people, is history for our generation. Our knowledge of the war comes from stories of veterans who lived through the horrors of the most cruel and bloody war destruction and separation from their loved ones.

The battle against fascism was the most important event of their whole lives. They cannot forget the destruction, woe and suffering fascism inflicted on the peoples of various countries.

We bow our heads in memory to those who gave their lives in the struggle for the freedom and independence of their peoples.

On the 22nd of June, 1941 a great misfortune came to the county.

It was the war. Our people met this great ordeal courageously, but the victory was not soon to be gained. On the Motherland's called Astrakhan, not very great in population, sent to the front more than 100 000 people. Triangular envelopes came to Astrakhan from all the regions of that great war.

One of them was I.A.Yusupov.
Place of birth- Astrakhan, Astrakhan province, Soviet Russia
Years of service 1941-1944
The title of Senior Sergeant
Part of the 360th Infantry Regiment, 74 Infantry Division, 13th Army
Commanded the department of 360 Infantry Regiment

In the ranks of the Red Army Aksanovich Ismail Yusupov was drafted in December 1941. He took part in battles of the Great Patriotic War in 1942.
As part of the advance team sergeant Aksanovich Ismail Yusupov, in September, 23 in 1943 crossed the Dnieper near the village of Komarin (Bragin district, Gomel region).
Sergeant Ismail Aksanovich Yusupov, managing officer, participated in the battles for the village and Birches Posudovo. During the attack on the village Posudovo advancing Soviet troops blocked the path of Hitler's gun. Sergeant Ismail Yusupov, throwing machine-gun crew with grenades, seized the gun. In this battle the Germans were driven out of the village.

Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR from October 16, 1943 Ismail Yusupov Aksanovich for bravery and courage shown in crossing the Dnieper River, was awarded the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union, with the award of the Gold Star Medal and the Order of Lenin.

Now I would like to shift your attention to one of the bravest heroes of our region Natasha Kuchuevskaya

This girl was a saninstructor of the 105th rifle battalion. She saved the lives of 20 gravely wounded soldiers and was killed during the battle .

Her actions and her heroism made her one of the well-known participants of the Great Patriotic War . There are even streets which have her name in Astrakhan , Moscow , Volgograd.

During the Second World War millions of people showed heroism. They went into battle knowing that most likely they already never will come back home to their families. The special role was played in those days by pilots. They beat off attacks of Fascist bombers which have carried away uncountable set of lives of the Soviet PEACE people.

Name of this hero is Stepan Zdorovtsev

He was born in a family of the peasant in Russia. He ended tractor-mechanical school, worked in ship-repairing workshops. He worked at Tchapaevsk fishing plant in Astrakhan, and then as the mechanic and life survivor of people on waterways. Soon he was appointed as the chief of the city life-saving station OSVOD. He ended courses of divers.

In 1937 by Komsomol organisation OSVOD has been directed for study to the Astrakhan aeroclub which has ended in the end of the same year. In 1938 in October he ended Stalingradsky military aviation school. He began to serve in the army . The regiment was based near Pskov. He ended courses of commanders . He participated in the Great Patriotic War since the first day.

28.06.41 At 4.30 in the morning in a staff of the regiment he took part in the battle. Many enemy planes appeared in the sky. They wanted to break our airdrome. Link И-16 of the lieutenant of Iozitsy V. P on duty has obtained the order on a start. In the Island city district at height of 7000 m. our pilots met in a sever battle with the group of bombers Ju.88 which was ended without results. On coming back Zdorovtsev saw one more Ju.88 that came back from the task, and attacked it. The fascist plane started to maneuver sharply, its arrows have opened fire on a fighter.

Zdorovtsevu managed with well-aimed turns to amaze both enemy marksmen. Then he concentrated fire on a cabin of the pilot. Cartridges soon came to an end, and the rest of the enemy tried to disappear in clouds. Trying the enemy not to do so, Zdorovtsev decided to ram. He increased turns of the engine and began to come nearer to a bomber. He caught up with it at height of 7000 m. When the enemy appeared absolutely nearby, Zdorovtsev smoothly took the management handle to himself and flew right to the enemy . That plane as a stone fell down on the earth. The enemy pilot was taken to prison by our soldiers.

After blow И-16 started to shake, but it continued to obey wheels. Having reduced turns of the engine and using a height stock, Zdorovtsev returned on the airdrome safely. The lieutenant Zdorovtsev Stepan Ivanovich was given the name of the Hero of the Soviet Union . On the 9th of July in 41 he didn`t return from the battle flight.

65 years ago the guns of the Great Patriotic war were silenced. 65 years ago the Great Victory was won. By this time many people who carried this victory on their shoulders and gave peace to every home have died.

On the granite board of Honor the Museum of Military Glory names of Astrakhans- heroes of the USSR and full holders of the order of Glory are inscribed in golden letters.

The book of posthumous glory “Memory” keeps the names of those who remained in that war for ever…..

No words can fully convey the significance of the Soviet people's feat in achieving victory over fascism. Nothing could shake the spirit of the Soviet soldiers or the Soviet people, who stood up to defend the achievements of their system, to defend democracy against the “brown plague”.