Tank Rider: Into the Reich with the Red Army

Karabai Tajidaev, Sergeant. Born in 1925, a heavy machine-gun (Maxim) leader from the company’s MG platoon. A Kazakh, he fought the war from 1943 to 1945. He survived the war. He was a great guy. He was of medium height, enduring and brave person. He arrived in the company in October 1943. At first he did not speak good Russian, but later learnt the language very well. I was always relying on the fire support of his Maxim machine-gun. He distinguished himself among other soldiers of his age with his outstanding bravery. Both the battalion and the company loved him, he was awarded with several decorations. He left the Brigade in 1947 (from Bernau, Germany).

Ivan Egorovich Karnaukhov, Sergeant. Born in 1925. He was short and not very strong physically, but fast and enduring. He was fast and mean in battle. He came back into the company after being wounded. He was the battalion’s veteran, soldiers respected him and were not afraid to fight the war by his side. He was a good comrade and could find common language with everyone. He survived the war. In recent times (around 1995) he lived close to Samara. Until 1991 he worked as a chairman of his village soviet. Now retired.

Ivan Zakharovich Chechin, Maxim heavy machine gun crew leader. Born in 1925, a tall and physically strong person. In battle he was brave and smart. He provided fire support for our company in the battles in Lvov. He survived the war. In April and May 1945, we were in the same hospital with him. He had several decorations. He did not come back to the battalion after the hospital. Apparently, he left the service.

Konstantin Mikhailovich Efron, Private. Born in 1921, a tall, physically strong and enduring soldier. He was also brave. He arrived in the company in June 1944. Wounded in August 1944. Was treated in hospital in Kopychintsy. He survived the war and found me after the war. He lives in Moscow.

Anatoly Nikolaevich Danilyuk. Born in 1923. He arrived in the company in August 1944. He was part of partisan movement in Ukraine. It was he that swam across Havel channel in front of Ketzin together with several other soldiers and brought the ferry to our side, so that the company could cross the channel and assault the German positions. For this heroic deed, a real act of heroism, no one received an award. Danilyuk survived the war. He lives in Kiev. He used to work as a surgeon. We met in Moscow in 1995.

Mikhail Vladimirovich Sarafanov, Sergeant, rifle squad leader. Born in 1925. He was short and enduring, but not very strong physically. He was modest, but brave and stoic. One could rely on him, especially in reconnaissance missions. He had a sailor’s gait – he would rock from side to side when walking and then step firmly on the ground. He was the first one to stand up during the assault, and the whole squad, and sometimes even platoon and company followed him. He was expert in handing his weapon. He cut down quite a few Fritzes with his submachine-gun. He survived the war. He passed away in 1977.

Pavel Nazarovich Poddubny, Sergeant, rifle squad leader. Born in 1925, he was quite tall. He was well-built, physically strong and enduring. One rarely meets a braver guy than him. He always assaulted the enemy at his full height, pressing forward. He was not afraid of Fritzes, on the contrary, they were scared of him. He never used a submachine-gun, he fought the war with his carbine. During an assault in April 1944 (in the vicinity of Dobropolie) a German machine-gun crew fled after seeing Poddubny, leaving their MG34, submachine-gun and lunch behind. His bravery was a good support and example for his soldiers. His soldiers felt confident and fit next to him. He had several decorations. I cannot say anything else about him or his life after the war.

Shamrai, Junior Sergeant. Arrived in October 1944 at Sandomir bridgehead. He fought the war well and had several decorations. But I do not remember what happened to him. When I came back from the hospital, he was no longer there.

Ishmuhametov, RPD machine gun crew member. Born in 1925. He was a tall, slim and enduring guy. Survived the war. He was brave and his machine-gun always worked. However, during battles around Sambor (Lvov operation) he screwed up, which was really not like him, leaving his machine-gun behind, so that it would be easier to flee the Germans. That was his only act of cowardice in the whole war. He fought till the end of the war and retired from service.